The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-11-28

III n1 land; to the right OF the team
I'D ran Jean Once or twice
lSs4J when Croisset glanced back
| his eyes met those of the engineer H.
cracked his whip and smiled. and
Howi,nds teeth cleaned hack coldly
| In reply A mutual understanding
flashed between them III these glanceS
In sudden squirt Howland knew tina,
the i'renchman could quickly put dis
| tance between them but no, n distance
that his bullets could not cover in the
snaee If breath II. had made up
his mind to fire, deliberately and with
his greatest skill. if Croissei made the
slightest movement toward escape Ii
he was compelled to kill or wound his
companion he could still 60 on alone
with the dogs. for the trail Of Meleese
and Jackpine would BE- as plain as
their own. which they were following
back into the south.
Men Dieu but you are a strange
man. exclaimed the frenchman when
he brought the dogs down to walk
after half mile run Blessed saints.
mseur. you are laughing. and | swear
It's no laughing matter
Shouldn't man be happy when he
is going to his wedding. .Iean?" puffed
Howiand. gasping to get back the
breath he had lost
But not when he's going to his flu
neral. m'seur.'
IF | We're one OF your blessed saints
I'd hit you over the head with Il thun-
derbolt. Croisset. Good Lord. what
sort Of heart have you got inside Of
your jacket. man: Up there where
we're going is the sweetest little girl
In the whole world love her. She
loves me Why shouldn't | he happy
now that | know I'm going 10 see her
again very soon-and take her back
into the south with me?'
THE devilr' grunted Jean.
. perhaps you're jealous. Croisset."
, suggested Rowland Great Scott! I
hadn't thought Of that"
I've got one OF my own to love.
, m'seur. and | wouldn't trade her for
all else in the world"
Il can't understand you" cried the
/. engineer You appear to be half hu-
: man; you say you're in love. and yet
, you'd rather risk your life than help
out Meleese and me- What the deuce
does it meany'
That's what I'm doing. mSeur-
: helping Melaese. would have dnne
, her greater service if | had killed
!, you back there on the trail and strip
ped your body for those things that
: would be fonl enough to cat it.
:. have told ynu dozen times that 1t Is
. Gods Justice that YOU die. and you
:. are going to die very soon. nl'senr"
mo, I'm not going TO die. Jean I'm
!, going to see Melecse. and she's goinl
" back into the south with me. and il
;, you're real good von may have tht
pleasure of driving us back to thu
Wekusko. Croisset. aud yon can he m,
]. best man mt the wedding. What d.
you say to thai 2
"That yon are mad or u fool" refortet
= Jean. cracking his whip viciously.
The dogs swung sharply from tn
: trail. heading from their sonsherl!
course into the northwest
I'VE will save day by doing this
u explained CroisSet at the other
sharp word Of inquiry. I'VE will hf
the other trail twenty miles west o
! here. while by following back +
'a where they turned we won'd trave
sixty miles to reach the same point
d That one chance in hundred whtcl
.e you have depends on this. m'senr
] the other sledge has passed.
10 He shrugged his shoulders and start
! ed the dogs into trot.
III Look here,~ cried Rowland. rur
10 ming beside him. Who is with thi
10 other sledge?'
If ''rhose who tried to kill you on th
II trail and at the coyote. m'seur. q
answered quickly
Of Howland fell half q dozen PAGES b.
n hind His heart leaped with joyou
hope. and ne leaned forward on th
10 sledge to examine Croisset's empt
u gun 1t was an automatic. and Croi!
e. set. glancing back over the iopin
slr backs of the huskies. caught him smi
III ing He ran more frequently nov
and longer distances. and with Ii
passing of each mile his determin;
| ton to strike decisive blow increa
II ed. If they reached the trail OF NJ
| leese and Jackpine before the eros
ing Of the second sledge he would !!
in wait for his old enemies II the
had preceded them be would purSt
and surprise them in camp. In eth
| case he would possess an overwhelr
ing advantage.
With the same calculating attentit
| to detail that he would have shown
! the arrangement of plans for the bull
ing of tunnel or bridge. he DIRE
mental map Of his scheme and
possibilities There would be at lea
two men with the sledge and pos
bly, three II they surrendered at I
point of his rifle without u fight
would compel Jean TO tie them up wi
dog traces while he held them und
cover II they made move to of1
resistance he would shoot. With I
~ automatic he could kill or wound I
three before they could reach th
,nr rifles. which would undoubtedly be
me the sipdge The situation had n
reached n point where he no lons
mi took into consideration what thu
men might be to Meieese
ned As they continued into the nor
has west HOwiand noted that the thicl
,es forest was gradually clearing into W
you areas Of small banskian pine and g
nto the rock ridges and dense swan