Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-12-11
CHAPTER XI.


began to lose track O. things and my head
broke. What was it-gas, altitude -"
More likely old Pelee was up to some
thing he preferred you shouldn't see,"
said Breen. 81 know the racket turned
me sick as a poisoned rat while l was
dragging at your leg. l know that the
natives wouldn't venture within two hun
dred yards also, that you are mortal
heavy young person."
And so you retrieved the fallen under
the guns of the enemy? That was good
of you, Breen. 1t was indeed"
The natives were pressing in. Darkness
was beginning. Breen was conscious of
catch in his throat.
Peter said Breen quietly, 81 ran
from you this morning."
You didn't run from me this after
noon, the which is lucky for me. Take a
little touch yourself, old playmate, and
don't get moody. One needs a pal when
one makes such a mussy dumping-ground
of good chances. The engaging Mr.. Stem
bridge never did me any harm, and all
that the newspapers could accomplish in
the minds of people at large would move
me to no deeper emotion than to say,
Dear folks be-hanged ="
Peter, if | hadn't been here, you
would be a good daylight run out on the
decent ocean by this time, with the lady -
please don't goad yourself further,
Breen. That matter is mine-all mine"
Constable spoke in low voice. Breen
was bending over him in the dusk. You
Inft 1,'t
even come along by chance. l asked you
to cruise with me. You volunteered to
tell me about yourself l said it wasn't
necessary. This man has a mind, and
he isn't a coward was the conclusion
came to that night, and l haven't seen
fit to change my opinion"
but the LADY,"
Eyes, the lady has spoken. l am done
down and out. The point is,
you didn't turn on Pelee's throttle You're
not to blame because I'm a dub of a
lover. I'm not on sick report"
You're game, Peter" said Breen as
he helped the other into the saddle.
'Not game enough to abduct one fright
ened little mother-handled GIRL" Consta-
ble replied.
They were riding together down the
winding trail, apart from the guides. The
lights of Ajoupa Boullion were ahead,
and the mountain carried on a frightful
drumming behind. The coiling masses of
volcanic spume, miles above the craters,
generated its own fire, and, lit in the
flashes, looked like pillows of boiling steel.
Constable was very weak, and Breen rode
upon sheer nerve-nerve that men had
often wondered at.
Peter he said at length, you are
not through trying to get the lady out Of
this?"
''To think that such a tone and such
a question could come from the implaca-
BILE Stembridge'" !" Constable said, with a
laugh.
1.-The 'implacable Stembridge was never
crucifed before" Breen answered. ITO
you and me, together, it does not vastly
matter that l am Stembridge, one of the
bigger wolves. But others have come in.
Because / am here, you stand dazed to-
night, your heart torn out. Because
am here, you went up to the mouth of
that horrible pit to-day, and lay down to
die. ! have played with men and women,
Peter, but | never wrecked white man
before, or broke the heart of friend"
A hand stretched across the dark and
fell upon Breen's arm and tighten.d
there Il know how you feel but what
would you have me do?" Constable NUT
tered
when l see wisp of smoke on the
horizon, and know that you and the lady
and the Madame are wrapped in it"
For four days l have been dreaming
that dream, Breen."
at must come true this night. There
will have been a reaction. Go there to-
night Speak to her alone. Tell her how
you came to know mellow men look at
these things-that the newspaper story
was as new to you as to herself. Tell
her of your trip to Pelee, and how the
disorder they see and hear down in the
city looks up there at first hand !"
1t was at this instant that a full-rigged
thought sprang into Breens brain, which
had known but the passing of hopeless
derelcts throughout the day. He dared
not trust the thought to words, lest the
other should cancel it, but he called to
the guides to increase the pace.
"Ah, she would not listen to words of
mine," Constable answered hopelessly. "If
she had any faith in me, words would not
be necessary. A man knows when he is
beaten. | have drawn my little quietus
Cor one day. Tomorrow"
"There may not be any tomorrow for
Saint Pierre"
"Of course. For that matter, we might
be boiled out like a pair of tater-bugs
before we can pick up snack in Ajoupa
Boulion. Then, again, the people may
be right, and l a frenzied alarmst. Pc
lee is throwing off pressure true and
steady as clock running down. 1t may
be that he'll relieve his crowded cham
bers this way"
Such words, more than anything that
had passed, revealed the extent Of Con-