The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-06-17
the CAD
Hy EIlzabeth WI. oerrltson

have accepted the pointed remarks
and general coolness of his camp
mates and the girls at the hotel as
evidence conclusive and emulated the
Arab tradHionaly spoken Of as adept
at folding tents and eifectinE noiaeiess
departures. Not so with Preston; he
stayed
he had never been a warm favorite
with the crowd, aud since the time
when smarting from jealousy envy
and all the other mean feelings In the
category, he had followed and spied
upon Mariory Dalton ana Blanchard
| In their love making and then babbled
a description of the tenderest scene to
the embarrassment and confusion Of
the young lady, tolerance had given
way to aversion
Preston, y0n contemplate cad.
Blanchard had said after good-niehts
had been spoken and the men were
back in camp, I've more than half a
mind to punch your head"
why don't you?' Preston had asked
mockingly. and his hand had closed in.
voluntarily upon his pocketknife, iust
as in boyhood ii had reached for
stone when battle seemed imminent.
Blanchard had eurbed his anger aud
turned on his heel but all Of the Eel
lows and most of the girls had agreed
in their Indignation to call Preston
THE Cad
ftNI sf1arE Ia hNr oh Id 10 nF.t,
tempt for the censure Of the others BIZ
q repetition Of his despicabFe perform
ance, he was again engaged in spying
upon the same couple from behind q
patch Of barherry They were sitting
in loyerlike attitude upon high bank
that overhung a treacherous bit Of the
lake, Devils pool, said to be bottoui
less for its depth had never been
sounded
An Preston watched, grinding his
teeth In rage and longing to wrcak
upon the man a vengeance his very
cowardice prevented him from 81
tempting, he saw something Hash IT.
the sunlight, a cautions investigation
revealed a long limiting knife clasned
in q powerful hand proIru1ing from
the shruhbery a little to bis left ile-
side the knife was the evil rag@diss
torted face Of Gaspard the halfhFeed
whom Blanchard had detected III tbia1
ing and mceremenously kicked from
the camp.
Tho thing was plainly evident 70
Preston The halfhrecd probably
cra2ed by drnk. was gaiNE 70 murder
blanchard He was NOT taking into
account the fact that the opportunity
was q poor one-that F0iiic dark night
when blanchard was alone would bet
tel insure his chances Or escape He
knew only that his enemy was before
him and his rage urged him to Kill
AS the half-breed erept forward Pres
ton realized the awful horror Of i ak
Something or good within him, prob
ably a fine strain handed down to him
by his gentlemanly ancestors, revealed
to him the possibilities of the sitna-
ton or heroism and valor he hither-
to had known nothing. Now impeled
BY this new feeling that tinglcd his
nerves like a tonic. his one thought
was to serve his love-to save her
lover for her. The cost be did not
count He sprang from his hiding
place and dashed toward the half
breed intercepting him and grasping
the hand that held the knife just as It
was raised above Blanchard who back
TO- was unconscious Of his danger
with a snarl the half-breed closed With
his assallant. around they whirled in
a fierce battle for supremacy their
struggles bringing them close to the
edge of The bank. Preston's strength
had never been great and the sea.
soned muscles Of the half-breed soon
wore him down Tho hand that held
the knife wrenched frce. poised a mo.
mcnt IN the air, then flashed down
ward Preston uttered scream Of
agony. but did not relax his bold.
There was a sound of crumbllng soil
and the rattle of stones; the turf be
meath the combatants sagEed, then
gave way entirely and the pair plunged
downward to the waters of Devils
pool
Some of the crowd" attracted by
the noise. came running up and with
Marjory and Blanchard peered from
safe place into the waters below. The
half.breed. without any evidence Of
injury or fatigue. was swimming rap
idly toward the opposite shore. At the
foot of the bank. where the ripples
were widening. the water was tinged
to deeper hue. The cad was seen no
more By man.
~Nho is it?" someone asked in
awed tones.
Blanchard Strengthened himself with
an effort
The Ca" he began. then stopped.
flushing with shame. Harry Pres
ton ho amended. his voice vibrating
with feeling. as white a man as ever
lived
Marior9 held ont her hands 10 him
in. silent appreciation Of the eulcs
Her eyes we're misty and shone with 2
Hehi that bamedsanferception peep
down in the inner sanctuary ri her
hcart she vas enshFining The mcnorT
II Tho Cad