Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-09-05

ElCEIui W.
O..-.-.-.-.-.-.-e-s-.-s-s-S
TO his shoulders. strange pallor in his
cheeks. To Thornton his thin face
seemed 10 have grown thinner. With
bowed head. looking nowhere but
ahead Of him. Jan passed on, and as
the last door opened 10 let them out
into the pale winter sun Thornton
heard the muffled sobbing of his
breath. His fingers gripped JAMS arm
His eyes were blazing.
IF you're getting the wrong end OF
anything up there" he cried fiercely; |
IF you're in trouble, and they're tax
ing the blood out OF you, tell me. and
I'll put the clamps on EN-! They'll .
buck the devil when they buck Jack
Thornton. and if 1t needs money to
show EN- so I've got half a million to
teach EN- the game"'
Thanks. m'sieur," struggled Jan, !
striving to keep a lump out OF hi,
throat. ITS nothing like that. / don't |
need money. Half a million would just
about buy what I've given away UP /
there"
He clutChed his hand for an instant
TO the empty pocket where the papers
had been.
That night, leaving Thornton still al
supper in the little old Windsor hotel, (
Jan slipped away and. with Kazan at
his heels. crossed the frozen Saskatch. 1
evan 10 the spruce forest on the north |
shore. He wanted 10 be alone TO think, |!
10 fight with himself against a desire |
which was almost Overpowering him. |
Once, long ago. he had laid his sou, !
bare to Jean de Gravois, and Jean had
given him comfort. Tonight he longed
TO 20 TO Thornton as he had gone to
Jean and TO tell him the same story
and what had passed that day in the
Office Of the subcOmmissiOner. In his
heart there had crown something for
Thornton that was stronger than friend.
ship-something that would have made
him fight for him and die for him as
he would have fought and died for
Jean de Gravois. 1t was a feeling ce-
mented by belief that something was
troubling Thornton; that he, too, was
filed with a loneliness and a grief
which he was trying to conceal. And
yet be fought TO restrain himself from
contiding in his new friend. Il would
do no good. be knew. except by reliev
ing him Of part OF his mental burden
A week-it might be ten days, the
subcommissiOnerh had told him-and II
would be over Lights were out, and
people were in bed when he and Kazan
returned 10 the hotel but Thornton was
up. sitting by himself in the gloom, Is
Jan had first seen him at lie Pas. Jan
sat down beside him. There was an
uneasy tremor IN Thornton's voice
when he said:
Jan. did you ever love a woman
love her until you were ready and will
| ing TO die for herr"
The suddenness Of the question wruns
the truth from JAMS lips in a low. chok.
| ing voice. - IN instant he thought
that Thorn '-r have guessed his
secret
Yes. m'sieur."
Thornton leaned toward him, grip
| ping his knees, and the misery in his
face was deeper than Jan had ever
seen II before.
! II love a wOman-iike that" he went
/ on tensely. "A girl-not woman. and
she is one Of your people, Jan-of the
north. as innocent as a flower, more
beautiful To me than-than all the wo.
] men | have ever seen before. She is
| at oxford House. | am going home to
! to save myself"
Save yourself cried Jan. Does
she not love you?"
she would follow me TO the end of
the earth
Then
/ Thornton Strengthened himself and
wiped his pale face Suddenly he rose
10 his feet and motioned for Jan TO fol
low him. He walked swiftly out into
the night and still faster after that IN
I I'll they passed beyond the town. From
where he stopped they could look over
the forests far into the pale light Of
the south.
That's hell for me-" said Thornton.
pointing. It's what We call civiliZs-
tion-but it's mostly hell. / wish to
God l could stay here-alwaysl"
You love her" breathed Jan. You
can stay"
Il can't" groaned Thornton. Il can't
3 unless
What. m'sieCTE"
Unless l lose everything-but her
JAMS fingers trembled as they sought
Thornton's hand.
And everything is-is-nothipg when