The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-09-05

sioners time. Nearly two hours pass
sed before Jan appeared. Thornton.
still patient. rose as the door opened.
His eyes first encountered the staring
face Of the subcommissioner. Then
Jan came out He had aged FIVE years
In two hours. There was tired stoop
to his shoulders. strange pallor in his
cheeks. To Thornton his thin face
seemed to have grown thinner. With
bowed head. looking nowhere but
ahead Of him. Jan passed on, and as
the last door opened to let them out
into the pale winter sun Thornton
heard the mufiled sobbing of his
breath. His fingers grpped JAMS arm.
His eyes were blazing
"If you're getting the wrong end of
anything up there he cried fercely;
'if you're in trouble. and they're tax.
ing the blood out Of you. tell me, and
I'll put the clamps on 'em! They'll
buck the devil when they buck Jack
Thornton. and If It needs money to
show 'em so I've got half million to
teach 'em the game"
"Thanks, m'sieur," struggled Jan.
striving to keep a lump out of his
throat. ITS nothing like that. don't
need money. Half a million would just
about buy what I've given away up
there"
to the empty pocket where the papers
had been.
That night, leaving Thornton still at
supper In the little old Windsor hotel,
Jan slipped away and, with Kazan at
his heels. crossed the frozen Saskatch.
evan to the spruce forest on the north
shore. He wanted to be alone to think.
to fight with himself against desire
which was almost overpowering him.
Once. long ago. he had laid his soul
bare to Jean de Gravois, and Jean had
given him comfort. Tonight he longed
to go 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 grown 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 feeling CO.
mented by belief that something was
troubling Thornton: that he. too, was
filed with q loneliness and grief
which he was trying to conceal. And
yet he fought to restrain himself from
confidng IN his new friend. 1t would
do M ht,r aliav.
ing him of Il part of his mental burden.
A week-it might be ten days, the
subcommissioner had told him-and 1t
would be over. Lights were out, and
people were in bed when he and Kazan
returned to the hotel. but Thornton was
up. sitting by himself in the gloom. as
Jan huo 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 woman
love her until you were ready and will
ing to die for herr"
The suddenness Of the question wrung
the truth from JAMS lips in n low chok-
ing voice. For an instant he thought
that Thornton must have guessed his
secret.
Yes, m'sleur."
Thornton leaned toward him, grip
ping his knees. and the misery In his
face was deeper than Jan had ever
seen It before.
81 love woman-like that" he went
IN 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'
at oxford House, am going home t.
to save myself"
Save yourself!' cried Jan. Docs
she not love you?"
"She would follow me to the end o
! the EARTH
"Then"-
Thornton Strengthened himself ant
: wiped his pale face Suddenly he ros
to his feet and motioned for .lsH to fol
low him. He walked swiftly out int
, the night and still faster after that vi
til they passed beyond the town. From
, where he stopped they could look owe
! the forests far into the pale light o
( the south.
That's hell for me-" said Thornton
| pointing. ITS what we call civiIiza
3 tion-but it's mostly hell! | wish
God | could stay here-always!
! "You love her." breathed Jan. "fo
4 can stay"
II can't" groaned Thornton. II can
t unless
D "What, m'sieur"
"Unless lose everything-but her. "
4 JAMS fingers trembled as they sougf
q Thornton's hand.
= "And everything is-is-nothing whe
4 you give 1t for love and happiness" h
e urged, THE great God, know
t Everything" cried Thornton. Don
e you understands l said everything,
n He turned almost fiercey upon h
@ COmDaniOn "Il give no nv name