Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-08-25

apOlogizing 10 yOu." he exclaimed
docs your ear hurt?''
mo more than If had scratched Il
with a thorn" returned jean politely
"You are good with the pistol. m'seur.'
II would not profit by killing you
Just now" unused Rowland. seating
himself again on the box and resting
his chin In the palm of his hand AZ be
looked across at the other. but
that's pretty good intimation that
I'm desperate and mean business
Croisset. We won't quarrel about the
things I've asked you. What I'm here
for is to see Meleese. Now. bow ID
that to happen?"
"For the life Of me don't know
replied Jean as calmly as though q
bullet had not nipped the edge Of BIZ
ear moment before. There is only
one way l can see. m'seur. and that u
to wait and watch from this mountain
top until Meleese drives out her dogs
She has her own team and in ordinary
seasons frequently goes out alone Of
with one OF the women at the post
Mon Dieu. she bus had enough Oi
sledge riding Of late. and ! doubt Il
she will lind pleasure in her dogs for Z
long time"
Il had planned to use you." said
Rowland. but I've lost faith in you
Honestly. Croisset. believe you would
stick me in the back almost ss quickly
as those murderers down there"
to 1nf,
the Frenchman. unmoved. II have
had opportunities to do that. Non,
since that fight back there do NOT
believe that l want to kill you.''
But would be fool to trust you.
Isn't that so?"
mot If ! gave you my word. That
is something we do not break up here
as you do down among the Wekusko
people, and farther SOUTH"
but you murder people for pastims
-eh. my dear JeanY'
Crossiet shrugged his shoulders with.
out speaking.
'See here. Croisset." said Rowland
with sudden earnestness. I'm almost
tempted to take chance with you.
Will you so down to the post tonight.
in some way gain access to Meleese
and give her message from me?
And the message-what would II
be?"
1T would bring Meleese up to this
cabin-tonight"
Are you sure. m'seur?"
II am certain that It would. VIII
you go?''
mon. m'seur."
"The devil take your cried How
land angrily. III was not certain
that I would need you later I'd gar
rote you where you sit"
He rose aud went to the old stove.
It was still capable Of holding IRE.
and as it had grown too dark outside
for the smoke to be observed from the
post he proceeded to prepare a supper
of hot coffee and meat. Jean watched
him in silence. and not until food and
drink were on the table did the engl-
neer himself break silence
"Of course I'm not going to feed
you" he said CURLY. 80 Ill have 70
free your hands. But be careful"
He placed bis revolver on the table
beside him after he had freed Cr0is-
set.
II might assassinate you with Q
fork" chuckled the Frenchman softly.
his black eyes laughing over bis COT
fee cup. Il drink your health. m'seur.
and wish you happiness"
"You lie!' snapped Rowland.
Jean lowered the cup without drink
ing
Its the truth. m'seur.' he insisted.
"Since that beautiful fight back there
l cannot help but wish you happiness.
drink also to the happiness of Me-
leese. also to the happiness Of those
who tried to kill you ON the trail and
mt the coyote. but. mon Dieu. bow 10
it all to come? Those at the post are
happy because they believe that you
are dead You will not be happy until
they are dead. And Meleese-how
will all this bring happiness to bert
tell you that am as deep in trouble
as you. M'seur Rowland"
He drank. his eyes darkening gloom.
fly. In that moment there flashed
into Howland's mind memory Of the
battle that Jean had fought for him
on the Great North trail.
"You nearly killed one Of them-that
night-at Prince Albert" he said slow
~. ~ can't understand why you
fought for me then and won't help me
now. But you did. And you're afraid
to go down there
"Until l have regrOwn beard" in
terrupted Jean with low. chuckling
laugh. "You would not he the only
one to die If they saw me again like
this. But that Is enough. m'seur. l
will say no more"
With another length of babeesh
Rowland tied his companions legs.
I'm going to Investigate little." he
explained.
A few minutes later. after he had
made his prisoner us comfortable as
possible in the cabin. Rowland went
again through the fringe of scrub bush
to the edge Of the ridge. Below him
the plain was lost in the gloom OF the
night He could see nothing of tho
buildings at the post but two or three
lights cleaning family through the
darkness.
In these moments a desire that was
almost madness swept over him. Since
his fight with Jean the swift passing
of events had confined his thoughts to
their one objective-the finding Of Me-
leese and her people. He had assured
himself that his every move was to be
finn thar n.