Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-08-18


body so that each knee imprisoned an
arm Rowland coolly began looping
the babeesh thongs that he had snatch
ed from the table as he sprang to the
door. Behind HOwland's back Jeans
legs shot suddenly upward. In a quick
choking clutch of steel-like muscle they
gripped about his neck like powerful
arms. and In another instant he was
twisted backward with a force that
sent him half neck broken to the OPP
posite wall. He staggered to his feet.
dazed for moment, and Jean Croisset
.tood in the middle Of the floor, his
ca. thou skin coat thrown of. bis hands
cIinched. his eyes darkening with a
dangerous fire. As quickly as 1t had
come the ire died away, and as he adj
vanced slowly his shoulders hunohed
over. his white teeth cleaning In a
smile. Rowland smiled back and ad-
vanced to meet him. There was no
humor. no friendliness. In the smiles.
Both had seen that fash Of teeth and
deadly scintillatiOn of eyes at other
times, and both knew what 1t meant
II believe that ! will kill you.
said Jean softly. There was
no excitement, no tremble of passion.
in his voice. II have been thinking
that ought to kill you. I had almost
made up my mind to kill you when I
came back to this Maison de Mort
Rouge. It IL the justice Of God that I
kill your
The two men circled like beasts in a
pit. Rowland in the attitude Of box
er, Jean with his shoulders bent. bis
arms slightly curved at his side. the
toes Of his moccasined feet bearing bis
weight. Suddenly he launched him
self at the others throat.
In dash Rowland stepped a little
to one side and shot out a crushing
blow that caught Jean on the side OF
the head and sent him fat on bis
back. Half stunned. Croisset came to
his feet. It was the first time that he
had ever come into contact with SCI
ence. He was puzzled. His bead
rang. and for few moments he was
dizzy. He darted In again in his old.
quick. catlike way and received
blow that dazed him. This time he
kept bis feet
II am sure now that I am going 10
kill you. m'seur." he said as coolly as
before.
There was something terribly calm
and decisive in his voice. He was not
NJ ~,oo uo< oProaH EI10 IN.
gers did not 60 near the weapons In
bis belt, and slowly the smile faded
from Howland's lips as Jean circled
nbout him. He had never fought q
man Of this kind: never had he looked
on the appalling confidence that was
In his antagonists eyes. From those
eyes rather than from the man he
found himself slowly retreating. They
followed him. never taking themselves
from his face. In them the fire re-
turned and grew deeper. The dull
red spots began to glow In Croissets
cheeks. and he laughed. softly when he
leaped In 80 that Rowland
struck at him-and missed He knew
what to expect now. And Rowland
knew what to expect.
It was the science Of one world pit
ted against that Of another-the SCI
ence Of civilization against that OF the
Rowland was trained in
bis art. For sport Jean had played
with wounded lynx. His was the quick
ness Of sight. Of instinct-the quick
ness OF the great north loon that had
often played this same game with bis
rife fire. Of the sledee dog whose rip
ping fangs carried death SO quickly
that eyes could not follow. A third
and a fourth time he came within
and Rowland struck and
missed.
~ am going to kill you" he said
ngain.
To this point Rowland had remained
cool. Self possession In bis science he
knew to be half the battle. But he
felt in him now slow. swelling anger.
The smiling fash in Jeans eyes began
to irritats him: the fearless. tauntins
gleam Of his teeth. his audacious con.
fdence put him on edge. Twice again
he struck out swiftly. but Jean had
come and gone like a dart His 1.-the
body. fifty pounds lighter than How
lands. seemed to be that Of a boy
lodging him in some tantalizing sport
The Frenchman made no effort at at.
tack. His were the tactics of the wolf
at the heels Of the bull moose. Of the
lynx before the prongs of q cornered
buck-l.-tng. worrying. ceaseless.
Howland's striking muscles began
to ache, and his breath was growing
shorter with the exerti0ns which SEEM
ed to have no effect on Croisset For
q fe,s moments he took the aggressive.
rushing jean to the stove. behind the
table. twice around the room. striving
vainly to drive him into corner. to
reach him with one Of the sweeping
blows which Croisset evaded with the
quickness Of he'll diver.
When he stopped his breath came In
wind broken gasps. Jean drew nearer.
smiling, ferociOusly cool.
II am going to kill you. m'seur." he
again. :
Rowland dropped his arms. his dn.
gers relaxed. and he forced his breath
between his lips as II he were on the
point Of exhaustion, There were stu