Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-03-15
Cepyright 1910 By
The bobbs-M Merrill 90

yet, II ! was in their place. I would kill
| you, even though l like you It is a
great duty to kill you. They did not do
wrong when they tied you in the coy
ote. They did not Go wrong when they
tried to kill you on the trail But I
have taken a solemn oath to tell you
nothing; nothing beyond this-that SO
long as you are with me, and that
sledge is behind US, your life is not in
danger. l will tell you nothing more
Are you hungry. M'seur?'
Starved" said Rowland.
He stumbled a few steps out into the
snow, the numbness in his limbs fore
ing him to catch at trees and saplings
to save himself from falling. He was
astonished at Croisset's words and
more confused than ever at the half
breeds assurance that his life was Nc
longer in immediate peril. To him this
meant that Meleese had not only
warned him, but was now playing an
active part in preserving his life, and
this conclusion added to his perplexity.
Who was this girl who a few hours be-
fore had deliberately lured him among
his enemies and who was now fighting
to save him? The question held a
deeper significance for him than when
he had asked himself this same thing
at Prince Albert, and when Croisset
called for him to return to the camp
fire and breakfast he touched once
more the forbidden subject.
Jean. I don't want to hurt your feel
ings," he said, seating himself on the
sledge, hut I've got to get a few things
out of my system. I believe this Me-
leese of yours is a bad woman
Like a flash Croisset struck at the
bait which Rowland threw out to him.
He leaned a little forward, and hand
q~uivering on his knife, his eyes flashing
fire. Involuntarily the engineer re-
coiled from that animal-like crouch,
from the black rage which was
growing each instant in the half
breeds face Yet Croisset spoke soft
~ and without excitement, even while
his shoulders and rms we're twttching
like a forest cat about to spring.
"M'seur, nc one in the world must
say that about my Mariane. and next
to her they must not say II about Me-
leese. Up there" and he pointed still
farther into the north-"1 know of a
hundred men between the Athabascs
and the bay who would kill you for
what you have said. And 1t is not for
Jean Croisset to listen to II here. /
viii kill o unless you take 1t backi"
"God!" bresthed Rowland. He
looked straight into Croisset's face.
I'm glad-it's so-Jean," he added
slowly. Don't you understand. man?
I love her. I didn't mean what I
said. I would kill for her, too, Jean.
l said that to find out-what you would
| do"
Slowly Croisset relaxed. a faint smile
curling his thin lips.
IF it was a joke, M'seur. 1t was a
bad one
1T wasn't a joke" cried Rowland.
TT was a serious effort to make you
tell me something about Meleese.
Listen, Jean-she told me back there
that II was not wrong for me to love
her. and when I lay bound and gagged
in the snow she came to me and-and
kissed me. 1 don't understand"
Sroisset interrupted him..
ibid she do that, M'seur?"
"I swear it."
Then you are fortunate" smiled
lean softly. .for I will stake my hope
in the blessed hereafter that she has
never done hat to another man.
M'seur. But 1t will never happen
again.
81 believe that it will-unless you
kill me-"