The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-11-21

Croisset to 0vertake the other sledge.
He could have surprised Jackpine, as
they had surprised him on the trail.
And then? He smiled. but there was
no humor in the smile. He at last
would have held the whip hand. And
what would Meleese have done?
Meleese loved him. He would have
staked his life on that. His blood
leaped as he felt again the thrill of her
kisses when she had come to him as
he lay bound and gagged beside the
trail She had taken his head in her
arms, and through the grief OF her
face be had seen shining the light of
q great love that had gloritied it for all
time for him, She loved him, And he
had let her slip away from him. had
weakly surrendered himself at mo-
ment when everything that he dream
ed of might have been within his
grasp. With Jackpine and Croisset In
his power
He went no further. Was it too late
to do these things now? CroiSSet would
return With sort of satisfaction 1t
occurred to him that his actions had
disarmed the Frenchman of Su+ricinn.
He believed that 1t wunid hc easy to
overcome CrOisSet. to force him to fol-
low In the trail of MeleeSa and Jack.
pine. And that trail! 1t would pcob
ably lead to the very stronghold of bis
enemies But what of that: He
loaded his pipe again. putting nut
clouds of smoke until the room was
thick with it, That trail would take
him to wherever she VAS.
| Heretofore his enemies had com" to
| him: now he would go to them, With
| CrOisset In his power and with none
Of his enemies aware of his presence,
everything would be in his favor He
aughed aloud as sudden thrilling
thought flashed into his mind AS a
last resort he would use Jean as a de-
coy.
He foresa W how easy 1t would be to
bring Meleese to him-to see Croisset.
His own presence would he like the
cropping of bomb at her feet. In
that moment. when she saw what he
was risking for her. that he was deter
mined to possess her. would she not
surrender to the pleading of his lover
III not he would do the other thing
that which had brought the joyous
laugh to his lips All was fair in war
/ ltnd love. and theirs was 4 game OF
love- Because Of her love for him Me
)eese had kidnapped him from his post
| ~ d,1fC hoh
this death nous. in the wilderness
Low, had exculpated her That same
love would excnpate him He would
make her a prisoner. and lean shOulc
drive them back to the WekuSko. Me
; leese hersel; mad So the pace. and ht
would follow IT, And what woman. Y
, she loved man. would not surrender
after this! In their sletlge trip n
would have her 80 himself. for not onl!
; an hour or two. but for days. Surel.
J in that time he could win. Ther'
J would be pursuit perhaps: he nigh
; have to fight. but he was willing ant
trifle anxious to fight.
5 He went to he'd tha, night an'
: dreamed Of things that We're ~ baI
$ pen. A second day. third night an
{ third day came. With each hou
; grew his anxiety for Jeans return A
i times he was almost feveriSh TO hav
Z the affair over with He was contiden
: Of the outcome and yet he did not fa
u to take the Frenchman's true measure
ment. He knew that Jean was lik
d live wire and steel. as agile as a ca
n more than a match with himself
p open 6ght despite his own superit
weight and size.
D. He devised a dozen schemes Il
J. Jeans undoing. One was to leap Q
e him while be was eating. another
'e spring on him and choke him I'M
p partial insensibility as be knelt hesit
h his pack or fed the fire. a third
I. strike blow from behind that won
/: .ender him powerless. But there WI
T. something in this last that WAS :
I'd pugnant to him. He remembered tn
er Jean had saved his life; that in no
n stance had be given him physical pal
1t. He would watch for an opportunit
en- take advantage Of the Frenchman.
DO Croisset had taken advantage of hi
We but he would not hurt him seriousl
he It should be as fair struggle
10 Jean had offered him, and with {
be handicap in his favor the best M
mt would win.
On the morning Of the fourth d
ad Rowland was awakened by sou
ID. that came through the aperture in
ITS wall. 1t was the sharp yelpin2 ba
Of dog. followed an instant later
ng the sharper crack Of whip and a
on miliar voice.
est Jean Croisset had returned.
ov- With a single leap he was out
len his bunk. Half dressed he darted
we the door and crouched there. the m
on. cles of his arms tightening. his TIC
rm tense with the gathering forces wi
ou' in him.
The spur Of the moment had dr''
the him to quick decision. His oppor
Felt nifty would come when Jean Crois
ck' passed through that door.
as
i"u 10 BE CoNrINCED.1
ON