The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-08-14


had betrayed him, but this time it was
to save his life, and his heart leaped in
joyous faith at this proof of her love
for him. He believed that he under
stood the whole scheme now. Even
his enemies would think him dead.
They would leave the Wekusko, and
after time, when it was safe for him
to return, he would be given his free
dom.
With the passing of the hours gloom
Ter thoughts Swallowed these anticipa-
lions. In some mysterious way Me-
leese was closely associated with those
who sought his life, and if they disap-
peared she would disappear with
them. He was convinced of that.
And then-could he find her again?
Would she go into the south-to civil
nzation-or deeper into the untraveled
wildernesses of the north? In answer
to his question there flashed through
his mind the words of Jean Croisset,
"M'seur, l know of a hundred men
between Athabasca and the bay who
would kill you for what you have
said" Yes, she would go into the
north. Somewhere in that vast desc
lation of which Jean had spoken he
would find her, even though he spent
half of his life in the search!
1t was past midnight when he spread
out the furs and undressed for bed.
With the breaking of day the hours
seemed of interminable length. For a
time he amused himself by searching
every corner and crevice of his prison
room, but he found nothing of interest
beyond what he had already discov-
cred. He examined the door which
Croisset had barred on him and gave
up all hope of escape in that direction.
He could barely thrust his arm
through the aperture that opened out
on the plague stricken cabin.
In no situation had he displayed the
white feather; at no time had he felt
thrill Of fear. His courage and reck-
lessness had terrified Meleese, had as
tonished Croisset. And yet what had
he done? From esbegfnn1ng, from
the moment he first placed his foot in
the Chinese cafe, his enemies had held
the whiphand. He had been COM
the point Of the ambush on the We
kusko trail he might have found some
vindieation for himself. But this ex-
perience with Jean Croisset-it was
enough to madden him, now that he
was alone, to think about it. Why
had he not taken advantage OF Jean,
as Jackpine and the Frenchman had
taken advantage of him?
He saw now what he might have
done. Somewhere, not very far back, the
sledge carrying Meleese and Jackp1ne
had turned into the unknown. They
two were alone Why had he not made
Croisset prisoner, instead of allowing
himself to be Gagged up like weak
ling? He swore aloud as there dawned
on him more and more realization
of the opportunity he had lost. At the
point of a gun he could have forced
Croisset to overtake the other sledge
He could have surprised Jackpine, as
they had surprised him on the trail
And then? He smiled, but there was
no humor in the smile. He at last
would have held the whip hand. And
what would Meleese have done?
Meleese loved him. He would have
staked his life on that. His blood
leaped as he felt again the thrill of her
kisses when she had come to him as
he lay bound and gagged beside the
TRAIL She had taken his head in her
arms, and through the grief of her
face he had seen shining the light of
a great love that had glorified it for all
time for him. She loved him! And he
had let her slip away from him, had
weakly surrendered himself at a mo-
ment when everything that he dream
ed of might have been within his
grasp. With Jackpine and Croisset in
his power
He went no further. Was it too late
to do these things now? Croisset would
return. With a sort of satisfaction it
occurred to him that his actions had
disarmed the Frenchman Of suspicion.
He believed that it would ebe easy to
overcome Croisset, to force him to fol-
low in the trail of Meleese and Jack
pine. And that trail? 1t would prob
ably lead to the very stronghold Of his
enemies. But what of that? He
loaded his pipe again, putting out
clouds of smoke until the room was
thick with it. That trail would take
him to Meleese-wherever she was.
Heretofore his enemies had come to
him; now he would go to them. With
Croisset in his power and with none
of his enemies aware OF his presence,
everything would be in his favor. He
laughed aloud as sudden thrilling
thought flashed into his mind AS a
last resort he would use Jean as a de-
| coy.
He foresaw how easy it would be to
bring Meleese to hin--to see Croisset.
His own presence would be like the
dropping of a bomb at her feet In
that moment, when she saw what he
wa risking fer her, that he was deter
mined to possess her, would she not
surrender to the pleading of his love?
If not he would do the other thing
that which had brought the joyous
laugh to his lips. All was fair in war
and love, and theirs was a game Of
love. Because of her love for him Me-
leese had kidnapped him from his post
| of duty, had sent him a prisoner to
| this death house in the wilderness.
Love had exculpated her. That same