Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-07-11

ne ca ME PACK lnfO n 1ulI sense or MS
existence he found himself in his bed
at the hotel. There was dull. aching
pain in his head and neck. and when
he raised an inquiring hand it came in
contact with thick bandage.
Soon there came a sound at the door.
and he twisted his head. grimAcing
with the pain 1t caused him. Jean was
looking in at him.
"Ah. m'senr ees awake" he said.
as 1t bad. Croisset?"
$50 bad that you will be in bed for
day or SO. m'seur. That is ALL"
"1mpossible"' cried the young engi-
neer 81 must take the 8 o'clock train
in the morning. must be in lie Pas
ut is s 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 n
moment he added. '"There will be no
other train for two days" AS he raised
hand to his aching head his other
closed tightly about jeans 1.-THE brown
fingers. II want to thank you for
what you did. CrOisset. | 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
he half lifted himself again. his white
face questioning Croisset.
do You know?" he whispered eager
~. 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, have come to you with a
warning Do not 60 to lie Pas. Do
not go to the big railroad camp on the
Wekusko. Return into the south. Per
haps YOU will understand when tell
you this warning is sent to you by the
little MeIeese"
Before Rowland could recover from
his surprise Croisset had passed swift
~ through the door. F0g long time
he lay with his eyes closed trying to
clear for himself the mystery Of the
preceding night The one thought
which obsessed him was that he had
been duped His lovely acquaintance
of the preceding evening had ensnared
him completely with her gentle smile
and her winsome mouth. and he grit
ted his teeth grimly as he reflected
how easy he had been. Deliberately
she had lured him into the ambush
which would have proved fatal for
him had it not been for Jean Croisset.
And she was not a mute! He had
heard her voice. When that death grip
was highest about his throat there
had come to him that terrified cry.
Mon dieu. you are killing him-killing
him."
His breath came little faster as he
whispered the words to himself. They
appealed to him now with a signifi
canoe which he had not understood at
first. He was sure that in that cry
there had been real terror: almost. he
fancied. us he lay with his eyes shut
tight that he could still hear the shrill
note of despair in the voice. If the
girl had calmly led him into the am
bush why in the last moment when
success seemed about to crown her du.
plicity had she cried out in that agony
of terror?
Was 1t possible that face and eyes
like those could have led him into a
death trap? Despite the evidence Of
what had happened he found himself
she had lied to him. for she was not a |
mute
Vainly as he watched and waited he
racked his mind to find some reason
for the murderous attack on himself.
Who was the little Meleese." whom
Croisset declared had sent the warn
ing? SO far as he could remember he
had never known person by that
name. And yet the half breed had ut
tered 1t as though it would carry a
vital meaning to him. Perhaps you
will understand" he had said.
The first light of the day was falling
family through the window when foot
steps sounded outside the door again.
1t was not Croisset who appeared this
time. but the proprietor himself. bear
ing with him tray on which there
was toast and steaming pot of COT
fee.
bad fall you had" he greeted.
rawing small table close beside the
bed. Good thing Croisset was with
you!"
"Yes-it- was-a-b ad-fall." he re-
piled at last, looking sharply at the
other. where is Croisset?''
Gone. He left an hour ago with his
dogs. Funny fellow. that Croisset!
Came in yesterday from the Lac la
Ronge country hundred miles north;
goes back today. No apparent reason
for his coming, none for his going that
can see"
DO you know anything about him?'
asked Rowland little eagerly.
mo. He comes in about once or
twice a year"
(To be continued,
Happjest Girl in Lincoln