Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-06-20
NUMBER 25.
he half lifted himself again. his white

he half lifted himself again. his white
face questioning Croisset.
"Do you known he whispered eager.
". "Who was she? Why did she
lead me into that ambush7 why did
they attempt to kill meT
With a quick movement the half
breed drew away bis hand and moved
toward the door. Halfway he paused
and turned.
"M'seur, I have come to you with q
warning. Do not go to LIE Pas. Do
not go to the big railroad camp on the
Wekusko. Return into the south. Per-
haps you will understand when / tell
you this warning is sent to you by the
little Meleese."
Before Rowland could recover from
his surprise Croisset had passed swift
ly through the door. For long time
he lay with his eyes closed trying to
clear for himself the mystery OF the
preceding night. The one thought
which obsessed him was that he had
been duped. His lovely acquaintance
of the preceding evening had ensnared
him completely with her gentle smile
and her winsome mouth, and he grit.
ted his teeth grimly as he reflected
how easy he had been. Deliberately
she had lured him into the ambush
which would have proved fatal for
him had It not been for Jean Croisset.
And she was not q mute! he had
heard her voice. When that death grip
was tightest about his throat there
had come to him that terrified cry,
"Mon dieu, you are killing him-killing
himw
His breath came little faster as he
whispered the words to himself. They
appealed to him now with Il signif-
cance which be had not understood at
first. He was sure that in that cry
there had been real terror; almost. he
fancied, as he lay with his eyes shut
tight that he could still hear the shrill
note Of despair in the voice. II the
girl had calmly led him into the am
bush why in the last moment when
success seemed about to crown her du-
plicity had she cried out in that agony
Of terror?
Was It possible that face and eyes
like those could have led him into n
death trap2 Despite the evidence OF
what had happened he found himself
filed with doubt. And yet. after all,
she had lied to him, for she was not
mute.
Vainly as he watched and waited he
racked his mind to find some reason
for the murderous attack on himself.
Who was "the little Meleese," whom
Croisset declared had sent the warn
ing? So far as he could remember he
had never known a person by that
name And yet the half breed had ut
tered 1t as though 1t would carry a
vital meaning to him. Perhaps you
will understand" he had said.
The first light Of the day was falling
family through the window when foot
steps sounded outside the door again.
1t was not Croisset who appeared this
time, but the proprietor himself, bear
ing with him tray on which there
was toast and q steaming pot Of cof-
| fee.
bad fall you had" he erected,
drawing u small table close beside the
bed. "Good thing Croisset was with
you"
"Yes-it-was-a-b he re-
piled at last. looking sharply at the
other. "Where is Croisset"
"Gone. He left an hour ago with his
dogs. Funny fellow. that Croisset!
Came in yesterday from the Lac Ia
Ronge country hundred miles north:
goes back today. No apparent reason
| for his coming, none for his going that
I can see"
"Do you know anything about him"
asked Rowland little eagerly.
mo. He comes in about once or
twice year"