The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-11-03
(continued.)

(Continued.)
Croisset leaned down with his
black eyes cleaning like Goals.
DO you know what I would do
II l was her, M'seur?" he said in a
low voice, and yet one filled with
a threat which sti!led the words of
passion which the engineer was on
the point of uttering., do you
know what I would do? would
kill you-kill you inch by inch
torture you. That is what would
do"
For Gods sake, Croisset, tell me
why-why-
Croisset had found Howland's
pistol and freed his hands, and the
engineer stretched them out en-
treatingly.
Il would give my life for that
girl. Corisset. / told her SO back
therec, and she came to me when
| l was in the snow and" He
caught himself, adding to what he
had left incomplete. There Is q
mistake Croisset. I am not the
i
man they want to kill"
Croisset was smiling at him
again.
"Smoke-and think, M'seur. 1t
! Is impossible for me to tell you
why you should be dead--but you
ought to know, unless your memory
is shorter than a child's."
He went to the dogs. stirring
them up with the cracking of his
whip, and when Rowland turned
to look back he saw bright flare
of light where the other sledge had
stopped. A mans voice came from
the farther gloom, calling to Crois-
set In French.
He tells me l am to take you
on alone" said Croisset, after he
had replied to the words spoken In
a patois which Rowland could not
understand. "They will join us
again very soon."
They" exclaimed Rowland.
How many will it take to kill me,
my dear Croisset?"
The half-breed smiled down into
his face again.
You may thank the Blessed
Virgin that they are with u.s." he
| replied softly. IF you have any
hope outside of Heaven. M'seur, 1t
is on that sledge behind"
AS he went again to the dogs,
Strengthening the leader in his
traces, Rowland stared back at the
firelit space in the forest gloom.
He could see man adding fuel to
the blaze, and beyond him, shroud-
| ed in the deep shadows Of the trees
an indistinct tangle of dogs and
sledge. AS he strained his eyes to
discover more there was a move
ment beyond the figure over the
fire and the young engineers
heart leaped with a sudden thrill.
Croisset's voice sounded in shrill
shout behind him, and at that
warning cry In French the second
figure sprang back into the gloom.
But Rowland had recognized 1t,
and the chilled blood in his veins
leaped into warm life again at the
knowledge that 1t was Meleese
who was trailing behind them on
the second sledge! 500.
when you yell like that give
me little warning II you please.
jean" he said, speaking as coolly
as though he had not recognized
the figure that had come for an
instant into the freight. "It rs
enough to startle the life out OF
one!"
ut is our way of saying good-by,
M'seur," replied Croisset with a
fierce snap of his whip. "Hoo-la.
get along there!" he cried to the
dogs, and in half dozen breaths
the fire was lost to view.
Dawn comes at about o'clock
In the northern mid-winter; be-
yond the fiftieth degree the first
rudy haze of the sun begins to
warm the southeastern skies at
nine. and It's glow had already ris-
en- above the forests before Crois.
set stopped his team again. For
two hours he had not spoken a
/ word to his prisoner and after sew.
eral unavailing efforts to break the
others taclturnity Rowland lapsed
into a silence of his own. When
he had brought his tired dogs to a
halt, Croisset spoke for the first
/ time.
4 1--WE are going to camp here for
a few hours" he explained. I'll
you will pledge me your word OF
honor that you will make no at.
tempt to escape / will give you the
use OF your legs until after break
fast. Mseur. What do you sayT
Have you Pible. Croisset?"
mo. M'seur, but l have the cross