Putnam patriot., 1911-10-20
no rnr, mn he was aone.

-e,, strti understand what Is going to
 aappen. e'rniSstFs'' he cried then. his
 eyes Mazing hotly Do you under
 stand rhal what you have done will put
 you behind prison bars for ten years or
 more: Does it dawn on you mat I'm
 going 10 take you hack to the authori-
 ties and that as soon as we reach the
 wekusko ri have twenty men hack on The traa of these friends Of yours?'
 A gray pailor spread itself over Jeans
 thin face.
 The great God. m'seur. you cannot do ttat.''
 --Cannotr" Howiands fingers dug
 into the edge of the table. By this great God eff yours Croisset. hut will,
 And why not? Is 1t beeaese Meieese is
 among rhis gang of cutthreats and murierers? Fish. my dear Jean, you must be n fool. They tried to Kill me on the trail. tried fl again in the coyote. and you came back here determined to kill me You've held the whiphand from the first. Now it's mlne I swear
 that if take you back Re the wekusko
 we'll get you all." If. m'seurf'
 ~Yes. h."
 And that If "- Jean was strain ing against the table. Tt rests with you. Croisset will
 bargain with you. Either I shall take you back to the Wekusko. hand you over to The authorities and send force Rfter the others or you shall take me to Meleese. Which shall il be-" And if take you 10 Meleese.
 m'seur?-'
 Hewland strengthened his voice trem- bling little with excitement "If you take me to Meleese and swear
 to do as say shall bring no harm to you or your friends" And MeleeSe"- Jean's eyes dark ened again. "You will not harm her. m seur?"
 Harm herr' There was a laughing tremor in Howland's voice Good God man. are you so blind that you can't see that am doing this because nf her? tell you that love her and that 1 an willing to die in fighting for her z Until now I haven't had the chance. You and your friends have played a cowardly underhand game. CroisSet You have taken me from be hind at every move. and now it's up to von to square yourself a little. Un- derstand? You take me to Meleese or :here'n be q cleanup that will put you and the whole bunch out of business. Harm herr Again Rowland laughed, leaning his white face toward Jean. Come. which shall it be. Croisset?' You are mistaken in some things.
 m'seur.'' Croisset said quietly. Until today 1 have fought for you and not against you. But now you have left
 me but one choice. 1 will take you to Meleese. and that means "Goodr' cried Rowland, "Ia. la. m'seur. not so good as you think. It means that as surely as the dogs carry us there you will never | come back Mon Dieu. your death is certain
 Rowland turned briskly to the stove. Hungry. Jean?" he asked more com panionably. Let's not quarrel. man. You've had your fun. and now I'm go- | ing to have mine. Have you had breakfast?''
 "I was anticipating that pleasure | with you. m'senr.- replied Jean, with | grim humor.
 | And then. after l had fed you. you were going to kill me. my dear Jean, laughed Rowland, fioppsng huge carl bou steak on the naked top of the sheet
 iron stove Real nice fellow you are, eh?"
 | You ought to be killed. m'seur." | "So you've said before. When l see
 Meleese I'm going to know the reason why or
 l ''Or what. m'seurr' | "Kin you. Jean I've just about made
 up my mind that you ought to be kill. | ed. If any one dies up where we're go- ing, Croisset. it wilF'be you first of all. v | Jean remained silent. A few minutes | later Rowland brought the caribou | steak. a dish of four cakes and big | pot of coffee to the table. Then he l | When he sat down at his own side of l the table be cooked his revolver and | placed it beside his tin plate. Jean | grimaced and shrugged his shoulders.
 "It means business" said his captor
 warningly. If at any time think you deserve fl I shall shoot you in your | tracks. Croisset. so don't arouse my
 suspicious"
 "I took your word of honor." said Jean sareastically.
 He Knew Him.
 Do you know him?" asked man
 of an Irish friend the other day in | speaking of a third person.
 "Know him. said the Irishman. T
 knew him when his father was little
 boy!'