Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-21


ness. cudGenIy ne stopped, and be-
fore Jean could comprehend what had
happened he had bent down and kissed
her.
With low cry Melissa tore herself
free. For an instant she faced Dixon,
who stood laughing into her blazing
eyes. Then she turned and ran swiftly
down the trail.
A second cry fell from her startled
lips when she found herself face to
face with Jean de Gravois. The little
Frenchman was smiling. His eyes
glittered like black diamonds.
Jean, jean she sobbed, running
10 him.
He has insulted you he said soft
ly, smiling into her white face. Run
along 10 the post. my pretty Melissa"
He watched her. half turned from
the astonished Englishman. until she
disappeared in a twist of the trail
hundred yards away. Then he faced
Dixon.
ut is the first time that our Melissa
has ever suffered insult" he said.
speaking as coolly as II to a child.
IF Jan Thoreau were here, he would
kill you. He is gone, and l will kill
| you in his place."
He advanced. his white teeth still
cleaning in a smile. and not until he
/ launched himself like cat at Dixon's
throat was the Englishman convinced
that he meant attack. In n fash Dix
on stepped little TO one side and sent
out a crashing blow that caught Jean
on the side OF the head and sent him
fiat upon his back in the trail.
Half stunned. Gravois came TO his
feet. He did not hear the shrill cry
OF terror from the twist in the trail.
He did not look back TO see Melissa
standing there. But Dixon both saw
and heard. and he laughed tauntingly
over Jeans head as the little French
man came toward him again, more
cautiously than before
1t was the first time that Jean had
ever come into contact with science.
He darted in again in his quick, cat
like way and received a blow that
dazed him. This time he held to his
feet.
Bah, this is like striking a baby
exclaimed Dixon. What are you fight
ing about. Gravois? Is it crime up
here 10 kiss a pretty Girl?"
Il am going TO kill you" said Jean,
as Coolly as before.
!, There was something terribly calm
and decisive in his voice. He was not
excited. He was not afraid. His fin.
gers did not go near the long knife in
his belt Slowly the laugh faded from
DiXon's face. and tense lines gathered
! around his mouth as Jean circled about
him.
Come. we don't want trouble like
this" he urged. I'm sorry-if Melissa
didn't like it,"
Il am going to kill you repeated
Jean.
IL was the science Of the forest mar
pitted against that Of another world
For sport Jean had played Will
wounded lynx. His was the Quicknes:
= OF sight, OF instinct-without the 9th
: er's science-the quickness of the grea
loon that had often played this same
2 game with his rife fire, of the sIedg,
dog whose ripping fangs carried dealt
so quickly that eyes could not follow
A third and a fourth time he came
, within striking distance and escaped
He half drew his knife. and at III,
movement Dixon sprang back until hi
shoulders touched the brush. Smiling
ly Gravois unShenthed the blade anC
, tossed it behind him in the trail. Hi
eyes were Ike serpent's in thei
steadiness, and the muscles Of his bod!
were drawn as tight as steel springs
ready to loose themselves when tn
chance came.
e There were tricks in his fighting a
7 well as in the others, and a dawnini
y of il began to grow upon Dixon. II
!, dropped his arms to his side. inviting
y Jean within reach. Suddenly the littl
5 Frenchman Strengthened. His glitter
: ing eyes shot from the EngliShman'
e face 10 the brush behind him, and
piercing yell burst from his lips. In
voluntarily Dixon started, half turnin
!, his face. and before he had come to hi
i guard Gravois flung himself under hi
' arms. striking with the full force o
d his body against his antagonists knees
Together they went down in tn
e trail. There was only one science nov
= that Of the forest man. The 18th,
, brown fingers that could have crushe
3 the life Of lynx. fastened themselve
I. around the Englishman's throat. an
I. there came one gasping. quickly thro