The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-10-17

u
out on the ice with his inanimate bnr-
den he spoke softly to himself. ihr
saints preserve me. but what would
the sweet Meleese say If she knew
that Jean Croisset had come so near
to losing the life of this m'seur lie EN-
gineer?"
In only a subconscious sort of way |
was Rowland cognizant OF anything
more that happened that night. When
he came back into full sense Of his
existence he found himself in his bed
at the hotel. There was dull. aching
pain in his head and neck. and When
he raised an inquiring hand it came III
contact with IL thick bandage.
Soon there came a sound at the door
and he twisted his head. grimacins
with the pain it caused him. Jean was
looking in at him.
"Ah. m'seur ees awake!' he said.
as it bad. Croisset?'
'So bad that you will be in bed Tor
a day or so. m'seur. That is all.
"Impossible!" cried the young engl-
neer. ~ must take the 8 O'clock train
IN the morning | must he in LIE Pas
sit is s O'Clock now" interrupted
Jean softly do You feel like going:
Rowland Strengthened himself and
fell back suddenly with sharp cry.
1.-The devil" lie exclaimed. After
moment he added. There will be no
other train for two days" Az he raised
a hand to his aching head his other
closed tightly about Jeans 1.-THE brown
fingers. II want to thank you for
what you did, Croisset | don't know
what happened. l don't know VIII"
they were or why they tried to kill me
There was a girl was going with
her.
He dropped his hand in time to see
the strange fire that had leaped int"
the half breeds eyes. In asionishmen'
he half lifted himself again. his white
face questioning Croisset.
"Do you know" he whispered eager
". who was she? Why did she
lead me into that ambush? Why did
they attempt to kill me-"
With a quick movement the half
breed drew away his hand and moved
toward the door. Halfway he paused
and turned.
"M'seur, / have come to you with q
warning. Do not go to lie Pas. Do
not go to the big railroad camp on the
Wekusko. Return into the south. Per-
haps you will understand when | tell
you this warning is sent to you by the
little Meleese."
Before Rowland could recover from
his surprise Croisset had passed swift
" through the door. For long time
he lay with his eyes closed trying to
clear for himself the mystery of the
preceding night The one thought
which obsessed him was that he had
been duped. His lovely acquaintance
of the preceding evening had ensnared
him completely with her gentle smile
and her winsome mouth, and he grit
ted his teeth grimly as he reflected
how easy he had been. Deliberately
she had lured him into the ambush
which would have proved fatal fol
him had it not been for Jean Croisset
And she was not mite! He ha6
heard her voice. When that death grill
was highest about his throat there
had come to him that terrified cry
mon dieu. you are killing him-killins
him.
His breath came q little faster as b,
whispered the words to himself. The!
appealed to him now with signifi
canoe which he had not understood a
first He was sure that in that or,
there had been real terror; almost, h
fancied, as he lay with his eyes shu
tight that he could still hear the shril
note of despair in the voice II tn
girl had calmly led him into the am
bush why in the last moment whel
success seemed about to crown her du
plicity had she cried out in that agOn.
of terror?
Was it possible that face and eye
like those could have led him into
death trap? Despite the evidence 0
what had happened he found himsel
filled with doubt. And vet. after al
she had lied to him. for she was not
mute.
Vainly as he watched and waited b
: racked his mind to find some reaso
for the murderous attack on himsel1
Who was 1.-The little Meleese." whor
Croisset declared had sent the war;
l. ing? So far as he could remember b
had never known person by tina
name And vet the half breed had u
tered it as though 1t would carry
vital meaning to him. Perhaps 20
u will understand" he had said
The first light of the day was fallin
family through the window when foo
steps sounded outside the door agail
. 1t was not Croisset who appeared th
time, but the proprietor himself. bea
y ing with him a tray on which theI
II was toast and a steaming pot of co
. fee
- bad fall you had" he greete,
: drawing a small table close beside tt
~ bed. "GOod thing Croisset was wit
your
"Yes-it-was-a-ba he r
- piled at last, looking sharply at Il
other. where is Croisset?''
~ "Gone. He left an hour ago with b
le dogs. Funny fellow, that CROSSE
N Came in yesterday from the Lac
er Ronge country hundred miles mort
u goes back today. No apparent rease
for his coming, none for his going tn
a. I can see."
u "Do you know anything about him
IS asked Rowland little eagerly.
re "No. He comes in about once
'e twice year."
"
re fs,o mn 1,onnr,urn1