Oxford Democrat., 1911-08-01
believe that I want to kill you"

u
Isn't that soY
"Not II l gave you my word. That
Is something we do not break up here
as you do down among the Wekusko
people, and farther south"
"But you murder people for pasumc
-eh. my dear JeanY'
Crossiet shrugged bis shoulders With
out speaking.
"See here. Croisset." said Howland
with sudden earnestness, I'm almost
tempted to take q chance with YOU
Will you 60 down to the post tonight
in some way gain access to Melees'
and give her a message from me-?
"And the message-what would /.
ber
ut would bring Meleese up to hi
cabin-tonight"
"Are you sure. m'seurT
II am certain that 1t would WIZ
you goY
"Non, m'seur."
1.-THE devil take you!" cried How
land angrily. IF l was not certain
that 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 nre.
and as 1t 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.
"Of course I'm MT going to feed
you" he said curtly. 80 I'll have to
free your hands. But be careful"
He placed his revolver on the table
beside him after he had freed Cro;s
set.
II might assassinate you with =
fork" chuckled the Frenchman softly.
his black eyes laughing over his c".
fee cup. II drink your health. m'seur.
and wish You happiness.
"You lie!' snapped Rowland.
Jean lowered the cup without dri"k
ing.
"It's the truth. m'seur." he insisted
"Since that beautiful fight back :her,
cannot help but wish you happiness.
! drink also to the happiness OF Me
leese. also to the happiness OF those
who tried to kill you on the trail and
ut the coyote. But. mon Dieu. how IS
It all to come? Those nj the post are
happy because they believe that you
are dead. You will not be happy until
they are dead. Ard Meleese-how
will all this bring happiness To her:
I tell you that l 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 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
". T can't understand why you
fought for me then and won't help me
now. But you did. and you're afrai0
to 90 down there
Until have regrown beard" In
terrupted Jean with low. chuck!ia%
laugh. "You would not be the unl!
one to die II they saw me again like
this. But that is enough. m'seur. !
will say no more"
With another length Of babees..
Rowland tied his companions icGs.
I'm going to Investigate a little" h.
explained.
A few minutes later. after he hhd
made his prisoner rs comfortable a.
possible In the cabin. Howland went
again through the fringe of scrub bush
to the edge Of the ridge. Below hint
the plain was lost in the gloom Of the
night. He could see nothing of the
buildings at the post but two or thre'
lights cleaning family through tht
darkness.
In these moments desire that WAY
almost madness swept over him. since
his fight with Jean the swift passinc
Of events hud confined his thoughts t.
their one objective-the finding OF Me
leese and her people. He had assured
himself that bis every move was to be-
Z cool and calculating one; that moth
ing-not even his great love-should
urge him beyond that reason which
had made him q master builder among
men. AS he stood with the snow fall.
Ing heavily on him he knew that his
trail would be covered before another
day: that for IN indefinite period ht
might safelJ walt aud watch for Ne
isese on the mountain top. And ye,
slowly he descended to the foot Of the
ridge and headed into the plain. taklnl
the precautiOn to burg bis feet deep II
the snow that he might have trail tt
guido him back to the cabin. Ther.
would be no harm done. and he might
get a glimpse Of the light. OF her light
It came on his vision with sudden
ness that set his heart leaping, 4 doG
barked ahead Of him. 80 near that b.
stopped In his tracks. and then sudden
" there shot through the snow gloom
the bright gleam Of a lamp. Before be
had taken another breath he was
aware of what had happened. A cur
tain had been drawn aside In the
chaos ahead He was almost on the
walls Of the post. and the light gleam'
ed from high up from the head Of the
stair.
The one lighted window was plainly
visible now. its curtain two-thirds
drawn. and as be looked q shadow
passed over It. Was It woman's
shadow7 The window darkened as
the figure within came nearer to It.
and Howiand stood With elinched
hands and wildly beating heart, almost
ready to call out softly a name.
The shadow disappeared Nmly
Howiand made out the snow covered
stair. and be went to II and looked up
Ten feet above him the light shone out
Swiftly be mounted the staiS.
|. (To BE CONTINUED