The Yale expositor., 1908-08-28

McGill had gone to the window and
was looking out across the prairie.
There's some one coming this way,
&c said. TOO far out to tell who he
is"
Lanfranc waved the smoke away
from before his face. you have not
The eagle eye. McGill. / have seen
aim since he pass the Big Stone. 1t is
Sergt. Mack"
NcGill turned quickly. THAT means
YOU, then" he said. 81 told you they
would get word to the post before
mOrning. But you are always cock
sure, you wouldn't start for the lower
cut last night, as l wanted you to.
But come on. Your horse is saddled.
I fixed him up this morning. Per-
haps you can get off behind the ridge
before he spots you. I'll hold him here
az long as l can, and give you a
chance to ride for It."
McGill started for the side door, but
seeing that Lanfranc did not move,
ne faced around again Gene on,
mani" he cried. Good God! / don't
want to see you hang"
Lanfranc calmly blew out pun Of
smoke. 81 have seen fat men like
YOU, who drink too much of the white
wine, and sit down all the time, die,
when they get too much excite.
They choke all the same as when they
hang" And he laughed ironically.
McGill grew red in the face. 1t is
bad enough when you are trying to
help man save his life to have him
laugh at you for your pains, but when
he throws in a sheer at your personal
appearance. It Is unbearable.
We'll, you can hang, and be d"
he snOrted.
Lanfranc was still smiling when
Sergt. Mack opened the door. and he
waved his hand gayly in greeting.
Has the Rider OF the Law come to
taste McGill's sweet-water?" he asked,
throwing his thumb back over his
shoulder at the row of bottles.
A flicker OF a smile came over
Sergt. Mack's face, as he caught sight
OF the aggressively innocent display.
But it died away as he walked up to
where Lanfranc sat.
mo-" hS replied. 1--WE will look
after that some other time. / came
after YOU"
Lanfrancs eyes met the sergeants
insolently. "Bien," he said. Il am here,
am not like McGills whisky to run
into the ground when the Rider of the
Law pleases to ride this way"
Sergeant Mack did not appear to
notice the irony Of Lanfranc's tone.
Well" he said. Are you ready to
START"
Lanfranc slipped swiftly off the bar
Mon ami" he said, you are a brave
man, yes! SO when l say that I have
the wish TO speak to you for the time
" pipe first. / do not say l could
kill you before you move your hand, If
YOU say no | say: 1T is my wish
and you" Banfranc finished with a
wave of his hand
Sergeant Mack knew that Lanfranc
spoke the truth. Lanfranc could kill
him as the lightning strikes, for the
man's swiftness with his gun was a
proverb on the plains. Yet it was not
fear that made him nod his head in
assent to Lanfrancs questioning gaze.
He knew Lanfranc and liked him, as
much as man with his clear-cut idea
Of life could like a careless adventurer
vt Lanfranc's stamp. He knew also
that Lanfranc would not have made
such a request unless he had some.
thing important to tell and although
Il was his place to execute and not to
Judge, there could be no harm In
hearing what the man had to say.
The smile flashed out again in Lam
francs face when he saw the sergeant
nod his head.
"Bien, mon ami" he said. Brave
men do not kill each other without
reason. Is II not so? Let us sit
down" He led the way across the
room to a long bench in front of the
stove. Sergeant Mack seated himself
across it, aud Lanfranc faced him,
politely Offering him his tobacco. The
sergeant declined 1t. Lanfranc rolled
a cigarette and lighted 1t.
1T is seven winters" he began,
since you and l were on the trail to-
gether, and much has happened. But,
{ tink, you know me we'll enough to
know that Lanfranc is not what the
good priest would call pious-nol
Lanfranc's vices and virtues were
clear cut, and their possessor had
stated them as they were.
Lantranc threw away his cigarette.
Two winters after we part at Lacolle.
{ go to place in the Great Hills.
Hunting was good, and like the place
so we'll mos tink would build me
a shack and stay for the res of my
life. There was no one roun' but the
indians. 'cept one white man, who had
out up cabin in little place where
The wood open out on the hill
The man call himself Burton-and
{ do not like him. He was made for
the town. not for the forest But he
had girl
Lanfrano waved his hand at Ser
yeant Mack, who had half started up.
sit still Yesl know you have
known her, and she was like the wild
aower. Is Il not sol Great Bear had