Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1909-02-26
CHAPTER XII,

"Hello" said he. What endorsed
met had just settled down comforta-
bly, to view that spout when-pluffl
began to lose track O. things and my head
broASs What was it-gas altitude-r
more likely old Pelee was up to some
thing he preferred you shouldn't SEE"
said Breen. 81 know the racket turned
me sick as a poisoned rat while was
dragging at your leg. I know that the
natives wouldn't venture within two hun
heavy young person"
"And so you retrieved the fallen under
the guns Of the enemy? That was good
Of you, Breen. 1t was, indeed"
The natives were pressing in. Darkness
was beginning. Breen was conscious of
q catch In his throat
"Peter," said Breen quietly, II ran
from you this morning"
"You didn't run from me this after
poon, the which is lucky for me. Take
little touch yourself, old playmate, and
don't get moody. One needs a pal when
one makes such a mussy dumplng-ground
Of good chances. The engaging Mr.. Stem
bridge never did me any harm, and all
that the newspapers could accomplish in
the minds of people at large would move
me to no deeper emotion than to say,
Dear folks be-hanged ="
peter, If l hadn't been here, you
would be a good daylight run out on the
decent ocean by this time, with the lady u
please don't goad yourself further,
Breen. That matter is mine-all mine"
Constable spoke In a low voice. Breen
was bending over him in the dusk. "YOu
didn't force yourself upon me. You didn't
even come along by chance. 1 asked you
to cruise with me. You volunteered to
tell me about yourself. l said it wasn't
necessary. This man has a mind, and
he isn't a coward was the conclusion 1
came to that night, and haven't seen
Gt to change my opinion"
"But the Lady"
eyes, the lady has spoken. 1 am done
down and out. The point Is,
you didn't turn on Pelee's throttle. You're
not to blame because I'm a dub of a
lover. I'm not on sick report"
You're game, Peter" said Breen as
he helped the other into the saddle.
mot game enough to abduct one fright
sned little mother-handled girl" Consta-
BILE replied.
They were riding together down the
winding trail, apart from the guides. The
lights of Ajoupa Boullion were ahead,
and the mountain carried on frightful
drumming behind. The coiling masses of
volcanic spume, miles above the craters,
generated its own fire, and, lit in the
flashes, looked like pillows of boiling steel.
Constable was very weak, and Breen rode
upon sheer nerve-nerVe that men had
often wondered at.
"Peter," he said at length, you are
not through trying to get the lady out of
thisP
ITO think that such tone and such
q question could come from the implaca-
BILE Stembridge' |" Constable said, with a
laugh.
1.-THE implacable Stembridge' was never
crucifed BEFORE" Breen answered. ITO
you and me, together, it does not vastly
matter that am Stembridge, one of the
bigger wolves. But others have come In.
Because l am here, you stand dazed to-
nlght, your heart torn out. Because l
am here, you went up to the mouth of
that horrible pit to-day, and lay down to
Die. have played with men and women,
Peter, but l never wrecked a white man
before, or broke the heart of friend"
A hand stretched across the dark and
fell upon Breen's arm and frightened
there. II know how you feel; but what
would you have me do?" Constable NUT
tered.
when 1 see a wisp of smoke on the
horizon, and know that you and the lady
and the Madame are wrapped in it.
For four days l have been dreaming
that dream, Breen."
at must come true this night. There
will have been a reaction. Go there to-
night. Speak to her alone. Tell her how
you came to know mellow men look at
these things-that the newspaper story
was as new to you as to herself. Tell
her of your trip to Pelee, and how the
disorder they see and hear down In the
city looks up there at first handg"
1t was at this instant that full-rigged
thought sprang into Breen's brain, which
had known but the passing of hopeless
derelicts throughout the day. He dared
not trust the thought to words, lest the
other should cancel 1t, but he called to
the guides to increase the pace.
"Ah, she would not listen to words of
mine," Constable answered hopelessly. "If
she had any faith in me, words would not
be necessary. A man knows when he Is
beaten. have drawn my little uuietus
Tor one day. Tomorrow"
There may not be any tomorrow for
Saint Pierre"
"Of course. For that matter, we might
be boiled out like a pair of tater-bugs
before we can pick up a snack in Ajoupa
Boullion. Then, again, the people NAV
be right, and I a frenzied alarmist. Pc
lee is throwing off pressure true and
steady as clock running down. 1t may
be that he'll relieve his crowded cham
bers this way"
Such words, more than anything that
had passed, revealed the extent of Con
stables reaction. They were entering
Ajoupa Boullion, where food and fresh
mounts were procurable.
It's probably better for her that she
did not give herself to me-" Constable
observed, when they were in the saddle
again. His mind was deepening the bitter
groove now. wen put all this behinC
Us presently, Breen. We're mates,
guess"
This Is our last ride together, Peter
There are many reasons, One 18th,