Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-10

nod Pierre" she said before he could continue
we must hurry faster. faster!
Den you give out an we go a leete bit. Lees
Jean an sing one two, fine song to help eat up
de mile.
No, please don't sing. How far do you call it to
MacNaughtens?"
Maybe fifty bad mile, - he admitted sulkily and
Presently they pierced the thickets of young
spruce on to narrow, almost obliterated trail where
the travelling was comparatively easy. The girl
pushed to the front and almost her eagerneSS.
sprnging fallen trunks and obstructlng boulders
with reckless waste of energy Pierre plodded after,
too suen to remOnstrate or maybe realizing that
her very haste would defeat her ends. With Hen
drick eliminated, it would be strange Pierre, 1.-The
handsomest logger on the river did not find sue
cess.
SUDDENLY he was startled from his reveries by
- sharp cry of pain Jean had tripped pro-
trudng root and fallen her face. He bounded
forward and leaned over the PROSTATE figure, all ex
ctement and concern.
Where you git hurt Jean?' he shouted
My foot, my foot' and she moaned pathetically.
With def fingers he unlaced her moccasin drew
off her stocking, and began gently manipulating the
soft tendons of her ankle.
oh! Oh, Pierre, dont!' she pleaded, wincing
from the pain he caused her.
1t amt broke, dat is sure he consoed. You
give piece of de petticoat an bind it SO you
presently walk good ever
She raised no objection, and he tore off narrow
strip and started toward the river that paraleled the
trail.
Jean" and he paused with an ugly CLEAN in his
eyes, you give all de pettcoat, an max de poor
foot jest lax then
She was sitting against bole, with her hair about
her face and the little pink garment the moss be-
side her when he returned. The damp strip
bound snug1y about the foot and two more bandages
wrapped over it.
Again Pierre made for the river, and the girl did
notice that the stocking and what left of the
flannel went with him. By the waters edge, five
miles above the of the disaster, he found
silver of pine inserted it in the hose and hurled it
far out into the purrlng currents.
Bon Ooydge little black stockin'! he called
mockingly. "Bou aoydge dear little petticoat! and
he squeezed it into ball and threw it after Two
fine presents from Pierre to de gentleman sttin on
de beeg rock. l hopes dey will max you skip an
laugh wit joy, NJ. Hendrick and still chuckling
at his own wit he went back to the girl and helped
her to her feet.
She made desperate effort to walk; but would
have fallen If he had not caught her. No, Pierre,
no simply can't!" she groaned and slid to the
ground
He mplored encouraged, and scolded in turn un-
til he realized that nothing but force would induce
her to continue With smolderng impatience he set
about collecting dry frewood, a couch of soft hem
lock boughs and erecting rough shelter of bark and
leaves He would be forced to hasten to
the gir-and perhaps his rival, though he knew the
chances all against the latter surviving his
ditiOns.
"Goodby, JEAN" he growled Don't you be
scarf. l git back pretty blame quick" Lacking
coat, he discarded his vest for her protection and
swung off among the trees
Before he had gone quarter mile suspicion awoke
in his brain and he crced back from the trail and
crept toward the starting point on his knees.
The girl was sitting as he had left her. her eyes
closed with pain and WEAKNESS. He waited for some
time and still she did not A fierce impulse
seized him to rush out and take her in his and
voice his mad passions in her ear, she seemed
helpless, SO lonely so forlorn Perhaps when he came
back from the settlement she might permit. ANY
way, dat fool brute don't interfere, dat certain
and with lighter heart he drove himself back the
trail and sped on.
- ~.