The Sauk Centre herald., 1911-06-22

! HIS EFFORTS WERE LIKE THOSE OF
CHILD AGAINST GIANT. =.<al
1-@--er- ----- a-s><sss1s saxss=zss
! ing Of black objects in the snow, and
as he stared one of the objects came
toward him.
do not fire. M'seur Rowland" he
heard voice call. "It ees I-Jean
Croisset. friend. Blessed saints,
that was-what you call heem-close
call?'
! The half breeds thin dark face came
up smiling out of the white gloom
For moment Howland did not see
him-scarcely heard his word Wildly
he looked about him for the girl She
was gone.
II happened herejust in time-with
a club" continued Croisset. Come,
we must CO.
The smile had gone from his face
and there was a commanding firmness
in the grip that fell ON the young en-
gineer's arm. Rowland was conscious
that things were twisting about him
and that there was strange weakness
in his limbs. Dumbly he raised his
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!" Howland heard him
say. and there was something in the
half breeds low voice that caused him
to turn 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 it 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 q 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
it 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 near
to losing the life of this m'seur lie en-
gineer?'
In only a subconscious sort of way
was Howland cognizant of anything
more that happened that night When
he came back into 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.
Soon there came sound at the door,
and he twisted his head. grimacing
with the pain it caused him. Jean was
looking in at him.
"Ah. m'seur ees awaken he said.
"Is it bad. Croisset?'
$50 bad that you will be in bed for
q day or so. m m'seur. That is ALL
"Impossible!" cried the young engi-
neer II must take the O'Clock train
in the morning. ] must be in lie Pas
"It is S o'clock now" interrupted
Jean softly. do You feel like going?"
Rowland Strengthened himself and
fell back suddenly with sharp cry.
"The devilw he exclaimed After
moment he added. There will be no
other train for two days. AS he raised
a hand to his aching head his other
closed tightly about jeans 1.-THE brown
fingers. Il want to thank you for
what you did. Croisset. l don't know
what happened. l don't know who
they were or why they tried to kill me.
There was girl was going with
her,
He dropped his hand in time to see
the strange fire that had leaped into
the half breeds eyes In establishment
he half lifted himself again. his white
face questioning Croisset.
DO you know?" he whispered eager
". "Who was she? Why did she
lead me into that ambush? Why did
they attempt to kill meY'
With quick movement the half
breed drew away his hand and moved