The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-12-12


that be heard now in the girls breath.
the confession that he read in her
voiceiess grief, set his heart leaping
and again he drew her close into his
arms and turned her face up to his
own.
"You--you told me something that
wasn't true-Once-back there" he
whispered. "and you promised that you
wouldn't do it again. Why don't you
tell me everything? You believe that
If knew certain things would never
want to see you again: that l would
60 back into the south. You have toif
me that Then. if you want me to &C
why don't you reveal these things
me? If you can't do that go with M
tonight We will go anywhere-to th'
ends Of the earth
He stopped at the look that had come
into her face Her eyes were turned
to the window He saw them filled
with a strange terror. and involuntar1
" his own followed them to where the
storm was beating softly ara!',st the
windowpane. f'los.. to the liehr..t ~ g
was pressed a mans face. He caught
flashing glimpse of a pair of eyes
staring in at them. of thick, wild
beard whitened by the snow. He knew
the face When life seemed slipping
out of his throat he had looked III
into it that night Of the ambush on the
Great North trail.
With quick movement Howland
sprang away from the girl and leveled
his revolver to where the face had
been. Over the shining barrel he saw
pnly the taunting emptiness of thu
storm. Scarcely had the face disap
peared when there came the loud shout
of a man. the hoarse calling Of name
| and then Of another and after that the
| quick, furious opening of the outer
| door.
| Howland whirled, his weapon point
ing to the only entrance. The girl wa:
ahead of him, and with a warning cry
he swung the muzzle of his gun up
ward. In moment she had pushed
the bolt that locked the room from thu
inside and had leaped back to him
her face white, her breath breaking II
/ fear. She spoke no word. but with ;
1 moan Of terror caught him by th'
arm and pulled him past the ligh
and beyond the thick curtain that hat
hidden her when he had entered tn
room a few minutes before. The.
were in second room, palely lighte'
by mass of Goals cleaning through
the open door of a box stove and wit
| q second window looking out into tn
thick night Fiercely she dragged hin
to this window. her fingers biting dee
into the flesh of his arm.
"You must 60 through thisr sh
cried chokingly. "Quick! Oh. my Goo
won't you hurry? Won't you go?"
Howland had stopped From th
blackness Of the corridor there cam
the beat of heavy fists Oh the door an
the rage Of laundering voice demand
ing admittance From ont in the nigs
1T was answered by the sharp barkin
of a dog and the shout of secon
voice.
"Why should go?" he asked.
told you a few moments ago that ha
come prepared to fight. Meleese
shall stay and fight"
please, please gov' she sobbed. stri'
ing to pull him nearer to the windoy
"You can get away in the storm. III
snow will cover your trail T. yo
stay they will kill you-kilI you"
II prefer to fight and be killed rat
er than.to run away without you.'
interrupted If you will go"-
She crushed herself against b
breast
: IL can't go-now-this way" 81
urged Put | will come to yOu
promise that will come to you" r
an instant her hands clasped his fac
will you go if promise YOU that?"
lyon swear that You will follow 4
that you will come down TO the "
. kusko? Ny God are you telling Z
the truth. Meleese?'
"Ycs. yes: I will come to you II "
30 now She broke from him. and
heard her fumbling at the window
! will come: will come. bnt not to "
kusko They will follow you the
Go hack to Prince Albert to the
tel where looked 1T you through t
window | will come therc-sometil
as soon as ! can
A blast Of cold air swept into
face He had thrust his revolver II
its holster. and now again for an
slant he held Meleese close in his arr
. "You will be my wife," he VIII
: pered
Z He felt her throbbing against hi
= Suddenly her arms frightened arou
his neck
"Yes. If you want me then-if
:. want me after you know what
Now. go-piease. please go.
be ! Continued on Page Four.