The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1911-08-17
The
BY JAMES OLIVER
- CUPWOCp
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
CHAPTER XI.
THE FIGHT.

door swung inward
bon Jour. m'seurw called Jeans
cheerful voice as he stepped inside.
as II 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 a struggle and Jean
lay still He was Hat on his back, his
arms plnioned TO his sides. and bring
/ ing himself astride the Frenchman's
body so that each knee imprisoned an
arm Rowland cOolly began looping
| the babeesh thongs that he had snatch
I ed from the table as he sprang to the
/ door. Behind IIOwland's back Jeans
/ legs shot suddenly upward In a quick
choking clutch Of stcel-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
positc wall. lie staggered to his feet,
daZed for moment, and Jean CrOisset
stood in the middle Of the floor, his
caribou skin coat thrown Off. his hands
clInched. his eyes dnrkenng with a
dangerous fire As quickly as It had
come the fire died away, and as he ad-
vanCed slowly his shoulders hunched
over, his white teeth cleaning In II
smile. Rowland smiled back and ad-
vanced to meet him There was no
humor, no fricndlincss. in the smiles.
Both had seen that flash Of teeth and
deadly sclntlIIatun Of eyes at other
times, and both knew what it meant.
81 believe that | will kill you,
m'seur," said Jean softly There was
no excitement. no trcmble of passion,
In his voice ~ have been thinking
that ought to kill you. had almost
made up my mind to kill you when |
came back 10 this Maison de Mort
Rouge. II Is the Justice of God that |
kill you"
The two men cirCled like beasts in
pit, Rowland In the attitude of Il box |
err. Jean with his shoulders bent. his |
arms slightly curved mt his side. the
toes of his moccasined feet bearing his !
weight Suddenly he launched him
self at the others throat
In flash 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. Croissct came to
his feet. II was the first time that he
had ever come into contact with sci.
ence He was puzzled. His head
rang. and for few moments he was
dizzy He dartcd In again I'm his old,
quick, catliie way and received
blow that dnzed him. This time he
kept his feet
81 am sure now that I am going TO
kin 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 go near the weapons In
his belt. and slowly the smile faded
rom Howland's lips az Jean clrcled
bout him He had never fought a
nan OF this kind; never had he looked
IN the appalling confidence that was ,
n his antagonists eyes. From those
yes rather than from the man he /
ound himself slowly retreating. They
ollowed him. never taking themselves
rom his face. In them the fire re- I
urned and grew deeper. The dull G
ed spots began to glow In Crolssets G
heeks. and he laughed softly when he ,
lcaped In SO that Rowland :
truck Mt him-an missed. He knew 9
What to expect now. And Rowland :
new what 10 expect. !
II was the science Of one world pit. 4,
I'd against that OF another-the sci
nee Of civilization against that Of the .
'ildcrucss. Rowland was trained in
IS art For sport Jean had played i,
18th wounded lynx. His was the quick
ess Of sight OF inStinCt-the quick {,
ess Of the great north loon that had "
rtrn played this same game with his |,
1c fire. Of the Sledge dog whose rip .
ing fangs carried death so quickly d"
lat eyes could not follow A third :
nd fourth time he came within ="
stance, and Rowland struck and
issed. !"
81 am going to kill you" he said :.
yain !, :,
To this point Rowland had remained :.
,ol Self possession I'm his science he "
new to he half the battle But he
II in him now slow, swelling anger.
he smiling fash in Jeans eyes began
irritate him; the fearless, haunting
cam of his teeth, his audacious con h,
ience put him on edge. Twice again Y,
, struck out swiftly, but Jean had o,
me and gone like dart. His 1.-THE nj
)dy. fifty pounds lighter than How NJ
nd's, seemed to be that of boy
)dging him in some tantalizing sport. M
he Frenchman made no effort at at
ok. His were the tactics OF the wolf n,
the heels Of the bull moose, of the
NIX before the prongs of a cornered 20
worrying. ceaseless. :,
Howland's striking muscles began
ache, and his breath was growing an
lorter with the exertions which seem -,