The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-10-31


him, and began to dress. He spoke
no word until he was done.
DO you understand what is
going to happen, Croisset?" he
cried then, his eyes blazing holly.
do you understand that what
you have done will put you behind
prison bars for ten years or
more? Does it dawn on you that
I'm going to take you back to the
authorities, and that as soon as
we reach the Wekusko I'll have
twenty men back on the trail of
these friends of yours?" 5T#
A gray pallor spread itself over
Jeans thin face.
THE great God, M'seur, you
can not do that"
"Can mott" Howland's fingers
dug into the edge of the table.
"By this great God of yours, Crois-
set, but l will! And why not?, Is
| it because Meleese is among this
gang of cut-throats and murder
ers Pish, my dear Jean, you
must be a fool They tried to kill
me on the trail, tried it again in
the coyote, and you came back
here determined to kill me. You've
held the whip-hand from the first.
Now it's mine. / swear that If
| take you back to the Wekusko
We'll get you all"
"If, Mseur?"
"Yes-if."
and that if Jean was
straining against the table.
at rests with you, Croisset. |
will bargain with you. Either !
shall take you back to the We
kusko, hand you over to the au-
IT, critics and send force after the
Iothers-or you shall take me to
Meleese. Which shall it be?"
And If l take you to Meieese,
NJ seur?"
Rowland Strengthened, his voice
trembling a little with excite
ment.
If you take me to Meleese, and
swear to do as l say, l shall bring
no harm to you or your friends"
And Meleese-" Jean eyes
darkened again. You will not
ndIul HSI, M SeuT
Harm her!" There was "a
laughing tremor in Howland's
voice. Good God, man, are you
SO blind that you can't see that
am doing this because of her? I
tell you that I love her. Until
now / haven't had the chance. You
and your friends have played a
lcowardly underhand game, Crois-
set. You have taken me from be-
hind at every move, and now it's
up to you to square yourself lit
tie or there's going to be hell to
lay. Understand? You take me
to Meleese or there'll be a clean
up that will put you and the
whole bunch out of business.
Harm her" Again Rowland
laughed, leaning his white face
toward Jean. Come, which shall
it be, Croisset?"
A cold glitter, like the snap of
sparks from striking steels, shot
from the Frenchman's eyes. The
grayish pallor went from his face.
His teeth cleaned in the enigmat-
ic smile that had half undone.
Rowland in the fight.
You are mistaken in some.
things, M'seur," he said quietly
Until today, I have fought for
you and not against You. But now
you have left me but one choice.
I will take you to Meleese, and
that means"
"Goodr cried Rowland y
La, la, M'seur-not so good as
you think. 1t means that as sure
ly as the dogs carry us>there YOU
will never come back. Mon Dieu,
your death is certain!'
Rowland turned briskly to the
stove.
Hungry, Jean?" he asked
more companionably. Lets not
quarrel, man. You've had your
fun, and now I'm going to have
mine. Have you had breakfast ?"
"f was anticipating that pleas
ure with you, M'seur," replied
Jean with grim humor.
"And then-after had fed you
you were going to kill me, my
dear JEAN" laughed Rowland,
Hopping a huge caribou steak ON
the naked top of the sheet-iron
stove. Real nice fellow you are,
ell ?"
"You ought to be killed,
lM'seur."
$50 you've said before. When
II see Meleese I'm going to know
the reason why, Or"