The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-08-12

(Continued.)

(Continued.)
 With a strange thrill he recognized Croisset's voice.
 "You must be sure that you make no mistake" he heard the half breed say. "Go to the waterfall at the head of the lake and heave down a big rock where the ice is open and the water boiling. Track up the snow with a pair of N'seur Howland's high heeled boots and leave his hat tangled in the bushes. Then tell the superintendent that he stepped on the stone and that 1t rolled down and toppled him into the chasm. They could never find his body, and they will send down for a new engineer in place of the lost monsieur"
 Stupefied with horror, Rowland strained his ears to catch the rest o1 the cold blooded scheme which he was overhearing, but the voices grew low CT. and he understood no more that was said until Croisset, coming nearer called out:
 Help me with the monsieuPabefore you go, Jackpine. He is dead weight with all those rawhides about him."
 As coolly as though he were not more than a chunk of stovewOOd Croisset and the Indian came through the bushes, seized him by the head and feet. carried him out into the trail and laid him lengthwise on the sledge.
 Il hope you have not caught cold lying in the snow, m'seur," said Crois- set, bolstering up the engineers head and shoulders and covering him with heavy furs. "We should have been back sooner, but. it was impossible. Hoo-la, Woongar' he called softly to his lead dog. "Get up there, you wolf houndr'
 As the sledge started. with Croisset heard the low snapping of whip be- hind him and another voice urging on other dogs. With an effort that almost dislocated his neck he twisted himself so he could look back to him. A hun- dred yards away he discerned second team following in his trail; he saw a shadowy figure running at the head of the dogs, but what there was on the sledge, or what it meant, he could not see or surmise. Mile after mile the two sledges continued without a stop. Croisset did not turn his head; no word fell from his lips. except an occasional signal to the dogs. The trail had turned now straight into the north, and soon Rowland could make out no sign of it, but knew only that they were twisting through the most open places in the forests, and that the play of the polar lights was never over his left shoulder or his right, but al- ways in his face.
 They had travelled for several hours when Croisset gave a sudden shrill shout to the rearmost sledge and halt ed his own: The dogs fell in a panting group on the snow, and while they were resting the half breed relieved his prisoner of the soft buckskin that had been used as a gag.
 Tt will be perfectly safe for you to talk now, m'seur, and to shout as loud ly as you please" he said. After I have looked into your pockets will free your hands so that you can smoke. Are you comforta ble?"
 ''Comfortab able-be cursed" were the first words that fell from Howland's s lips, and his blood boiled at the soci- able way in which Croisset grinned down into his face. 'So you're in it, too. eh? And that lying girp'-
 The smile left Croisset's face.
 Do you mean Meleese, M'seur How land?"
 Yes"
 Croisset leaned down with his black eyes gleaming like coals.
 Do you know what I would do if I was her. m'seur?" he said in a low voice and yet one filled with a threat which stilled the words of passion which the engineer was on the point of uttering. Do you know what would do? would kill you-kill you inch by inch-torture you. That is what I would do."
 "For Gods sake. Croisset, tell me why-vy"-
 Croisset had found Howland's pistol nd freed his hands, and the engineer stretched them out entreatingly 2 ''I would give my life for that girl, Croisset. told her so back there. and she came to me when I was in the snow and'- He caught himself. add ing to what he had left incomplete. There is a mistake. Croisset I am not the man they want to kill.'
 Croisset was smiling at him again.
 Smoke - and think, m'seur. It is impossible for me to tell you why you should be dead. but you ought to know unless your memory is shorter than a child's."
 CHAPTER TX,
 A RACE INTO THE NORTH