The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-08-03
(coSTINuED.1
CHAPTER XIII.
THE CLEAN OF THE LIGHU.

THE CLEAN OF Id6 L1IbO
NY1N a single breath the face of
Xxi Jean Croisset became no
k0zV more than mask Of what 1t
S&& had been The haunting smile
left his lips and gray pallor spread
over his face as he saw Howland's fin
ger crooked firmly on the trigger of
his revolver. In another instant there
came the sound of a metallic snap.
"The devil. An empty cartridge!'
Rowland exclaimed. II forgot to load
after those three shots at the cup. It's
coming this time. Jean"
Purposely he snapped the second
empty cartridge.
1.-The great Godr' gasped Jean.
"M'seur"-
From deep in the forest came the
baying of the Mackenzie hound. This
time 1t was much nearer. and for a
moment Howland's eyes left the
Frenchman's terrified face as he turned
his head to listen.
"They are coming" exclaimed Crois-
set. "M'seur. swear to-
Again Howland's pistol covered his
heart.
Then it is even more necessary that
] kill you" he said. with frightful
calmness. II warned you that would
kill you If you led me into a trap.
Croisset The dogs are pushed. There
is no way out of this but to fight-if
there are people coming down the
trail. Listen to thatv
This time. from still nearer. came
the shout Of a man and then of an
other. followed by the huskies' sharp
yelping as they started afresh on the
trail The flush of excitement that had
come into Howland's face paled until
he stood as white as the Frenchman.
But it was not the wilderness of fear
His eyes were like blue steel flashing
in the sunlight.
There is nothing to do but fight" he
repeated. even more calmly than be-
FORE If we were mile or two back
there it could all happen as planned
it. But here
They will hear the Shots" cried
Jean. 1.-THE post is no more than a
gunshot beyond the forest, and there
are plenty there who would come out
to see what it means. Quick. m'seur-
follow me! Possibly they are hunters
going out to the trap lines. II 1t comes
to the worst
"What then" demanded Rowland.
you can shoot me little later"
temporized the Frenchman, with
show of his old GOODNESS. Mon Dieu.
am afraid of that gun. m'seur.
will get you out Of this If ! can. Will
you give me the chance. or will you
shoot?"
II will shoot-if you fall" replied the
engineer.
Barely were the words out Of his
mouth when Croisset sprang to the
head of the dogs. seized the leader by
his neck trace and half dragged the
team and sledge through the thick
bush that edged the trail A dozen
PAGES farther on the dense scrub open
ed into the clearer run Of the low
hanging banskian through which Jean
started at slow trot. with Rowland
yard behind him and the huskies
following with human-like cleverness
In the sinuous twistings Of the trail
which the Frenchman marked out for
them. They had progressed not more
than 300 yards when there came to
them for third time the hallooing Of
a voice. With sharp "hup-hup" and
a low crack of his whip Jean stopped
the dogs.
THE Virgin be praised. but that is
luck" he exclaimed. They have turn
ed of into another trail to the east,
m'seur'
Rowland had broken the breech of
his revolver and was replacing the
three empty cartridges with fresh ones.
There will be no mistake next
time" he said. holding out the weap.
on. You were as near your death a
Few moments ago as ever before in
your life. Croisset-and now for a lit
tie plain understanding between US.
Until we stopped out there had some
faith in you. Now l have none. | re-
gard you as my worst enemy, and.
though you are deuced near to your
friends. tell you that you were never
In a tighter box in your life. If fail
in my mission here you shall die. If
others come along that trail before
dark and run us down | will kill you.
Unless you make it possible for me to
see and talk with Meleese I will kill
you. Your life hangs on my success .
Il am glad that you changed your
mind. m'seur, and will not tempt you
again. will do the best that can
said Jean. Within an hour it will he
showing heavily" he affirmed. If
they do not run across our trail by
that time, m'seur. we shall be safe"
He led the way through the forest
again. more slowly and with greater
caution than before Half an hour
later the Frenchman halted where the
banskians climbed the side of slop-
ing ridge.
. 'If you could trust me would ask