The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-11
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Fl nloorla1ld Princess
By MRS. C. N WILLIAMSON,
Author Of The Barn Stormers Fortunes Sport "A Woman
Gray" "Queen Sweetheart Royal Highnsss,
"The House By the Lock- Etc.
By MRS. C. N. WILLIAMSON,
Copyright 1908 by the National Press Agency.
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! In the dusk under the seat. looking Keen
| ly up at the pretended sleeper.
Still jim did not move. did not flicker
an eyelid; and slowly, with great caution.
the long, thin form Of the man under the
seat began to push itself out, inch by
inch, the face always turned towards the
front. the eyes on the closed eyes Of
Breakspear.
By-and-by the man had edged himself
out from under the low roof of his hiding
place, and lay on the floor, his clothing
covered with dust He raised himself on
his knees, then to his feet; and it began
to be an effort for Jim to remain passive.
He could not see so we'll what went on
now, for unless he moved, only his pro-
I file was turned to the face which was at
last bending above him. But he would not
move yet. The time for his coup might
come at any instant, and he could afford
to wait for 1t.
He knew that the wet handkerchief was
coming closer to his face at last, for the
| scent became very powerful. Suddenly,
1t descended like tiny white cloud, and
was laid softly, lightly over his mouth
and nose. This was the signal for which
he had been waiting. He seized the man
by both wrists, and with a Sudden putting
out of his strength, jerked him with great
force to his knees.
Down he came with crash, and Jim
burst into long-restrained laugh as he
sprang into sitting posture, bending
slightly forward and still holding the
other as If in vice, so that the two faces
the handsome, laughing face, and the
saturn1ne, astonished one-were nearly
opposite each other, and not far apart.
How are your" asked Jim.
The other uttered fierce imprecat ton
That's as may be- remarked JIM
! 80 you want what I've got, do you?"
The man did not answer, save by a.
| bleak glare Of fury.
II wonder If you think you've gone the
right way to get it?'
Still no answer. The mans breath
Kissed between his teeth, and his chest
labored. Jim laughed again. Il see
you've no sense Of humor,' he exclaimed,
with aggravating impertinence TN
afraid 1 hurt your wrists NV hands are
rather strong, I believe. But II you'll be-
have yourself like a man in his sober
senses, I'll let you get up. Now we've
| measured our strength, perhaps you'll be
! willing to talk before going to further
| extremes" ...
You have my property" painted
Eagle-fa
There's a question, to put 1t mildly.
about whose property it is said jim
Are you going to be sensible?"
Yes. returned the other, sullenly.
Let me get up. I don't wish to harm
you. I never did intend to harm you"
Come now, If your power had matched
your intention, I should be rather sorry
Tor myself, said Breakspeak, raising the
man to his feet with one upward ierk aa
ne had sent him to his knees with a. Jerk
In a downward. direction Then letting
him stagger backward. to fall inertly on
the opposite seat, he went on good
naturally: Match yourself against a
man OF your own size next time, If it
comes to question Of muscle But sun
pose you hoped 1t wouldn't come to that. ),
Yes said Eagle-face his gray ewes
! very alert and shifty. .,e 7E 49, :
= L saw you follew me away from Vic
toria yesterday went on Breakspear
mat was rather clever trick Of yours
about the boy and the stone-worth two NJ
this one to-day. And you were smar,
IN getting out of my way after we'd hat
our little dispute about my portmantea,
} at the door of your four-wheeler."
1t happened to be my portmanteau,
} sneered Eagle-face, regaining somethins
of his sang froid again.
Il had just bought and paid a. eoot
price Tor 1t. The railway company con
sldered 1t fairly mine, and I don't see VIII,
should go behind their opinion. But
r VIII say this: ~ If you had come to me a
victoria Ssat1on, and told me frankly tina
the thing had been your property, which
ior some reason you had been obliged t.
sacrlfce, l should have asked YOU to driv
, home with me. Then, If you had CORRECTLY
, cataloged the contents of the portmantea,
before having 1t opened, and perhaps-er-
produced key with a label and a, Mates
2 cross on it should have consented +
sell you the box for what I had paid TO
\ Il should not, at the time, have hea,
able to pay that price, otherwise shout
nave secured my portmanteau yesterday.
was 1t you who bid against ma?''
IL Was-an agent Of mine.''
Ihe yelled lady in black, perhaps :?
Ihls was a random shot. but it told. Tn
man shoulders twitched nervously an
his look spat venom. But he did no
speak, 1''
At all events, got the portmanteau
might nave sold 1t to You cheaper tina,
the price 1 paid, or even given YOU sue
Things as you valued most, if you ha
gone about it in the right way. But
suppose you judge others by yoursel,
Having no generous impulses, YOU can
credit others with Them and YOU too
steps to obtain by foul means what yo
thought you could not get by fair
The man shrugged his shoulders.
well, you have determination, sal
Jim. There's something Of the bulldo
aoout you, or perhaps I should say tn
rat lie has as tenacious a grin as th
nopler animal when his blood's up. 70
made quite haul last night. Still vo
weren't satisfied. believe you'd hay
murdered me to-day rather than fail
what you wanted to do"
1T would be difficult for you to prov
that retorted Eagle-f face
I'M not so sure. But I've no intentio
OF trying conclusions in any such way-a
present. have a weakness for settlin
my own affairs according to my own idea
without calling in the assistance Of tn
law. And as 1T happens, I'm charmed
see you to-day You might have save
yourself lot Of trouble if you'd had
prophetic soul. was anxious to hav
talk with you and, If possible, strike
bargain; but unless I tried a persona
l had no more notion how to lay m
mana on you than on the man in tn
moon-until saw you putting chlorofor,
on a handkerchief under that seat -
What's the bargain?" sharply INQUIRE
the other.
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