The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-08-30


 Gravois and Iowaka were watch
 ing for him, and Jean hurried O across the open to meet him.
 T am coming to offer you the loan of my razor,'' he cried gaily. 'Iowaka says that you will be taken for bear if the trappers see you"
 "A beard is good to keep of the black fiies,'' replied Jan. Tt is approaching summer and the black flies love to feast upon me- Let us go down the trail. Jean. want to speak with you" ; Where there had been wood cutting in the deep spruce they sat down, fac ing each other. Jan spoke in French.
 "I have travelled far since leaving Lac Bain,' he said. T went first to Nelson House, and from there to the SWholdaia I found them at Nelson House, but not on the Wholdaia." "What?" asked Jean, though he knew we'll what the other meant. My brothers, Jean de Gravois," an- swered Jan, drawing his lips until his teeth gleamed in a sneering smile. 'tMy brothers the carrion! I saw the two at Nelson House One of them is a half wit, and the other''-he hunched his shoulders-''is worse. Petraud, one of the two who were at Wholdaia, was killed by Cree father last winter for dishonoring his daughter. The oth- CT disappeared. So you see, Jean de Gravois, what sort of creature is your friend Jan Thoreaur'
 'T see that you are a bigger fool than ever," Jean said quietly. ''Jan Thoreau, what if I should break my oath-and tell Melisse?"
 Unfinching the mems eyes met. A dull glare came into Jan's. Slowly he l unsheathed his long knife and placed it upon the snow between his feet, with the gleaming end of the blade pointing toward GFavois. With a low cry Jean sprang to his feet.
 Do you mean that, Jan Thoreau Do you mean to give the knife chal- lenge to one who has staked his life 1 for you and who loves you as a brother?''
 "Yes," said Jan deliberately. "I love you, Jean, more than any other man in the world. And yet I will kill you if you betray me to Melissew He rose to his feet and stretched out his hands to the little Frenchman. "Jean, wouldn't you do as I am doing? Wouldn't you have done as much for | 1owaka?"
 l For q moment Gravois was silent. t'I would not have taken her love without telling her." he said then, SsTSto% ;e ,,o4 x.,ho+ x,a,, ard Iypoxu o e honor, Jan Thoreau. But I would have gone to her, as you should now go to Melisse, and she would have l opened her arms to me, as Melisse would open hers to you. That is what I would have done''
 And that is what I shall never do,' ,'' said Jan decisively, turning toward the post ''I could kill myself more l easily. That is what wanted to tell | you, Jean. No one but you and must l Nver knoww
 '1 would Ike to choke that fool of a l Croisset for sending you to hunt up l those people at Nelson House and | Wholdaiap' grumbled Jean.
 Tt was best for me-
 They saw ,Melisse leaving Iowaka s home when they came from the forest l Roth waved their hands to her, ant Jan cut across the open to the store. l Jean went to the Cummins cabin a! 1 soon as he was sure that he was noi 1 observed. There was little of the ole 1 vivacity in his manner as he greeted | Melisse. He noted. too, that the gir 1 was not her natural self. There was
 redness under her eyes which told hin
 that she had been crying, ''Melisse," he said at last, speaking tt
 her with his eyes fixed on the cap ht 1 was twisting in his fingers. there ha, l come a great change over Jan"
 "A very great change. Jean. If l were to guess should say that ks heart had been broken down on tht 1 Nelson trail
 Gravois caught the sharp meaning il 1 her voice, which trembled little as she spoke. He was before her in ar l instant, his cap fallen to the floor, his eyes blazing as he caught her by the l arms
 tTo Be Continued)
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