The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-11-28

llSteuluS lOI Souuu "NHIu. AhSh tHSie
came q fumbling at the bar and the
door swung inward.
bon jour. m'seurr' called Jeans
cheerful voice as he stepped inside.
us it possible you are not up. with all
this dog barking and
His eyes had gone to the empty
bunk. Despite his cheerful greeting
Rowland saw that the Frenchman's
face was haggard and pale us he turn
ed quickly toward him. He observed no
further than that. but flung his whole
weight on the unprepared Croisset. and
together they crashed to the floor
There was scarce a struggle and Jean
lay still He was fat on his back. his
arms pinioned to his sides. and bring
ing himself astride the Frenchman's
body so that each knee imprisoned an
arm Howland cooIly began looping
the babeesh thongs that he had snatch
ed from the table as he sprang to the
door Behind Howland's back Jeans
legs shot suddenly upward. In quick
choking clutch of steel-Iike muscle they
arms. and in another instant he was
twisted backward with a force that
sent him half neck broken to the op-
posite wall He staggered to his feet.
dazed for a moment, and Jean Croisset
stood in the middle of the floor. his
caribou skin coat thrown of. his hands
clinched. his eyes darkening with a
dangerous fire. As quickly as it had
come the fire died away. and as he ad-
vanced slowly his shoulders hunched
over, <his white teeth cleaning in a
smile Howland smiled * and ad
vanced to meet him. There was no
humor, no friendliness. in the smiles.
Both had seen that fash OF teeth and
deadly scintiflation of eyes at other
times, and both knew what it meant.
II believe that will kill you.
m'seur." said Jean softly. There was
no excitement, no tremble of passion.
| in his voice. II have been thinking
that ought to kill you. had almost
made up my mind to kill You when
| came back to this Maison de Mort
Rouge. 1t is the justice of God that
kill you!''
| The two men circled like beasts in a
Dit, Rowland in the attitude of box
| er, Jean with his shoulders bent. his
arms slightly curved at his side. the
toes Of his moccasined feet hearing his
weight Suddenly he launched him
self at the others throat.
In a fash Howland stepped little
| to one side and shot out crushing
/ blow that caught Jean on the side OF
| the head and sent him fat on his
back. Half stunned. Croisset came to
his feet It was the first time that he
had ever come into contact with sci
ence. He was puzzled His heat
rang, and for a few moments he was
dizzy. He darted in again in his old
quick. catlike way and received
blow that dazed him. This time ht
kept bis feet
81 am sure now that am going II
kill you. m'seur." he said as coolly a.
before.
4 There was something terribly calm
and decisive in his voice. He was no
excited. He was not afraid His fin
gers did not go near the weapons II
his belt. and slowly the smile fade'
. from Howland's lips as Jean cireiet
about him. He had never fought
man Of this kind: never had he iooke'
on the appalling confidence that wa
In his antagonists eyes. From thns
eyes rather than from the man n
found himself slowly retreaffng. The
followed him. never taking fhemselve
from his face. In them the fire re
turned and grew deeper. The du