The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-11-11

81 had hoped to find you dead
NJ 'seur," he repeated in a voice Sc
low it could not have been heard
beyond the door. THAT is why
did not bind your wound and give
you water when they turned you
over to my care. l wanted you tt
bleed to death. 1t would have
been easier-for both of u.s.
From under the table he drew
forth a second stool and sat down
opposite Rowland. The two mer
stared at each other over the sput.
tering remnant of the candle. Be-
fore the engineer had recovered
from his establishment at the sud
den appearance of the man whom
he believed to be safely imprison-
ed in the old cabin, Croisset's
shifting eyes fell on the mass OF
torn wood under the aperture.
TOO late, M'seur," he said
meaningly. "They are waiting vi
there now. 1t is impossible fol
you to escape" ~
THAT is what l thought about
you" replied Rowland, forcing
himself to speak coolly. How did
you manage it?"
They came up to free me soon
after they got you, M'seur. 1 am
grateful to you for thinking of me
for if you had not told them
might have stayed there and
starved like beast in a trap"
1T was Meleese," said How
land. 81 told her."
Jean dropped his head in his
hands.
Il have just come from Me.
leese," he whispered softly. "She
sends you her love, Mseur, and
tells you not to give up hope. The
Igreat God, if she only knew-it
she only knew what is about to
happen. No one has told her. She
is prisoner in her room, and aft.
er that-after that out ON the
plain-when she came to you and
fought like one gone mad to save
you-they will not give her free.
dom until all is over. What time
is it, M'seur?"
A clammy chill passed over
lHowland as he read the time.
"Half-past four"
| The Frenchman shivered; his
fingers clasped and unclasped ner-
vously as he leaned nearer his
companion.
The Virgin bear me witness
that l wish l might strike ten
years off my life and give you
freedom, he breathed quickly. IL
would do it this instant, M'seur. /
would help you to escape if it
were in any way possible. But
they are in the room at the head
of the stair-waiting At six
Something seemed to choke him
and he stopped.
"At six-what them" urged
Rowland. "My God, man, what
makes you look so? What is to
happen at siX?"
Jean stiffened. A dash of the
fire cleaned in his eyes, and his
voice was steady and clear when
he spoke again.
Il have no time to lose in fur
Their talk like this, M'seur," he said
almost harshly. "They know now
that it was l who fought for you
and for Meleese on the Great
North Trail. They know that it
is | who saved you at Wekusko.
Meleese can no more save me
than she can save you, and to
make my task a little harder they
have made me their messenger,
and"
Again he stopped, choking for
words.
WHAT" insisted Rowland
leaning toward him, his face as
white as the tallow in the little
dish on the table.
Their eXecutioner, M'seur."
With his hands gripped tightly
on the table in front of him Jack
Rowland sat as rigid as though
an electric shock had passed
through him.
Great God!" he gasped.
First | am to tell you a story
M 'seur," continued Croisset, level
ing his Redeemed eyes to the engi-
neer's. 1T will not be long, and
| pray the Virgin to make you un-
derstand it as we people of the
North understand it. 1t begins
sixteen years ago."
Il shall understand, JEAN
whispered Rowland. GO on"
ut was at one of the com
pany's posts that it happened, ;
Jean began, "and the story has tc
do with LIE M'seur, the Factor
and his wife, L'Ange Blanc-that
is what she was called, M'seur-
the White Angel. Mon Dieu, how
we loved her! Not with a wicked
love, M'seur, but with somethins
very near to that which we give
our Blessed Virgin. And our love
was but a pitiful thing when com
pared with the love of these two
each for the other. She was beau
tiful, gloriously beautiful as VIZ
know women up In the big SHOWS;
like Meleese, who was the young
est of their children.
Ours was the happiest post il
all this great northland, M'seur,'
continued Croisset after a mo.
ment's pause; land it was all be
cause of this woman and the man
but mostly because of the woman
And when the little Meleese came
she was the first white girl baby
that any of us had ever seem
our love for these two became
IL