Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-28

~
Os-s-s-s-s-s-.-s-.-.-s-s-
did not say that Jan had waited
too longT"
Jeans face was black with disappro-
baton. He was angered at the cool
ness with which Jan accepted the stu
alton.
Deep down in his soul Jan knew that
each day was bringing the end Of IL
all much nearer for him. He did not
tell Melissa that he had returned to
Lac Balm to be near her once more,
nor did he confide in Jean. Day after
day he saw Melissa and the English
man together, and, while they awak-
ened in him none of the fiery jealousy
which might have ranked in the bos-
ON OF Jean de Gravois, the knowledge
that the girl was at last passing from
him forever added a deeper grief to
that which was already eating at his
heart
Dixon made no effort to conceal his
feelings. He loved Melissa Frankly
he told this to Jean one day when they
were on the Churchill trail. In his
honest way he said things which broke
down the last of Jeans hereditary
prejudices.
81 like him." he said to himself,
land yet would rather see him in the
! blessed hereafter than have him take
Melissa from JAM
The big snow decided. It came
/ 1orI,y tn k,nI
alone for Ledoq's early in the morn
ing. BY noon the sky was a leaden
black, and a little later one could not
see a dozen PAGES ahead of him for the
snow. The Englishman did not return
that day. The next day he was still
gone. and GravOis drove along the top
of the mountain ridge until he came
to the Frenchman's, where he found
that Dixon had started for Lac Balm
| the preceding afternoon. He brought
word back to the post. Then he went
to Melissa.
"It is as good as death to go out in
search of him." he said. Eve can no
longer use the dogs. Snowshoes will
sink like leaden bullets by morning,
and TO go ten miles from the post
means that there will be bones TO be
picked by the foxes when the crust
comesr'
II was dark when Jan came into the
cabin. Melissa started TO her feet with
little cry when he entered, covered
white with the snow. A light pack
was strapped to his back, and he car
ried his rife in his hand.
Il am going 10 hunt for him." be
said softly. "If he is alive will bring
him back to you"
She came TO him slowly. and this
beating Of JAMS heart sounded to hin
like the distant drumming Of par
fridge wings. All, would he ever for
get that look? The old glory was II
her eyes. her arms were reaching out
her lips parted. He saw her face 81
near TO him that he felt the touch o.
her sweet breath. and he knew tina
one OF his rough hands was clasped IL
both OF her own and that after a mo
ment II was crushed tightly agains
her bosom.
Jan. my hero
He struggled back, almost sobbing
as he plunged cut into the night again
He heard her voice crying after him
D but the wild wailing OF the spruce an,
the storm in his brain drowned he
words. He had seen the glorious ligh
Of love in her eyes-her love for Dixon
: And he would find him!
! He went TO Ledoq's now, following
J. the top OF the mountain, and reaches
? his cabin in the late dawn. The French
y man stared at him in amaZement whel
J. he learned that he was about to Sc
e out on a search for Dixon.
: You Will not find him" he said slow
~ in French. but II you are determir
q ed to go / will hunt with you. II is
e big chance that we will not come back.
II don't want you to GO" objecte
, Jan. lone will do as much as two ur
less we search alone. l came your wa
!. 10 find II II had begun TO snow befor
o Dixon left"
An hour after he had gone you coul
Il not see your hand before your face,
E. replied Ledoq. preparing his paci
There Is no doubt but that he circle
out over Lac Balm. We Will go tina
y Car together and then search alone"
They went back over the mountai
> and stopped when instinct told ther
Is that they were opposite the spruce for
ests of the lake. There they separated
er Jan going as nearly as he could CUES
'n INTO the northwest. Ledoq trailing SLOW
&c ly and hopelessly into the south.
ID IL was no great sacrifice for Jar, tn
struggle with the big SHOWS for u