The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-08-03

ileerS revolver conferred Suuartly Dt.-
tween the Frenchman's eyes
"Non. m'seur."
The eyes of the two men met over
the blue steel With a cry Rowland
slowly lowered his weapon
Good God. but you're a brave man.
Jean Croisset!" he cried I'D s;mner
kill dozen men that know than
you
He rose to his feet and went to the
door. There was still but little snow
in the air To the north The horizon
was growing black with the early APP
proach of the northern light With IA
nervous laugh he returned 10 Jean.
"Deuce take ii If don't feel like
apologizing to you." he exclaimed.
"Does 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 i'm the palm Of his hand as he
looked across at the other. But
that's a 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. how is
that to happen?"
"For the life of me I don't know"
replied Jean as calmly as though
bullet had not nipped the edge of his
ear a moment before. There is only
one way | can see. m'seur. and that is
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 or
with one of the women at the post.
Mon Dieu. she has had enough of
sledge riding of late, and ! doubt If
she will find pleasure in her dogs for
long time"
Il had planned to use vou." said
Rowland. but I've los' th in you.
Honestly. Croisset. ben, you would
stick me in the back almost as quickly
as those murderers down there"
mot in the back. m'seur." smiled
the Frenchman. unmoved II have
had opportunities to do that. Non.
since that fight back there do not
believe that | want to kill you
But | would be fool to trust you.
Isn't that SOP
is something we do not break up here
as you do down among the Wekusko
people. and farther SOUTH"
But you murder people for pastime
-eh. my dear Jean?"
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 go down to the post tonight,
in some way gain access to Meleese
and give her message from me?"
And the message-what would it
be?"
1T would bring Meleese up to this
cabin-tonight"
Are you sure. m'seur?"
81 am certain that it would. Will
you go?'
mon. m'seur."
1.-THE devil take you!" cried How
land angrily. IF was not certain
that l would need you later I'd gar
rote you where you sit"
He rose and went to the old stove.
It was still capable Of holding fire.
and as it had grown too dark outside
for the smoke to be observed from the
post he proceeded to prepare supper
of hot coffee and meat. Jean watched
him in silence. and not until food and
drink were on the table did the engi-
neer himself break silence. 3
"Of course I'm not going to feed
you" he said CURLY. 80 I'll have to
free your hands, But be careful"
He placed his revolver on the table
beside him after he had freed CrOis
set.
81 might assassinate you with
fork" chuckled the Frenchman softly.
his black eyes laughing over his cof-
fee cup. II 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
cannot help but wish you happiness.
I drink also to the happiness of Me-
leese, also to the happiness of those
who tried to kill you on the trail and
at the coyote. But. mon Dieu. how is
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 her?
tell you that am as deep in trouble
as you. M'seur Rowland"
He drank. his eyes darkening gloom
lily. In that moment there flashed
into Howland's mind a 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
ly. 81 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 / have regrown a beard" in
terrupted Jean with a low chuckling