Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-04-08

IA desolate thing. but the night
"a Of such @ day is desolate in
deed. In all bis life Poleon
Doret had never sunk to such depths
Of dependency. for his optimistic
philosophy and his buoyant faith in
the goodness Of life forbade It. The
arrival Of the freight steamer afforded
him some distraction. but there was
only a small consignment for the store.
and that was quickly disposed Of: so,
leaving the other citizens of Flambeau
to wrangle over their private merchan-
disc. he went back to his solitary vigil.
which finally became so unbearable
that he sought to escape his thoughts
or at least to drown them for awhile.
amid the lights and life and laughter
Of Stark's saloon.
Runnion annoyed him with his volu-
biity, for the news of his good for
tune had fred the man with a reck-
less disregard for money, and he turn
ed to gaming rs the one natural re-
course of his ik.
1t was shortly after midnight that
Stark came into the place. Poieon
was not too absorbed In his own for
tunes to fail to notice the extraOrdi-
nary ferocity and exhilaration Of the
saloon keeper nor that his face was
more nervous and his voice more cut
ting than usual when he spoke to Run
MON:
Come here"
"I'll be with you when finish this
hand" said the player over his shout
der.
Come here" Stark snapped bis com
mand, and Runnion threw down his
cards.
Drawing the reluctant gambler aside
Stark began to talk rapidly to him
almost within earshot Of Poleon, who
watched them, idly wondering wha'
Stark had to say that could make Run
mon start and act SO Queerly. Well
It was their affair. They made bad
pair to draw to. He knew that Run
MON was the saloon keepers heuten
ant and obeyed implicitly his senior.
commands. He could distinguish moth
ing they said. nor was he at all curl
Gus until knot of noisy men crowded
up to the bar and. forcing the TIVE
back nearer to the table where he sat
his sharp ears caught these word
from luminous lips:
mot with me. She'd never 60 will
mel! And Stark's reply:
She'll go where send her and will
anybody 1 tell her to-"
The Frenchman lost what followed
for newly dealt hand required study
He scanned his cards and tossed then
face up before the dealer; then h
overheard Runnion say:
Its the only one in camp. FL
might sell It II you offered hin
enough" At this Stark called one o
the men at the bar aside. and tn
three began to decker.
mot a cent less" the third man an
nounced loudly. There amt anothe
.--------- ~, Tn town"
Going outside. Runnion said again t
Stark:
I ISLE won't go with me, Ben. Sh
. don't like me. You see. ! made Low
1 to her, and she got mad and wante'
me killed"
"She'lI never know who you are ur
/ til It's too late to turn back" said tn
other, 'aud you are the only man
can trust to take her through. ca
trust you. You owe me too much t
be crooked"
"Oh. III act square with you! Blu
look here, what's all this about any
2 how7 Why do you want that girl
You said you didn't care for her tina
way. You told me so yourself. Any
, way. | amt the safest kind Of char
eron for a good looking girl"
Stark laid cold hand on Runni0n'
, shoulder close up to his neck.
"Never mind what l said. She
mine, and you've got to promise to b
straight with her. I've trusted you b.
fore, and II you're not on the lew
now cay 90. 1t will save you a lot {
trouble"
: "Oh, all rightr' exclaimed Runnio
!. testify. only 1t looks mighty queer
- He melted into the darkness, an
Stark returned to his cabin. where }
:, paced back aud forth impatiently, smi
!. Ing evilly now and then. consulting b
y watch at frequent intervals. A blac
look had begun to settle on his fac
. but It vanished when Necia came, an
. he met her with . smile.