The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-10-08

Half way he paused and turned.
M seur, l have to you with a
warning. Do not go to LIE Pas.
Do not go to the big railroad camp
on the Wekusko. Return into
the South" For an instant he
leaned forward, his black eyes
flashing, his hands clenched tight
ly at his sides. Perhaps you
will understand, he cried tense
ly, when l tell you this warning
is sent to you-by the little
Meleese!"
Before Rowland could recover
from his surprise Croisset had
passed swiftly through the door.
The engineer called his name, but
there came on response other
+ than the rapidly retreating sound
| of the Northerner's moccasined
feet. With a grumble of vexa-
ton he sank back on his pillows.
The fresh excitement had set his
head in whirl again and fever
ish heat mounted into his face.
For a long time he la with his
eyes closed, trying to clear for
himself the mystery of the proceed
ing night. The one thought which
obsessed him was that he had
been duped. His lovely acquaint-
ance of the preceding evening had
ensnared him completely with
her gentle smile and her winsome
mouth, and he gritted his teeth
grimly as he reflected how easy
ha had hnnn nnlihArafaJxr ,Ia
had lured him into the ambush
which would have proved fatal
for him had it not been for Jean
Croisset. And she was not a
mute! He had heard her voice;
when that death-grip was highest
about his throat there had come
to him that terrified cry: "Mon
Dieu, you are killing him-kill-
ling him!"
| His breath came a little faster
as he whispered the words to him
self. They appealed to him now
with a significance which he had
not understood at first. He was
sure that in that cry there had
been real terror; almost, he fan
cied, as he lay with his eyes shut
tight, that he could still hear the
shrill note of despair in the
voice. The more he tried to rea-
son the situation, the more mex
plicable grew the mystery of it all.
If the girl had calmly led him into
the ambush, why, in the last mo-
ment, when success seemed about
to crown her duplicity, had she
cried out in that agony of terror?
In Howland's heated brain there
came suddenly vision of her as
she stood beside him in the white
trail; he felt again the thrill of
her hands, the touch of her breast
for moment against his own;
saw the gentle look that had,
come into her deep, pure eyes;
the pathetic tremor of the lips
which seemed bravely striving tol
speak to him. Was it posi- BILE
that face and eyes like those could
have led him into a death-trap.
Despite the evidence of what had
happened he found himself filled
with doubt. And yet, after all,
she had lied to him-for she was
NV q hlutC.
He turned over with a groan
and watched the door. When
Croisset returned he would insist
on knowing % more about the
strange occurrence, for he was
sure that the half-breed could
clear away at least a part of the
mystery. Vainly, as he watched
and waited, he racked his mind
to find some reason for the MUIR
derous attack on himself. Who
was 1.-THE little Meleese," whom
Croisset declared had sent the
warning? So far as he could re-
member he had never konwn a
person by that name. And yet
the half-breed had uttered it as
though it would carry vital
meaning to him. Perhaps you
will understand" he had said,
and Rowland strove to under
stand, until his brain grew dizzy
and a nauseous sickness overcame
him.
The first light of the day was
falling family through the win
dow when footsteps sounded out
side the door again. 1t was not
Croisset who appeared this time,
but the proprietor himself, bear
ing him a tray on which there
was toast and steaming pot of
coffee. He nodded and smiled as
he saw Rowland half sitting up.
bad fall you had" he greeted,
drawing a small table close be-
side the bed. This snow is
ltreacherous when you're climbing
among the rocks. When it
caves in with you on the side of
a mountain you might as well
make up your mind you're going
to get good bump. Good thing
Croisset was with youi"
For a few moments Rowland
was speechless.
INSTRUMENTATION"
he replied at last, looking sharp
ly at the. other. Where is Crois-
|set?"
Gone. He left an hour ago
with dogs. Funny fellow--that
Croisset! Came in yesterday
from the Lac la Ronge country a
hundred miles north; goes back
today. No apparent reason for
his coming, none for his going,
that | can see."