Putnam patriot., 1911-10-27
CHAPTER XIII.

(A1IN a single breath the face of ITl Jean CroiSset became nc ksSi more than mask of what it Eae4sg had been. The taunting smile left his lips and gray pallor spread over his face as ne saw Howlands in- ger crooked firmly on the trigger of his revolver. In another instant there came the sound of metallic snap.
 ''The devil. An empty eartridger' Rowland exclaimed T forgot to load after those three shots at the cup. It's coming this time. JeanF'
 Purposely he snapped the second empty cartridge.
 "The great GodF' gasped Jean. "M'seur"-
 From deep in the forest came the paying of the Mackenzie hound. This time 1t was much nearer. and for a moment Howlands eyes left the Frenchman's terrified face as he turned hls head to listen.
 They are comIngr' exclaimed Crois- set. M'seur. I swear to-
 Again Howland's pistol covered hls heart
 Then 1t Is even more necessary that kill you" he said with frightful calmness. "I warned you that would kill you If you led me into a trap. Croisset. The dogs are pushed There is no way out of this but to fight-if there are people coming down the trail. Listen to thatp'
 This time. from still nearer. came the shout of a man and then of an other followed by the huskies' sharp yelping as they started afresh on the trail The flush of excitement that had come into Howlands face paled until he stood as white as the Frenehman But it was not the whiteness of fear His eyes were like blue steel flashing in the sunlight.
 There is nothing 10 do but fight" he repeated. even more calmly than be fore. If we were mile or two back there it could all happen as I planned it. But here"-
 "They will hear the shots" cried Jean. "The post Is no more than a gunshot beyond the forest, and there are plenty there who would come out to see what 1t means. Quick. m'seur- follow me, Possibly they are hunters going out to the trap lines. If 1t comes to the worst'-
 What then2" demanded Rowland.
 You can shoot me a little later," temporized the Frenehman, with a l.g ~Iy1 I am afraid of that gun. m'seur. will get you out of this If can. VIII you give me the chance, or will you shoot?"
 ''I will shoot-if you fail." replied the engineer
 Barely were the words out of his mouth when Croisset sprang to the head of the dogs. seized the leader by his neck trace and half dragged the team and sledge through the thick bush that edged the trail. A dozen paces farther on the dense scrub open ed into the clearer run of the low hanging banskian through which Jean started at slow trot with Rowland a yard behind him and the huskies following with human-like cleverness in the sinuous twistings of the trail which the Frenchman marked out for them. They had progressed not more than 300 yards when there came to them for a third time the hallooing of a voice. With a sharp "hup-hup" and a low crack of his whip Jean stopped the dogs.
 .'The Virgin be praised. but that Is luckw he exclaimed. 'They have turn ed of into another trail to the east. m'seur."
 The Lap of Luxury.
 What Is meant by the lap Of lux ury?" asked a teacher of a class of lit tie girls.
 "Please. ma'am, I know" exclaimed the smallest of the lot. holding up her hand.
 "WeIl. what is it. dearr' inquired the teacher kindly.
 Its when the cat steals into the larder and licks the cream off the milk" responded the little one.
 And the teacher on reflection wasn't quite sure that her pupil was wrong.