Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-02
Illustrated By
Dsnnan Fink
CONTINUATION OF CHAP. VIII
The Knife.


my proposition before you declined IT. I'll
make the price right. ana you may pay
me when we get behind yonder ciump OF
bushes" Soc pouted her lips invitingly,
but he declared she was a minor and as
such her bargain would not hold
Il was evidently he. mood 20 re-enter
the land OF wtirls and travel again as
they had On the way from town. but he
knew that for him such thing could not
be. for his eyes had cleared since then.
he knew that he could never again wan
der through the happy valley. for ne
vowed this maid should be no playthins
for him OF any other man. and as there
could be no honorable end to this affair.
Il must terminate at once. Just
how this was 20 be consummst-
ed he had not determined as
yet. nor did he like 20 set about its
solution. Il hurt him so to think OF los
anr her. However she was very young
only q child. and in time would come to
count him but memory. no doubt; while
a. for him-well. il would be hard TO for
set her, but he could and would. He
reasoned glibly that this was the only
honest course. and his reasoning con-
WINGED him. then. all OF a sudden. the
pressure OF her warm lips came upon him
and the remembrance upset every
premise and process OF his logic. Never
determination 70 conclude the AFFAIR. and
finally decided to let time show him the
way.
She seemed 10 be very happy. her mood
being In marked contrast 10 that OF
Poleon and the trader. both OF whom had
fallen silent and gloomy. and in whom
the hours wrought no change. The latter
had facitly acknowledged his treachery
toward Stark on the previous night. but
beyond that he would not go. Offering no
motive excuse or explanation. choosing
60 stand In the eyes OF his friend as an
intended murderer, Notwithstanding
which Poleon let the matter drop-for
Yves not his friend a good man? Had he
not been tried IN a hundred ways2 The
young Frenchman knew there must
have been strong reason for Gales out
burst and was content 10 trust him
without puzzling his mind TO discover
the cause OF Il.
Now. q secret must either grow or die
there is no faIlow age for it-and this one
had lived with Gale for fifteen years,
until Il had made an old man OF him II
weighed him down until the desire to be
rid OF II almost became overpowering at
times; but his caution was ingrained and
powerful and 50 IL was that he resisted
the temptation to confide In his partner.
although the effort left him tired and
inert The only one TO whom he could
talk was Alluna-she understood. and
though she might not help. the sound Of
IFS own voice at least always afforded
him some relief.
As TO Poleon. no one had ever seen him
thus. Never in all his life Of dream and
song and romance had he known heavy
heart until now. for IL At times he had
wept Ike q girl, 1t was at the hurts Of
others He had loved a bit and gambled
much, with equal misfortune, and the
next day he had forgotten. He had lived
the free. clean life OF man who wins
5oyously or goes down with defiance in
hts throat but this venOmous thing that
Runnion had planted in him had seeped
and circulated through his being until
every fibre was penetrated with bitter
poison. Most OF his troubles could be
grappled with bare hands, but here was
one against which force would not avail,
hence he was unhappy.
The party reached Flambeau on the
following day. sufficiently ahead Of Stark
and hts men for Lee 10 make known his
ind 70 his friends. and by sunset the
place was depOpulated. while a line Of
men could be seen creeping slowly up
the valleys.
Gale found Alluna In charge OF the
store. but 10 opportunity OF talking alone
. Ing. after Necia had put the two little
ones 20 bed and had followed them weari-
~ Then he told his sqUaw. She took the
news better than he expected. and show
ed no emotion such as other women
would have displayed. even when he told
her OF the gunshOt. Instead. she inquired:
why did you try 1t there before all
those othersT'
We'll. when / heard him talking. the
ww~frh to IL a
stand, and Il came on me all at once, so
that ] was mad. I suppose. I never
did the like before" Hhe half shuddered
at the memory.
II am EoTry." she said.
Yes. SO am L.
Sorry that you failed. for you will
never have as good chance again. What
was the matter with your aim? 1 have
seen you hit a knOt-hOle. shooting from
the hip
The man T. charmed declared Gale.
Hes bullet proof
There are people, she agreed, that a
gunshOt viii not iniure. There was a
man like that among my people-my
fathers enemy-but he was not proof
against steci~
''Your old man knitted him, chr
she nodded.
Ugh the man shivered. Il couldn't
90 mat "A gun i a 1NEAlEIlN man 3 1rlen1
but a knife Is the weapon OF traitors.
couldn't drive IL home"
Does this man suspecty'
NO"
Then IT is chnd's play. We will lay
a trap"
mo. by Godr' Gale interrupted her
hotly- y tried that kind Of work. and
II won't do. I'm no murderer.
Those are only words" said the WON
an. quietly. TO kill your enemy Is the
law
The only light In the room came from
the stove. a great iron cylinder made
from a coai-Oil tank that lay on a rect
angular bed CT sand held inside Of four
timbers. with a door I'm one end to take
whole lengths OF ccriwoOd. and whfch.
being open. Il the space i'm front. throw
ing the sides and corners Of the place into
blacker mystery.
When he made no answer the squaw
slipped out into the shadows. leaving
him staring into the flames. to return