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

gled. Then, as the spell passed, he
laughed again.
She's got you In her head. like the
mother had, but I'll drive It out. I'll
treat he: like did her"
Gale uttered terrible cry and
moved upon him, but Burrell Shout
dered the trader aside, himself pos
sessed by cold fury that intensified
his strength tenfold.
stop It, Gale. Let me attend to
this. I'll make him tell"
ooh, will you" Knocked the girls
father.
where Is sheY'
"Ncne Of your ID businessw Again
he was seized with a paroxysm that
left him shiyering and his lips color.
less. The blankets were soaked and
soggy with blood, and his feet rested
in red pool.
"Ben Stark" said the tortured lover,
you're sick man. and you'll be gone
In half an hour at this rnte. Won't
you do one decent thing before you
dep
Bah! I'm all right"
"I'll get you doctor II you'll tell
us where she is. If you don't I'll-let
you die. For Gods sake, man, speak
upw
The wounded man strove to rise, but
could not. then considered for q mo.
ment before lie said:
II sent her away"
"Where?"
up river on that freighter that left
last night. She'll go out by Skagway.
and III join her later where I can
have her to myself. She's forty miles
up river now and getting farther every
minute. On, you can't catch her!'
The three men stared ut one another
blankly.
why did she go?" said Gale duly.
Because I told her who she was
and who you arc; because she thinks
you killed her mother; because she
was glad to get away" Now that he
was grown too weak to infict violent
pain the man lied malevolently, gloat.
ing over what he saw in the traders
face.
"Never mind, old man: I'll bring her
back" said Burrell and laid comfort
ing hand on Gales shoulder, for the
fact that she was safe. the fact of
knowing something. relieved him i'm
mensely. but Stark's next words plung-
ed him into even blacker horror than
the trader felt.
"You won't want her If you catch
her. Runnion will see to that"
"Runnion"
Eyes. ! sent him with her."
The lover cried out in anguish and
hid his face in bis hands.
Hes wanted her for a long time. SO
told him to 90 ahead"
None Of them noticed Poleon Doret
who upon this unnatural confession
alone seemed to retain sufficient con.
troll to doubt and to reason. He was
thinking hard. Strengthening out Ger.
tain facts and trying to square this
horrible statement with things he had
seen and heard tonight. All Of a sud
den he uttered a great cry and bolted
out into the darkness UNDECIDED by
Gale and Surrell. who stood dazed and
distraught with a fear greater than
that which was growing in Stark al
sight of his wounds.
The gambler looked down at his in
juries. opened and closed the fingers
Of his hand as II to see whether he
still maintained control of them, then
cried out at the two helpless men:
"Well, are you going to let me bleed
to death?"
1t brought the soldier out Of hi,
trance.
"Why-no, no. Well get doctor
But Gale touched him on the shout
der and said:
Hes too weak TO get out. Loci
him in and let him die in the dark
Stark cursed affrlghtedly. for 1t is q
terrible thing to bleed to death in thu
dark. and IN spite Of himself the lieu
tenant wavered.
II can't do that. promised"
'I1e told that lie to my girl. FL
gave her to that hound" said the
trader, but Burrell showed him through
the door.
"No; can't do that!' And then tt
the wounded man he said, "I'.i get a
doctor. but God have mercy on youl
soul" He could not trust himself tc
talk further with this creature nor BIZ
near him any longer, for. though he
had a slight knowledge of surgery. he
would sooner have touched a loath
some serpent than the flesh OF this
monstrous man.
He pushed Gale ahead Of him, and
the old man went like driven beast
for his violence had wasted Itself, and
he was like person under the spell
Of a strong drug.