Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-07-25

o heard Jean pause. There f0i-
@ lowed q few moments silence.
as though the other were
listening for sound within. Then there
came a fumbling at the bar and the
door swung inward.
bon jour. m'seurg called Jeans
cheerful voice as he stepped inside.
"Is 1t possible you are not up. with all
this dog barking and
His eyes had gone to the empty
bunk. Despite his cheerful greeting
Rowland saw that the Frenchman's
face was haggard and pale as he turn
ed quickly toward him. He observed no
further than that. but flung his whole
weight on the unprepared Croisset. and
together they crashed to the floor.
There was scarce q struggle and Jean
lay still. He was fat on his back, his
arms pinioned to his sides. and bring
ing himself astride the Frenchman's
body 80 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 q force that
sent him half neck broken to the op-
posite wall. He staggered to his feet.
dazed for a moment. and Jean Croisset
stood In the middle Of the floor, his
caribou skin coat thrown of. his hands
clinched. his eyes darkening with a
dangerous fire. AS quickly as 1t had
come the fire died away. and as he ad-
vanced slowly his shoulders hunched
over. his white teeth cleaning In u
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.
81 believe that l will kill you.
m'seur." 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 ]
came back to this Maison de Mort
Rouge. It Is the justice Of God that !
kill you!
The two men circled like beasts in n
pit. Howland in the attitude Of box
er, Jean with his shoulders bent. his
nrms slightly curved at his side. the
toes Of his moccasined feet bearing his
weight. Suddenly he launched him.
self at the others throat.
In n fash Rowland stepped little
to one side and shot out a crushing
blow that caught Jean on the side OF
the head and sent him fiat on his
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 hend
rang. and for few moments he was
dizzy. He darted in again In his old.
quick. catlike way and received a
blow that dazed him. This time he
kept his feet.
81 am sure now that l am going to
kill you. m'seur." he said as coolly as
before.
There was something terribly calm
and decisive in his voice. He was not
excited. He was not afraid. His fin
gers did not 20 near the weapons '"
his belt. and slowly the smile faded
from Howland's lips as Jean circled
about him. He had never fought n
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
suddenly leaped in so that Rowland
struck at him-nnd missed. He knew
what to expect now. And Howland
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
wilderness. HOwland was trained In
his 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 his
rife FIRE. Of the sledge dog whose rip
ping fangs carried death so quickly
that eyes could not follow A third
and q fourth time he came within
distance. and Rowland struck and
missed
~ am going to kill you." he said
again.
To this point Howland had remained
"orl. Self possession In his science he
knew to he half the battle. But he
felt in him now Il slow. swelling anger.
The smiling fash in jeans eyes began
to irritate him: the fearless. taunting
CLEAN Of his eeth his uudacious con-
tidence put him on edge. Twice again
he struck out swiftly. but Jean had
come and gone like dart. Bis 1.-the
body. fifty pounds lighter than How
lands, seemed to be that Of 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 cornered
buck-tiring. worrying. ceaseless.
Howland's striking muscles began
to ache. and his breath was growing
shorter with the exertions which SEEM
ed to have no effect on Croisset For
q few moments he took the aggressive.
rushing Jean to the stove. behind the
table, twice around the room. striving
vainly to drive him into a corner. to
reach him with one Of the sweeping
blows which Croisset evaded with the
lightning quickness Of a hell diver.
When he stopped his breath came In
wind broken gasps. Jean drew nearer,
smiling. ferociously cool.
~ am going to kill you. m'seur." he
repeated again.
Rowland dropped his arms. his 6n-
gers relaxed. and he forced bis breath
between his lips as II he were on the
point of exhaustion. There were still
a few tricks In his science. and these
he knew were about bis last cards.
He backed into q corner. and Jean