, 1911-07-13

HIS EFFORT WE'RE LIKE THOSE OF A
CHILD AGAINST A GIANT.
ing Of black objects in the snow. and
as he stared one of the objects came
toward him.
DO o fire. M'seur Rowland" he
heard u voice call. at ees Jean
Croisset, a friend. Blessed saints,
that was-what you call heem-close
callr"
The half breeds thin dark face came
up smiling out of the white gloom.
For Il moment Rowland did not see
him-scarcely heard his word. Wildly
he looked about him for the girl. She
vas gone.
81 happened here-just in with
a club" continued CrOisset. Come.
we must 60"
The smile had gone from his face
INT there was a commanding firmness
in the grip that fell on the young en-
gineer's arm. Rowland was conscious
thai things were twisting about him
and that there was a strange weakness
In his limbs. Dumbly he raised his
hands to his head. which hurt him un-
til he felt as If he must cry out In his
pain.
The GIRL he gasped weakly.
Croisset's arm frightened about his
waist.
'She ees gone!" Rowland heard him
say. and there vas something in the
half breeds low voice that caused him
to TURF unquestioningly and stagger
along beside him In the direction Of
Prince Albert.
And yet as he went, only half con-
sciOus of what he was doing and lean
ing more and more heavily on his
companion. he knew that 1t was more
than the girls disappearance that he
wanted to understand. for as the blow
had fallen on his head he was sure
that he had heard a woman's. scream.
and as he lay in the snow. dazed and
choking. spending his last effort in
his struggle for life. there had come
to him as If from an infinite distance
a woman's voice. and the words that
1t had uttered pounded in his tortured
brain now as his head dropped weakly
against Croisset's shoulder.
"Mon Dieu. you are killing him
killing him.
81 must carry you. M'seur How
land Jean said. And as he staggered
out on the ice with his inanimate bur
den he spoke softly to himself, 1.-THE
saints preserve me. but what would
the sweet Meleese say if she knew
that Jean Croisset had come so nea
to losing the life of this m'seur lie en-
gineer?"
In only a subconscious sort of way
was Rowland cognizant OF anything
more that happened that night. When
he came back into a full sense of his
existence he found himself in his bed
at the hotel. There was a dull, aching
pain In his head and neck. and when
he raised an inquiring hand it came in
contact with a thick bandage.
500 there came a sound at the door.
and he twisted his head. grimacinR
with the pain it caused him. Jean was
looking In at him.
.Ah. m'seur ees awaken he said.
''Is II bad. Croisset2'
$50 bad that you will be in bed foa
a day or so. m'seur. That is ALL"
''Impossibler cried the young engi
huuSt tuhc Tue o tioch 'faih
In the morning. | must be in LIE PAS
at is s o'clock now interrupted
Jean softly. do you feel like going?"
Howlnnd Strengthened himself and
fell back suddenly with a sharp cry.
1.-The devil"' he exclaimed. After &
moment he added. There will be nj
other train for two days" As he raised
a hand TO his aching head his othet
tightly about Jeans 1.-THE brown
II want to thank you 70,
you did. Croisset. l don't know
happened. ! don't know who
they were or why they tried to kill me
There was a girl. was going witt
He dropped his hand in time to sec
the strange fire that had leaped int
he half breeds eyes. In astonishmeD
he half lifted himself again, his whit"
lace questioning Croisset..
"Do you know?' he whispered eager
y. who was she? Why did she
cad me into that ambush? Why di"
hey attempt to kill meP"
With n quick movement the half
breed drew away his hand and moved