Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-01-26
THE BARRIER
Copyright, 1908, by
Harper a. Brothers.
All Rights Reserved
Sf 9Noud BY REX BEACH

be you tink I'm traitor, too. W'at2
wy dom you spik outT
The three of them were alone, and
4 only the sound of Gales axe came to
them; but at the light in the Canadians
face Runnion hastily disclaimed any such
thought on his part, and Stark shrugged
his denial.
81 dom know you Teller at ALL" con-
tinued Poleon, but ole Man Gale, he's
my frien, so guess you don better
talk no more lax dat"
Don't get sore" said Stark. 81 simply
say II looks bad" But the other had
turned his back and was walking on.
There are men quite devoid of the
/ ability to read the human face, and
Runnion was of this species. Moreover,
malice was so bitter in his mouth that he
must have IL out so when they paused
to blaze the next stake he addressed to
Stark loud enough for Poleon to hear.
1.-The lieutenant is more Of man than
! 1 thought he was"
How SOP inquired the older man.
well, IT takes nerve to steal a girl
for one night and then face the father;
but the old man don't seem to mind 1t
any more than she does. guess he
knows what it means, all right"
Stark laughed raucously. II thought
of that myself" he said.
| pTODdDiy nOW 0hlS BOl AAAS
! squaw," concluded Runnion. with
sneer.
It seemed a full minute before the
Frenchman gave sign that he had heard,
then a strange cry broke from his throat
and he began to tremble as If with cold.
He was no longer the singer of songs or
the man who was forever a boy; the
hooking anger of a moment ago was
gone; In fits place was a consuming fury
A. -
| tan, leaving him the pallnr of ashes,
while his mouth twitched and his head
rolled slightly from side to side like a
palsied old mans. The red of his lips
was blanched, leaving two white streaks
against a faded, muddy background,
through which came strange and fright
full oaths in a bastard tongue. Runnion
drew back. fearful and the older man
ceased chopping and let his axe hang
loosely In his hand. But evidently Pole
on meant no violence, for he allowed the
passion to run from him freely until it
had spent its vigor, then said to Run
MON:
'M'sieu. elder you are brave man or
dam fool"
what do you mean, Frenchy?' saio
the man addressed, uneasily.
Somebody goin' die for wat you say
JUS now. Mebbe it's goin' be you,
tell yet, but I'm hope an pray it's goin'
be you, because 1 t'ink wat you say
is lie, an nobody can spik dose kin
of lie bout Necia Gale"
He went crashing blindly through the
underbrush, his head wagging, his
shoulders slumped loosely forward like
those of a drunken man, his lips framing
words they could not understand.
When he had disappeared Runnion drew
a deep breath.
II guess I've framed something for
Mister Burrell this time"
You go about it queer" said Stark
I'D rather tackle a gang-saw than a
man like Poleon Doret. Your frame-up
may work double"
Huh! No chance. The soldier was out
all night alone with that half-breed GIRL
and anybody can see she's crazy about
him. What's the answer"
We'll, she's mighty pretty" agreed the
other, most too pretty for a mixed
blood, but you can't make that French
man believe she's wrong"
why, he believes II now" chuc4xled
Runnion, cor, at least he's jealous, and
that's just as good. Those two will have
trouble before dark. / wish they would
then I'd have a chance"
Have you got your eye on her, too?"
Sure! Do you blame me?'
@NoS Jul sue NOO kOOu lOT you.
Then she's too good for them. think
I'll enter the running"
Better stay out" the gambler advised;
you'll have sore feet before you finish.
AS matter of fact, don't like her faith
er any better than you like her lovers
well, it's mutual. can see Gale hates
you like poison"
land 1 don't intend to see him and
his tribe hog all the best ground here
abouts."
They've already done it, You can't
stop them"
Before answering, Stark listened for the
trader, but evidently Gale had finished his
task and returned to the shack, for there
was neither sign nor sound of him.
Yes, 1 can stop them" said Stark 81
want the ground that girl has staked,
and I'm going to get It. 1t lies next to
Lees, and it's sure to be rich; ours is
so far away it may not be worth the re-
corder's fees. This creek may be as
spotted as a coach dog, so ! don't intend
to take any chances" ST..
"She made her locations legally" said
Runnion.
other boys be here?"
Tomorrow morning. I told them to
follow about four hours behind, and not
to run in on us till we had finished.
They'll camp a fe miles down the creek,
and be in early"
You couldn't get but three, eh?'
That's all 1 could find who would
agree to give up half"
Can we count on them?"
"Huh!" the other grunted. 'They
worked with me and Soapy on the Skag-
way trail"
Good. Five against three. not count
ing the girl and the lieutenant" Stark
unused. well, that will. do it." He out
lined his plan, then the two returned to
the cabin to find Lee cooking supper.
Poleon was there with the others, but,
except for his silence, he showed no sign
of what had taken place that afternoon.
Stark developed loquacious mood after
supper, devoting himself entirely to
Necia, in whom he seemed to take great
interest. He was an engaging talker,
with a peculiar knack of suggestion in
story-telling-an unconscious halting and
elusiveness that told more than words
could express-and, knowing his west so
well, he fascinated the girl, who hung
upon his tales with fiattering eagerness.
Poleon had finished several pipes, and
now sat in the shadows in the open door
way. apparently tired and detected,
though his eyes shOne like diamonds and
roved from one to the other. Half uncon-
sciously he heard Stark saying:
This girl was about your size, but not