The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1912-07-12

IN my mission here you shall die. If
others come along that trail before
dark and run us down l will kill you.
Unless you make it possible for me to
see and talk with Meleese will kill
you. Your life hangs on my success"
II am glad that you changed your
mind. m'seur. and will not tempt you
aHain. will do the best that I can"
said Jean. within an hour 1t will be
showing heavily" he affirmed. III
they do not run across our trail by
that time. mseur. we shall be safe"
He led the way through the forest
again, more slowly and with greater
caution than before. Half an hour
later the Frenchman halted where the
banskians climbed the side of slop-
ing ridge.
IF you could trust me would ask
to 60 on ahead" whisl cred Jean.
"This ridge shuts in the p'sin. n'seur,
and just over the top Of It is an old
cabin which has been abandoned for
many years. There is not one chance
In a thousand Of there being any one
there. though it is good fox ridge at
this season. From 1t you may see the
light in Meleese's window at night"
He did not stop to watch the effect
of his last words. but began picking
his way up the ridge with the dogs
tugging at his heels. At the top he
swung sharply between two huge
masses of snow covered rock. and in
the lee Of the largest Of these. almost
entirely sheltered from the drifts piled
up by easterly winds, they came sud-
denly on a small log hut.
Mon Dieu. so far l have saved my
hide" he grinned. Now, mseur, look
for yourself and see ii Jean Croisset
has not kept his word"'
A dozen steps had taken him through
a screen Of shrub to the opposite slope
of the ridge. With outstretched arm
he pointed down into the plain, and
as Howland's eyes followed it's direc-
ton he stood throbbing with sudden
excitement. Less than a quarter of a
mile away, sheltered in dip of the
plain. were three or four log build
ings rising black and desolate out of
the white waste. One of these build
ings was large structure similar
| to that in which Rowland had been
imprisoned. and as he looked team
and sledge appeared from behind one
of the cabins and halted close to the
wall of the large building. The driver
was plainly visible, and to Howland's
establishment he suddenly began tc
ascend the side of this wall. For the
moment Rowland had not thought Of
stair.
jeans attitude drew his eyes. Tht
Frenchman had thrust himself hall
out of the screening bushes and wa.
staring through the telescope of hi
hands. With an exclamation he turn
ed quickly to the engineer.
Look. m'seur! Do you see that maj
climbing the stair? / don't mind tell
ing you that he is the one who hit 20,
over the head on the trail and alst
one of those who shut you up in tn
coyote. Those are his quarters at tn
post, and possibly he is going up t
see Meleese. If you were much Of
shot you could settle a score or tw
from here, m'seur."
The figure had stopped. evidently o.
a platform midway up the side of tn
building. He stood for a moment as
scanning the plain between him an
the mountain. then disappeared. How
land had not spoken word. but ey
cry nerve in his body tingled strangely
you say Meleese-is there?"
questioned hesitatingly. And he