The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-11-05
(By United Press Leased Wire

(By United Press Leased Wire. |
1 had planned to use YOU"
said Rowland, but I've lost faith
in you. Honestly, Croisset. l be-
lieye you would stick me in the
back almost as quickly as those
down there"
Not in the back, NJ 'seur,"
smiled the Frenchman, unmoved
Il have had opportunities to do
that. Non, since that fight back
there | do not believe that II
want to kill you"
But l would be a fool to trust
you. Isn't that so?"
Not If l gave you my word.
That is something we do not break
up here as you 80 down among
the Wekusko people, and farther
south"
But you murder people for
pastime-eh, my dear Jean?"
Croisset shrugged his Shout
ders without speaking.
See here, Croisset." said
Rowland with sudden earnestness,
I'm almost tempted to take a
chance with you. VIII you goI
down to the post tonight, in some
way gain access to Meleese, and
give her a message from me?"
And the message-what would
it be-"
1T would bring Meleese up to
this cabin-tonight."
Are you sure, NJ seur?"
Il am certain that it would.
Will you go
Non, Mseur."
THE devil take you!" cried
Rowland angrily. IF l was not
certain that | would need you
later I'd garrote you where you
sit
lie rose and went to the old
stove. 1t was still capable of
holding fire, and as it had grown
too dark outside for the smoke to
be observed from the post, he pro-
ceeded to prepare supper of hot
coffee and meat. Jean watched
him in silence, and not until food
and drink were on the table did
the engineer himself break silence.
of course, I'm not going to
feed YOU he said CURLY, so I'll
have to free your hands. But be
careful"
lie placed his revolver on the
table beside him after he had
freed Croisset.
Il might aSSaSSinate you with a
fork chuckled the Frenchman
softly, his black eyes laughing
over his coffee cup. 81 drink
your health, M'seur, and wish you
happiness!"
You lie" snapped Rowland.
Jean lowered the cup without
drinking.
It's the truth, M'seur." he in
sisted. "Since that beautiful
fight back there l cannot help but
wish you happiness. l drink also
to the happiness of Meleese, also
to the happiness of those who tried
to kill you on the trail and at the
coyote. But, Mon Dieu, how is it
all to come? Those at the post
are happy because they believed
that you are dead. You will not
be happy until they are dead. And
Meleese-how will all this bring
happiness to her? | tell you that
l am as deep in trouble as you,
NJ seur Rowland. May the Virgin
strike me dead if I'm not"
He drank, his eyes darkening
gloomily. In that moment there
flashed into Howland's mind al
memory of the battle that Jean
had fought for him on the Great
North Trail.
You nearly killed enc of
them-that night-at Prince AL
bert" he said slowly. q can't
understand why you fought for
me then and Won't help me now
But you did. And you're afraid
to go down there"
Until | have regrown beard"
interrupted Jean with low
chuckling laugh. You would
not be the only one to die if they
saw me again like this. But that
is enough, M'seur. l will say no
more"
q really don't want to make
you uncomfortable, JEAN" How
land apologiZed, as he secured the
Frenchman hands again after
they had satisfied their hearty APP
petites, but unless you swear by
your Virgin or something else that
you will make no attempt to call
assistance I shall have to gag you.
What do you say?'
4 will make no cutlery, NJ seur.
give you my word for that"
With another length of babeesh
Rowland tied his companions
legs.
I'm going to investigate a lit
tie" he explained. Il am not
afraid of your voice, for if begin to-
shout | will hear you first. But
with your legs free you might take
1t into your head to run away"
would you mind spreading a
blanket on the floor, NJ 'seur? If
you are gone long this box will
grow hard and sharp"
t 4 few minutes later, after he
had made his prisoner as COM
Portable as possible in the cabin,
Rowland went again through the
fringe of scrub bush to the edge
of the ridge. Below him the plain
was lost in the gloom of night. He
could see nothing of the buildings
at the post but two or three
lights cleaning family through
the darkness. Overhead there
were no stars; thickening snow
Shut out what illumination there
might have been in the north, and
even as he stood looking into
the desolation to the west the
snow fell faster and the lights
grew fainter and fainter until all
was a chaos of blackness.