Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-04-15

blazed In his fncc, but he neither feit
nor needed 1t. for his bare hands were
upon his quarry, the impact of his
body hurting the other from his feet
and neither Of them knew whether
any or all Of the last bullets had taken
effect.
Poleon had come. like an arrow,
straight for his mark the instant he
glimpsed It, an inscnsate, unreasoning,
raging thing that no weight OF lead
nor length of blade could stop In his
haste he had left Flambeau without
weapon of any kind. for In his mind
such things are superfuous, and he
had never fought with any but those
God gave him nor found any living
thing that his hands could not mas
ter Therefore he had rushed head
long against this armed and waiting
man. reaching for him ever closer and
closer till the burning powder stung
his eyes They crapplcd and fought,
alone and unseen, and yet 1t was no
fight, for Runnlon. though vigorous,
heavy musclcd man, was beaten down,
smothered and crushed beneath the
onslaught OF this great naked fellow,
who all the time sobbcd and whined
md mewed in painting fury.
They swung half across the spit TO
the farther side, where they fell In n
fantastic convulsion, slipping and
sliding and rolling among the rocks
that smote and gouged and bruised
them. The gambler fought for his
life against the naked flesh of the 9th
or, against the distorted face that
snapped and bit like the muzzle of a
wolf while all the time he heard that
fearful, inarticulate note Of blood
hunger at his ear. The Canadian
clinched hands crushed whatever they
fingers were like tearing tongs that
could not be loosed It was a fright
full combat hideous from its inequali-
ty, like the battle Of a man against a
maddened beast whose teeth tore and
whose claws ripped, whose every
move was Irresistible. And so it was
over shortly.
Poleon rose and ran to the fallen
girl, leaving behind him a huddlcd and
twisted likeness OF n man He picked
her up tcnderlv, moaning and Groom
Ing. But as her limp head lollcd back.
throwing her pale. blind features UP
to the heavens. he began TO cry. this
time like a woman. Tears fell from
his eyes-burniug tears. the agony OF
which scared his soul. lie Ind her
carefully beside the waters edge. and
holding her head and shoulders in the
crook Of his left arm, he wet his right
hand and hathed her face crouching
over her, half nude. dripping with the
sweat OF his great l0bors. tender
palpitatlng figure OF hronzed muscle
and slnew, with all his fury and hate
replaced by apprehension and pity
The short moments that lie worked
with her were ages 10 him. but she re
vivcd beneath his ministrations. and
her first frightened look of conscious
ness was changed to n melting smile.
"W-what happened, poleon?" she
said II was afraid.
He stood up to his full height. shak
ing and weak as the water that drip
ped from him, the very bones In him
dissolved. Por the first time he Ut
tered words, Tank God, la gosh
and ran his hand up over his wet face
"Where IS he?" She started to her
knees affrightedly; then, seeing the
twisted, sprawling figure beyond. be
gan 10 shudder "He-he's deadY"
II don't know" said Poleon careless
~, you feel it purity good now. en-
w'ati"
"Yes-I-he struck me" The RENE
brance Of what had occurred surgeC
over her, and she buried her face il
| her hands. "Oh, Poleon, polcon. II,
was a dreadful man"
He don trouble you no more"
"He tried-he- Ugh. lin elat
you did It," She broke down. trcm
bling at her escape, until her selfish
ness smote her, and she was up ant
beside him en- the instant. Are 70,
/ hurt? Oh. | never thought OF that
You must be Wounded
The Frenchman felt himself over aut
looked down at his limbs for the frs
time. NO; | guess not" he said, n
which Necia noticed his meager attire
and simultaneously he became con
scious Of IT. He fell away "A pace. cast
Ing his eyes over the river for hi
canoe, which was now n epeck in thu
distance.
"Ba gosh! I'm HI OF a ting fo
lookin' at" he said. I'm paddle hard
OATS wy. Sacre, bow ! sweat" II
hltched nervously at the band of hi
overalls. while Necia answered.:
That's all right, Poleon." Their
without warning. her face fro2e wit
mingled rep,hsion and wonder. "Look
look" she whispered, pointing pas
him.
Runnion was moving slowly, era
ing painfully into sitting posture. ur
lifting terribly mutiated face, daze
and half conscious, cropping for posses
sion Of his wits lie saw them an
grmaced frightfully. covering an
cringing.
Poleon felt the girls hand upon hi
arm and heard her crying in hare
sharp voice:
"IIe needs killing. Put him away.
He stared down at his gentle Neci
and saw the loathng in her face an
the look Of strange ferocity as ST
met his eyes boldly.
you don't know what he--what b
did" she said through her shut teetl