The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-01-11

and promise me not to give way e
such excitement again. You are not
strong and such moods are dangerous
to you" 49 =, =,
They rose and stood facing aoob
other before the dying fire. a.
One thing, he said, Selling bor
hands with a swift change Of .mannar
"one thing, Barbara Have YOU evnr
been sorry that you came with me-
that you trusted mey'
She looked at him wonderingIv h,,+
with perfect love and truthfulness
Never, JAMIE" she said: "neyer for
one moment y, T. IL. .@s ses.. a.. -
"And whatever happens" he went
on, drawing her closer; stand what
ever happens you ere sure YOU never
will be sorry?'' ...- -
'Quite sure, jamie"
lie kissed her again and again. until
she laughed at his lover-like yehe-
mence.
amy one would suppose we We're
about to be separated for years" she
said playfully.
He laughed too, but his face and
voice were seric<s as he said firmly.
Nothing shall separate us but
death, lassie."
When Dixon left his house the nax+
morning it was still intensely cold. but
the Wlnd had gone down and the
clumps OF evergreens and shrubbery
on the lawn were motionless as if
painted there.
He stood moment on the lower step
ora wing on his mittens and nodding
at the child face smiling at him from
the window, then started to go. But
at the hrst step his foot struck some
ob9ect which gave out metallic
sound, and stopping quicly he raised
1rom the snow small pistol. One
glance showed him that it was in per-
rect order and every barrel loaded.
lie remained for some time, turning
THIS obJect over in his hand, his meth
er lip drawn between his teeth. At
last he glanced toward the window.
Inc enid was no longer there, but he
saw now, what had before escaped his
notice, that the snow beneath the
WINDOW was broken and trodden bv a
mans footprints. With a smothered
exclamation, Dixon bent an instant
above these tracks, and then began
tracing them carefully. He found the
path leading from the group of pines
to the window. He found the place
where the steps had first approached
the house across the open fields from
the hill beyond, direct and even, as Of
one with fixed purpose; he found,
also, where they had turned from the
window in long, regular strides, as Of
one IN flight These he followed to
the foot of the hill and across to the
other side, where they seemed to lose
themselves in the trackless forest.
He stood here again for some mo-
ments, an ashy ring forming itself
ABOUT his ruddy lips, no longer ruddy.
Then, with deep breath, he set his
teeth together, thrust the pistol into
his pocket and turned towards the
town. 1t was scarcely awake yet.
Smoke curled lazily upward from the
chlmneys, but hardly anyone was STIR
ring. Even about the door of that
great commercial emporium known
far and near as "Buckey's," the regu-
lar loafers had as yet no representa-
tive; and here, as elsewhere, the snow
which had drifted across the steps
was undisturbed. ~
A little beyond ''Ruckey's" stood
neat frame structure across whose en-
trance stretched q sign bearing the in
scription:
"James Dixon, Justice Of the Peace"
This building Dixon entered. A boy
who was steaming himself at the
great stove in the center of the room,
looked up with duck of the head as
the proprietor Of the office entered,
and paid no further attention as he
proceeded to divest himself of his out