Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-09-05
IT b be-
y S ;i'5sME q 81 r..
CHAPTER XVI.

II StOOU WdltlHk NJ II IKE uaV
left him. The note tDuttered
from bis fingers. and he
drew bis watch from his pocket and
placed 1t on the table. 1t was quar-
ter after &. There still remained for
H.five minutes.
Three-quarters Of an hour and then
death! There was no doubt In bis
mind this time. Through one Of the
black holes in the wall he was to be
shot down, with no chance to defend
himself. to prove himself innocent.
And Meleese- did she. too. believe him
guilty Of that crtmef
He groaned alond and picked up the
note again. Softly be repeated her last
words to him. III God falls to answer
my prayers I will still do as ! have
promised and follow you" Those words
seemed to cry aloud his doom. Even
Meleese bad given up hope. And yet
was there not deeper Significance In
her words? He started az IL some one
had struck him. bis eyes agleam.
81 will follow you.'"
He almost sobbed the words this
time. His hands trembled. and he
dropped the paper again on the table
and turned bis eyes in staring horror
toward the door. Whit did she mean2
Would MeIeese kill herself II he was
murdered BY Der brothers7 he could
see no other meaning In her last mes
sage to him. and for a time after the
chilling Significance Of her words
struck bis heart he scarce restrained
himself from calling aloud for Jean.
II he could but send a word back to
her. tell her once more Of his great
love-that the winning of that love
was ample reward for all that be had
lost and was about to lose. and that It
gave him such happiness a. he had
never known even In this last hour Of
bis torture!
Twice he shouted for Croisset. but
there came no response save the hol-
low echoings Of bis own voice in the
subterranean chambers. After that he
began to think more sanely. II Me-
leese was a prisoner In her room 1t
was probable that Croisset who was
now fully recognized as q traitor at
the post, could no longer gain access
to her. In some secret way Meleese
had contrived to give him the note.
In Howland's breast there grew
slowly a feeling Of sympathy for the
Frenchman. Much that he had not
understood was clear to him now. he
understood why Meleese had not re-
vealed the names Of his assailants at
Prince Albert and Wekusko. He IN.
derstood why she had ded from him
after bis abduction and why Jean had
90 faithfully kept secrecy for her sake.
She had fought to save him from
her own nesh and blood. and Jean
had fought to save him. And be-
cause be had fought for him and Me-
leese the Frenchman's fate was to be
almost q terrible IA Bis own. It was
he who would Ore the fatal shot ut 6
O'Clock. Not the brothers. but Jean
Croisset, would be his executioner and
murderer.
The minutes passed swiftly. and as
they went Rowland was astonished to
find how. coolly be awaited the end. He
even began to debate With himself as
to through which hole the fatal shot
would be fired. No matter where be
stood. be was in the light Of the big
hanging lamp. There was no obscure
or shadowy corner In which for few
moments be might elude his execu'
toner. He even smiled when the
thought occurred to him that It was
possible to extinguish the light and
crawl under the table. thus gaining
delay. But what would
that delay avail hint He was anxious
Tor the fatal minute to arrive and be
over.
There were moments Of happiness
when In the damp horror Of his death
there came before him visions
VI Meleese. grown even sweeter and
more lovable now that be knew how
Dhe had sacrificed herself between two
great lovesthe love Of her own peo-
pie and the love Of himself. And at
last she had surrendered to him. Was
It possible that she could have made
that surrender II she. like her broth
err, believed him to be the murderer
Of her father-the son Of the man 6end
who had robbed her Of motber3 1t
vas impossible. be told himself. She
did not believe him guilty. And yet
Why had she not given him some such
word In her last message to him7
His eyes travelled to the note on the
table. and be began searching In bis
coat pockets. In one Of them he found
The worn stub Of a pencil. and for
many minutes after that be was oblivt'
ous to the passing Of time 40 be wrote
biz last words to Meleese When he
40 i