Gilpin observer., 1907-06-27
THE CAD :.
BY Elizabeth W. Cerrltson

IraceaDle Dack TO the days OF the May
| flower, but nevertheless it was fact
Preston was sneak, cad. A man
with less egotism in his makeup would
have accepted the pointed remarks
and general GOODNESS of his camp
mates and the girls at the hotel as
evidence conclusive and emulated the
Arab traditionally spoken of as adept
at folding tents and effecting noiseless
departures. Not SO with Preston; he
stayed.
He had never been warm favorite
with the Crowd" and since the time
when, smarting from jealousy, envy
and all the other mean feelings in the
category he had followed and spied
upon Marjory Dalton and Blanchard
in their love making and then babbled
description of the tenderest scene to
the embarrassment and confusion of
the young lady, tolerance had given
way to aversion.
Preston, you contemplate cad,"
Blanchard had said after good-nights
had been spoken and the men were
back in camp, 1--WE 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, just
as in boyhood it had reached for a
stone when battle seemed imminent
Blanchard had curbed his anger and
turned on his heel; but all of the fell
lows and most of the girls had agreed
in their indignation to call Preston
The Cad.'
Thinking he best showed his con-
tempt for the censure of the others by
repetition of his despicable perform
ance, ne was again engaged in spying
upon the same couple from behind a
patch of barberry. They were sitting
in lover-like attitude upon high bank
that overhung treacherous bit of the
lake. Devils pool, said to be bottom
less for it's depth had never been
sounded
AS Preston watched, grinding his
teeth in rage and longing to wreak
upon the man vengeance his very
cowardice prevented him from at
tempting, he saw something flash in
the sunlight. A cautious investigation
revealed long hunting knife clasped
in powerful hand protruding from
the shrubbery little to his left. Be-
side the knife was the evil, rage-dis- |
sorted face of Gaspard, the half-breed
whom Blanchard had detected in thiev-
ing and unceremoniously kicked from
the camp.
The thing was plainly evident to
Preston. The half-breed, probably
crazed by drink, was going to murder
Blanchard. He was not taking into
account the fact that the opportunity
was a poor one-that some dark night
when Blanchard was alone would bet
ter insure his chances OF escape. He
knew only that his enemy was before
him and his rage urged him to kill.
AS the half-breed crept forward Pres
ton realized the G-vful hc-ror of it all.
Something II good within him, prob
ably fine strain handodsdowa to him
by his gentlemanly ancestors. revealed
10 him the possibilities Of the situa-
tioa. OF hero.sr- nd vplor Re hither
to had known nothing. Now, impelled
by this new feeling that tingled his
nerves like q ton,c, his cne thought
was to serve his love-tc save her
lover for her. The cost he did pot
count. He sprang from his hiding
place and dashed toward the half
breed, interceptins 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 snarl the half-breed closed with
his assailant Around they whirled in
4 fierce battle for supremacy, their
struggles bringing them close to the
edge of the bank. Prestons strength
had never been great and the sea
soned muscles of the half-breed soon
wore him down. The hand that held
the knife wrenched free, poised a mo-
ment in the air, then flashed down
ward. Preston uttered a scream of
agony. but did not relax his hold.
There was a sound of crumbling soil
and the rattle of stones; the turf be-
aeath the combatants sagged, 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 a
safe place into the waters below. The
halfbreed, 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 nc
more by man.
who is it," someone asked in
awed tones.
Blanchard stra khtened himself with
an effort.
THE Ca" he began, then stopped,
flushing with 81 anne. Harry Pres
ton" he amende 4. his voice vibrating
with foaIinp aas twhite n man M ever