Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17
CHAPTER Xxx,
A Kiss and the consequences.

! from Cummins cabin. Without being OBJ
| served, he watched Melissa and Dixon.
and not even to Iowaka did he give hint
| of his growing suspicious. Dixon was
man whom most other men liked. There
was a fascinating frankness in his voice
| and manner strength in his broad Shout
ders, and a general air of comradeship
| about him which won all but Jean.
| The trap-line runners began leaving
| the post at the end of the second week,
and after this Melissa and the young
| Englishman were more together than
| ever. Dixon showed no inclination to &C
company the sledges. and when they
We're gone he and Melissa began taking
walks in the forest, when the sun was
| high and warm.
1t was on one of these days that Jean
| had gone along the edge of the caribou
| the higher forest. AS he stopped to ex-
| anime fresh lynx trail that cut across
the path beaten down by dog and sledge
| he heard the sound of voices ahead OF
| him; and a moment later he recognized
them as those of Melissa and Dixon. His
face clouded and his eyes snapped fire
| "Ah, if L was only Jan ThOreau-a Jan
! Thoreau with the heart OF Jean de
Gravois-what a surprise I'd give that
foreigner!'' he said to himself, leaping
| quickly from the trail into the thicket
He peered forth from the bushes. his
| loyal heart beating wrathful tattoo
when he saw that Dixon dared put his
| hand on Melisses arm They were COM
| ing very slowly, the Englishman bending
I low over the girls bowed head, talking
| to her with strange earnestness. SUD
denly he stopped. and before Jean could
| comprehend what had happened he had
| bent down and kissed her.
| With a low cry Melissa tore herseif
| free For instant she faced Dixon,
who stood laughing into her blazing eyes
Then she turned and ran swiftly down
the trail
A second cry fell from her startled lips
when she found herself face to face with
Jean de Gravois The little Frenchman
was smiling. His eyes glittered like black
diamonds.
Jean. JEAN" she sobbed. running to
| him.
HE has insulted you he said, softly,
smiling into her white face. Run along
| to the post ma belle Melissa.
| He watched her, half turned from the
astonished Englishman, until she dfsap-
peared in twist of the trail a hundred
yards away. Then he faced Dixon.
| at is the first time that our Mellsse
| has ever suffered insult, he said, speak
| ing as coolly as Il to child. III Jan
| Thoreau were here, he would Kill yN
| He is gone and l will kill you in his
| place.!
He advanced his white teeth still
| cleaning in a smile. and not until he
| launched himself like a cat at Dixon s
| throat was the Englishman convinced
| that he meant attack. In flash Dixon
| stepped a little to one side, and sent out
crashing blow that caught Jean on the
| side of the head and sent him fiat upon
| his back in the trail.
| Half stunned Gravois came to his feet.
He did not hear the shrill cry of terror
| from the twist In the trail He did not
| look back to see Melissa standing there.
! But Dixon both saw and heard, and he
| laughed tauntingly over Jeans head as
the little F'renchman came toward him
1t was the first time that Jean had ever
come into contact with science. He
darted in again, in his quick, catlike way,
and received a blow that dazed him. This
time he held to his feet.
Bah this is like striking a babyt' ex-
claimed Dixon. What are you fighting
about, Gravois? Is it a crime up here to
kiss pretty girl?'
81 am going to Kill you. SAID Jean, as
coolly as before.
There was something terribly calm and
decisive In his voice. He was not eX-
cited He was not afraid. His fingers did
not go near the long knife in his belt.
Slowly the laugh faded from Dixon's face
and tense lines gathered around his mouth
as Jean circled about him.
"COme. we don't want trouble like this,
he urged. Il m sorry-if Mefsse oidh l
like it,
Il am going to kill YOU repeated Jean.
There was an appalling confidence in
his eyes. From those eyes Dixon found
himself retreating rather than from the
man They followed him, never taking
themselves from his face The fire in
them grew deeper Two dull red spots
began to glow in Jeans cheeks, and he
laughed softly when he suddenly leaped
in so that the Engllshman struck at MIN
and missed.
1t was the science of the forest man
pitted against that of another world. For
sport Jean had played with wonderful
LYNX: his was the quickneSS of sight, OF
with he of
uuickness of the great loon that had
often played this same game with his
rifle fire of the sledSe dog whose ripping
fangs carried death so quickly that eyes
could not follow.
A third and a fourth time he came
within striking distance and escaped He
half drew his knife. and at the movement
Dixon sprang back until his shoulders
touched the brush. SInilinGly GraVois un-
sheathed tile blade ard tossed 1t behlnd
him in the trail His eyes We're like
serpent's in their steadineSs. and the mus
cIes of his body drawn as tight as
steel springs, ready to loose themselves
when the chance came.
There were tricks in his fighting hs
we'll as i'm the others. and a dawnlnE or
it began to grow upon Dixon He drop
ned mis- arms to his side, inviting Jean
within reach. Suddenly the little Fro 1ch-
man Strengthened. His glittering eyes
shot from the Englishmans face TO the
brush behind him and a piercing yen
started half turning his face. and before
he had come to his guard Gravois- flung
himself under his arms. striking with the
full force of his body against his an
tagonst's knees.
Together they went down in the trail.
There was only Que science nOw-that of
the forest man. The nthe, Drown nheerS,
that could have crushed the lille of lynx.
fastened themselves around the English
mans throat and there came one gasp
ing. quickly throttled cry as they tight
ened in their neck breaking grip.
II will kill you.'' ,said Jean. again.
Dixon's arms fell Imply to his side. His
ewes bulged from their sockets. his mouth
was agape but Jean did not see. His
face was buried on the others shoulder.
the whole life of him in the grip. He
would not have raised his head for a full
minute longer had there not come sud
den interruptiOn-the terrified voice or
Melissa the frantic tearing OF her hands
at his hands
He is dead.' she shrieked. You have
killed him, jean
He loosed his fingers and sat up. Me-
Iisse staggered back, clutchings with her
hands at his breast, her face as white as
the snow.
You have killed him.
Jean looked into Dixon's eyes.
HE is not dead" he said, rising ana
going to her side. Come. ma chere, run
home to Iowaka. l will not kill him.
Her slender form shook with agonized
sobs as he led her to the turn in the
trail Run home to Iowaka," he re-
peated, gently Il will not kill him, Me-