The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-08-05

HIS EFFORTS WERE LIKE THOSE OF CHILD AGAINST GIANT. ing of black objects in the snow, and as he stared one of the objects came toward him.
 Do not fire. M'seur Howland," he heard a voice call. Tt eeS l-Jean Croisset, a friend. Blessed saints. that was-what you call heem-ciose call"
 The half breeds thin dark face came up smiling out of the white gloom. For a moment Rowland did not see him-scarcely heard his word. Wildly he looked about him for the girl. She was gone.
 'I happened here-just in t1me-with a club" continued Croisset. Come. we must go."
 The smile had gone from his face and there was commanding tirmness in the grip that fell on the young en- gineer's arm. Rowland was conscious that things were twisting about him and that there was a strange weakness in his limbs. Dumbly he raised his hands to his head, which hurt him un- til he felt as if he must cry out in his pain.
 1.-The girl'- he gasped weakly.
 Croisset's arm frightened about his waist
 'She ees gone" Rowland heard bim say, and there was something in the half breeds low voice that caused him to turn unauestioningly and stagger along beside him ill the direction of Prince Albert.
 And yet as he went, only half con- sciOus of what he was doing and lean- ing more and more heavily on his companion. he knew that 1t was more than the girls disappearance that he wanted to understand, for as the blow had fallen on his head he was sure that he had heard a woman's scream. and as he lay in the snow. dazed and choking. spending his last effort in his struggle for life. there had come to him as if from an infinite distance woman's voice. and the words that 1t had uttered pounded in his tortured brain now as his head dropped weakly against Croisset's shoulder.
 "Mon Dieu. you are killing him killing himv'
 ''I must carry you. M'seur How land." Jean said. And as be staggered out on the ice with his inanimate bur- den he spoke softly to himself. '"The saints preserve me, but what would the sweet Meleese say if she knew that Jean Croisset had come so near to losing the life of this m'seur le en- gineer?"
 In only subconscious sort of way was Rowland cognizant of anything more that happened that night. When he came back into a full sense of his existence be found himself in his bed at the hotel. There was a dull. aching pain; in his head and neck. and when he raised an inquiring hand it came in contact with a thick bandage.
 Soon there came a sound at the door, and he twisted his head. grimacing with the pain it caused him. Jean was looking in at him.
 "Ah. m'seur ees awakep' he said.
 "Is it bad. Croisser"
 'So bad that you will be in bed for a day or so. m'seur That is all"
 Impossible" cried the young engi- neer. ''I must take the o'clock train In the morning. 1 must be in Le Pas"-
 ''It is 5 o'clock now." interrupted Jean softly. Do you feel like going?"
 Rowland strengthened himself and fell back suddenly with a sharp cry.
 "The devil!" he exclaimed. After moment he added. There will be no other train for two days" As be raised hand to his aching head his other closed tightly about Jeans 1.-the brown fingers. "I want to thank you for what you did. Croisset l don't know what happened. don't know who they were or why they tried to kill me. There was a girl. was going with her.
 He dropped his hand in time to see the strange fire that had leaped into the half breeds eyes. In astonishment be half lifted himself again. his white face questioning Croisset.
 "Do you know?' he whispered eager ly. ''Who was she? Why did she lead me into that ambush? Why did they attempt to Kill me-"
 With quick movement the half breed drew away his hand and moved toward the door. Halfway he paused and turned.
 "M'seur, I have come to you with a warning. Do not go to Le Pas. Do not go to the big railroad camp on the WekUsllo. Return into the south. Per- haps you will understand when I tell you this warning is sent to you by the little Meleese''
 Before Rowland could recover from his surprise Croissct had passed swift ly through the door. For a long time he lay with his eyes closed trying to clear for himself the mystery of the