Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-02
CHAPTER XV.-And a Knot
frightened


thing. but the night OF such a day is
desolate indeed. IN all his life Poleon
Doret had never sunk TO such depths Of
dependency. for his optimistic philOso-
ply and his buOyant faith in the good
ness OF life forbade it, Therefore. when
darkness came il blOtted out what little
brightness and light and hope were left
70 him after Necia's stormy interview
with the lieutenant The arrival OF the
freight steamer afforded him some dis
traction. but there was only small con-
signment for the store. and that was
quickly disposed OF; so. leaving the other
citizens OF Flambeau 10 wTangle over
their private merchandise. he went back
TO his solitary vigil. which finally became
so unbearable that he sought TO escape
his thoughts. 90 at least to drown them
for a while. amid the lights and life and
laughter OF Stark's saloon. Being but a
child Of nature, his means Of distraction
were primal and elementary. and he be-
gan TO gamble. as usual with hard luck,
for the cards had ever been unkind to
him He did not think Of winnings or los
ingS hOwever-he merely craved the occu-
patton; and 1t was this that induced him
to sit at a game in which Runnion
played although ordinarily he would not
have tolerated even tacitly such truce
OF his dislikes- AS IL was, he crOuched
in a corner. his hat pulled down over his
brow, his swarthy face a darker hue
beneath the shadow, losing steadily, only
now and then showing a flash Of white
teeth as he saw his money go. What mat
tered loss TO him. He had no more need
of money now than Necia had of his love.
He would spend the dollars he had elSed
and scraped and saved for her as she
had spent the treasures Of his heart,
and now that the one had brought him
no return he wished TO be rid Of the
other. for he was shortly to go again
in search OF his New Country" where
no man needs gold half so much as a
clean heart II would be a long journey.
far TO the west and north-a journey
= that none OF his kind had ever Jared
back from. and he wished to go light,
as all good adventures so.
Runnion annoyed him with his vOlubil-
fty. for the news of his good fortune
had fred the man with a reckless dis
regard for money, and he turned TO gam
ing as the one natural recourse Of his
fIk AS the irony of fate would have it.
he won what the Canadian lost. together
with the stakes Of various others who
played for a time with him, and then
gave I'D. wagging their heads or swearing
softly at the cards.
II was shortly after midnight that Stark
came into the place. POleon was not too
absorbed In his own fortunes TO fail TO
notice the extraordinary ferOcity and
exhiIaration Of the saloon-keeper, nor
that his face was keener, his nOstrils
thinner. his walk more nervous, and his
voice more cutting than usual when he
spoke 10 RunniOn.
Come here"
.sTH be with you when I finish this
hand said the player. over his shoulder.
Come here!' Stark snapped his COM
mand and Runnion threw down his
cards
I'm right in the middle OF a winning
streak You'll break my luck. Ben"
But the other only frOwned impatient
", and. drawing the reluctant gambler
aside began TO talk rapidly to him, al
most Within ear-shot OF PoIeon, who
had TO say that could make ZunniOn start
had 10 say that could NAVE RunniOn start
and act so queeriy. Well. it was their af-
fair. They made a bad pair 10 draw TO.
He knew that RunniOn was the saloon
keepers lieutenant and Obeyed implicitly
his seniors commands He could dis
tinguish nothing they said. nor was he
at all curious until knot Of noisy men
crowded up 10 the bar. and, forcing the
two back nearer TO the table where he
sat. his sharp ears caught these words
from RunniOn's lips:
Not with me- Shed never go with
met and Starks reply:
shell go where send her. and with
anybody I tell her to-
The Frenchman lost what followed, for
a newly dealt hand required study. He
scanned his cards, and tossed the-l face
Up before the dealer; then he overheard
RunniOn say:
"It's the only one in camp. He might
sell It IL you offered him enough" At
this Stark called one OF the men at the
bar aside, and the three began to dicker.
Not a cent less" the third man an
announced. loudly. There amt an
other Peterborough in town"
1t was Poleou's deal now, and when
he had finished botI. Stark and RunniOn
had disappeared, also the man they had
accOsted. which pleased the Canadian,
for now that RunniOn was eliminated
from the game he might win little A
steady. unvarying run Of bad hands is
uninteresting. and does not occupy ones
mind as well as an occasional change Of
luck
Outside Runnion was saying again to
Stark:
she won't go with me. Ben: she don't
Ike me You see. I made love to her,
and she got mad and wanted me killed"
shell never know who you are until
fits too late TO turn back" said the
other, ''and you are the only man 1 can
trust to take her through. 1 can trust
yOu-you owe me too much to be
crooked.
saOh. I'll act square with you! But
look here, what's all this about. anyhow?
Why do you want that girl? You said
you didn't care for her that way; you
told me so yourself. Been having a
change OF heart or is IL your second
chfldhCodg' He laughed disagreeably.
Its none OF your business" said the
gambler. Il want her. and that's
enough. All you have 20 do is TO take
her to St Michaers and keep her there
till you hear from me. She thinks she
is going to the mission. and you needn't
tell her otherwise until you get her
aboard steamer; then take her. no mat
ter what kind OF a fight she puts up.
You've got a light-rOwing skin. and you'd
better keep going till you're Overtaken
By a down-river boat. I want her as far
away from here as possible. There's
going 10 be some he'll in this camp. Now,
hike. and get yourself ready"
IAN right But I amt the safest kind
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