The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-07-20
With Jackpine and croisset in

grasp. viii Jdckplne anu OFoiSSet IN
his power
He went no further. Was it too late
to do these things now? Croisset would
return. With sort of satisfaction it
occurred to him that his actions had
disarmed the Frenchman of suspicion.
He believed that it would be easy TO
overcome CrosSet. to force him to fol-
low in the trail of Meleese and Jack
pine And thar 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-w 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 de-
coy.
He foresaw how easy ii would be to
bring Meleese TO him-to see Croisset.
His own presence would be like the
dropping of bomb at her feet. In
that moment. when she saw what he
was riSking for her. that be was deter
mined 10 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
81. 4 n fs,t ~
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, bad sent him a prisoner to
this death house in the wilderness.
Love had exculpated her. That same
love would eSculpate him He would
make her prisoner and Jean should
drive them back to the Wekusko. Me-
leese herself had sci the pace. and be
would follow it, And what woman, if
she loved a man. would not surrender
after thiss In their sledge trip he
would nave her 10 himself. for not only
an hour or two. but for days. Surely
in that time he could win There
would be pursuit perhaps; be might
a trife anxious to fight
He went to bed that night and
dreamed of things that were To hap
pen 4 second day. a third night and
third day came. With each hour
grew, his anxiety for Jeans return. At
times he was almost feverish 10 have
| the affair over with He was confident
Of the outcome. and yet he did not fail
/ to take the Frenchman's true measure
ment He knew that jean was Ike
live wire sand steel. as agile as d cat.
more than match with himself in
open fight DESPITE his own superior.
weight and size
He devised a dozen schemes for
Jeans undoing Cae was TO leap on
him while be was eatfng. arorher 20
spring on him and choke FIN into
partial insensiaility as he knelt beside
his PACK or fed the fire, AZ bird to
strike a blow from behind that would
/ render him uowerless But There was
something in this last thar was re
pugnant To him. ne remembered that
Jean bad saved his life; that in no in
stance had he given him physical pain.
He would watch for an opportunity,
take advantage Of the Frenehman, as
i CROSSED had taken advantage OF him.
but be wanid not hurt him seriously.
/ It should he as fair a struggle as
4 Jean had offered him. and with the
handicap in his favor the best man
/ would win
On the morning Of the fourth day
Rowland was awakened by a sound
/ that came through the aperture in the
wall 1t was the sharp yelping bark
of a dog. followed an instant later by
the sharper crack of a whip and ia
miliar voice.
Jean Croisset had returned.
With a single leap he was out OF
his bunk. Half dressed he darted to
the door and crouched there. the mus
cles of his arms Tightening. his body
tense with the gathering forces with
| in him.
The spur of the moment had driven
him to quick decision. His opportu-
nifty would come when Jean Croisset
passed through that door.
iTosbe continued