The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1907-06-27
THE CAD
Bv Elizabeth W. Cerritson

Preston was a sneak, a 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 emuated the
Arab additionally spoken of as adept
at folding tents and effecting noiseless
departures. Not so with Preston; he
stayed.
He had never been a 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
| way to aversion.
Preston, you cont emptible cad
Blanchard had said after good-nights
| had been spoken and the men were
| back in camp, I've more than half
mind to punch your head"
why don't you?" Preston had asked
mockingly, and his hand had closed In
voluntarily upon his pocketknfe 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
a repetition of his despicabe perform
ance, he 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 its 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 a long hunting knife clasped
in powerful hand protruding from
the shrubbery little to his left. Be
side the knife was the evil, rage-dis
torted face of Gaspard the halfbreed
whom Blanchard had detected in thiev-
ing and unceremoniously kicked from
the camp.
thinu N IN
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 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 awful horror of 1t all
Something of good within him, prob
ably a fine strain handed down to him
by his gentlemanly ancestors, revealed
to him the possibilities of the situa
ton. OF herofsm and valor he hither
to had known nothing. Now, impeled
by this new feeling that tingled his
nerves like a tonic, his one thought
was to serve his Iove-to save her
lover for her. The cost he did not
count. He sprang from his hiding
place and dashed toward the half
breed, intercepting him and graspng
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 halfbreed closed with
his assailant. 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 halt-breed soon
wore him down. The hand that held
the knife wrcnched free, poised 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.
meath 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
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 a deeper hue, The cad was seen no
more by man,
who 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" he amended his voice vibrating
with feeling, AS white a man as ever
lived"
Marjory held out her hands to him
In silent appreciation Of the eulOgy.
Her eyes were misty and shone with
light that baiiied interception Deep
down in the inner sanctuary Of her
heart she was enshrining the memory
Of The Cad"
A Slow Chump.
Miss Koy-"Mr. Snowman declared