The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1912-06-21

Croisset had barred on him and gave
up all hope of escape in that direction.
He could barely thrust his arm
through the aperture that opened out
on the plague stricken cabin.
In no situation had he displayed the
white feather: at no time had he felt
a thrill of fear. His courage and reck-
lessness had terrified Meleese. had as
toniShed Croisset. And vet what had
he done? From the beginning. from
the moment he first placed his foot in
the Chinese cafe. his enemies had held
the whiphand. He had been COM
PEELED to play a passive part. Up to
the point Of the ambush on the We
kusko trail he might have found some
vindication for himself. But this ex-
perience with Jean Croisset-it was
enough to madden him. now that he
was alone, to think about it. Why
had he not taken advantage Of jean.
as Jackpine and the Frenchman had
taken advantage of him?
He saw now what he might have
done. Somewhere. not very far back. the
sledge carrying Meleese and Jackpine
had turned into the unknown. They
two were alone. Why had he not made
Croisset a prisoner. instead Of allowing
himself to be Gagged up like a weak
ling? He swore aloud as there dawned
on him more and more a realization
of the opportunity he had lost At the
point of a gun he could have forced
Croisset to overtake 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 he had seen shining the light Of
a great love that had glorihed 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 a sort of satisfaction 1t
occurred to him that his actions had
disarmed the Frenchman Of suspicion.
He believed that 1t would be easy to
overcome Croisset. to force him to fol-
low In the trail Of Meleese and Jack
pine. And that trail? 1t would prob
ably lead to the very stronghold Of his
enemies. But what Of that? He
loaded his pipe again. putting out
clouds Of smoke until the room was
thick with 1t. That trail would take
him to Meleese-wherever she was
Heretofore his enemies had come 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
laughed aloud as sudden thrilling
thought flashed into his mind. AS q
last resort he would use Jean as a de
coy.
He foresaw how easy it would be t.
bring Meleese to him-to see Croisset
His own presence would be like tn:
dropping Of bomb at her feet. Ii
that moment. when she saw what hi
was risking for her. that he was deter
mined to possess her, would she no
surrender to the pleading Of his love