, 1911-09-21
nearing of this revolver when 1

IL tne uurk. ! know OF no reason WHY
I shouldn't go down there openly ant
be welcomed and given IA good supper
And yet at the ST me time | know tina
my life wouldn't be worth "a red copper
IL ! did go down. You can clear vi
the whole business. and that's whal
you're going to do. When | under
stand why I am scheduled to be muir
dered on sight ! won't be Handicapped
as l now am. So go ahead and spiel
If you don't I'll blow your head off"
you may shoot, m'seur.'' Jean SAID
quietly. Il have sworn on a cross of
the Virgin to tell you no more than |
have"
Slowly Rowland raised his revolver.
"Once more. Croisset-wilI you tell
me?'
"Non. m'seur."
A %deafening explosion filed the little
cabin. From the lobe of Jeans ear
there ran a red trickle of blood. His
face had gone deathly pale. But even
as the bullet had stung him within an
inch of his brain he had not flnched.
"Wnl you tell me. Crcisset?"
This time the black I of the engi-
neers revolver conferred squarely be-
tween the F~renchman's eyes.
"Non. m'seur."
The eyes of the two men met owe
the blue steel. With a cry Rowland
slowly lowered his weapon.
"Good God. but you're a brave man.
Jean Croisset!' he cried. I'D sooner
kill a dozen men that know than
you"
He rose to his feet and went to the
door. There was still but little snow
in the air. To the north the horizon
was growing black with the early ap-
proach of the northern light. With q
laugh he returned to Jean.
"Deuce take it II l don't feel like
apologizing to you,' he exclaimed.
docs your ear hurtT"
mo more than If | had scratched 1t
with a thorn" returned Jean politely.
"You are good with the pistol. m'seur."
81 would not profit by killing you
just now" unused Rowland. seating
himself again on the box and resting
his chin in the palm Of his hand as he
looked across at the other. But
that's a pretty good intimation that
I'm desperate and mean business.
Croisset. We won't quarrel about the
things I've asked you. What I'm here
for is to see Meleese. Now. how is
that to happenT"
For the life of me I don't know"
replied Jean as calmly as though a
bullet had not nipped the edge of his
ear a before. There is only
n way | can see, m'seur. and that is
to walt and watch from this mountain
top until Meleese drives put her dogs.
She has her own team and In ordinary
seasons frequently goes out alone or
with one of the women at the post.
Mon Dieu, she has had enough of
sledge riding Of late. and l doubt If
she will find pleasure in her dogs for a
long time"
81 had planned to use you." said
Rowland. but I've lost faith in you.
Honestly. Croisset, l believe you would
stick me in the back almost as quickly
as those murderers down there"
mot in the back. m'seur." smiled
the Frenchman. unmoved. 81" have
had opportunities to do that. Non.
since that fight back there l do not
believe that | wan to kill you"
But l would be a fool to trust you.
Isn't that SOP
mot If I gave you my word. That
is something w do not break up here
as you do down among the Wekusko
people, and farther south"
But you murder people for pastime
-eh, my dear JeanY
Crossiet shrugged bis shoulders with
out speaking.
See here, Croisset." said Rowland
with sudden earnestness, I'm almost
tempted to take a chance with you.
VIII you go down to the post tonight,
in some way gain access to Meleese
and give her a message from me?"
And the message-what would it
be?"
'It would bring Meleese up to this
cabin-tonight"
Are you sure, m'seurY
81 am certain that 1t would. VIII
you gor'
"Non, m'seur."
'"The devil take you'll" cried How
land angrily. "If I was not certain
that 1 would need you later I'd gar
rote you where you sit"
He rose and went to the old stove.
1t was still capable of holding fire,
and as 1t had grown toe dark outside
for the smoke to be observed from the
post he proceeded to prepare a supper
Of hot coffee and neat. Jean watched
him in silence, and not until food and
drink were on the table did the engi-
neer himself break silence.
"Of course I'm not going to feed
you" he said CURLY, $50 I'll have to
free your hands. But be careful"
beside him after he had freed CroIs-
apt