The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-07-22


and then Picard leaped lightly to his
feet.
Il winl" he cried breathlessly, and
the crowd agreed with him, for more
than one had seen the disliked Black
Henri steal the ace. Picard was
happy with the thought that Jules OBJ
lection would be withdrawn. He
could marry the girl he loved
and give her the protection he
had promised the day when she
had leaned close to his breast
and begged him to save hel
from Black Henri, to whom her ia
ther had promised her in marriage
Black Henri, with Jules consent
had challenged Picard to game II
which the unusual stakes were to be
the heart and hand of Jules daugh
ter. In desperation he had cheated
and had lost. He skunk out of the
Trails End saloon caressing his
bruised face and cursing Picard.
Miles from the warm fire of the sa
loon, on the rough trail, binding
storm was raging. Suddenly out Of
the entwined snowy haze a dark
smudge appeared and grew more
sharply outlined, till at last it devel
oped into six dogs and a sledge, be
side which strobe a man.
They topped a rise, and started
down an incline. Presently the outfit
reached the bottom and the uttered
a cry of delight, for before him
stretched the broad level of the frozen
swept partially clean OF
snow by the furious winter winds.
The man was Picard, hot on the
trail of Black Henri, whom he learned
an hour after the fight, had started
for Jules home to abduct the girl
Picard had the best dog team In the
great north, for Don, the leader, was a
descendant of a tried race OF trail
dogs.
The team sprang out toward the
river, led by Don, but before they
reached it Picard saw a dog team far
away to the left, also heading for the
river. There was no doubt but that it
was Black Henri. Picard was sure
he could overhaul him now If the ice
held.
Black Henri, looking back. saw his
pursuer for the first time. He leaned
and vainly tried to get more
speed out of his tired team. Sud
ienly his eyes distended with horror,
'or he saw a deadly danger. Then
ne smiled, for he saw a chance to
cheat again. Crack went his whip,
and the leader leaped out, but seeing
he danger at the same instant, turn
ed sharply only to find the singing
ash wrapped around his nose He
SHE'D back and plunged ahead just
as Black Henri rolled safely from
he sledge. Now the dog tried to
stop, but it was too late, for the rest
If the team crowded him into the
open water Of submerged ice crew
ce.
Picard, close behind, had been get
ing ready to grapple with his en-
envy, and Don, seeing the leading
logs running straight ahead, was mis-
ed and ran so close to the open wa
er that he barely had room in which
o swing to one side. AS he turned
oicard's warning: "Donl" rang out.
)ut it was useless, for a red-hot
make coiled across his eyes, and
Black Henri's exultant oath roared in
lis ears. Springing away from the
'ting of the whip, Don landed fairly
INTO the open water, dragging the
est of the team and the sledge after
Tim.
Even before Picard realized the
clever trap into which Black Henri
lad drawn him he was fioundering in
he water Don had his forefeet
planted upon firm ice on the other
Iide of the sunken section.
The dog knew his master and
mates we're behind helpless, depend
ng upon his efforts alone to save
hem. A quick breath, and his strong
houlders shot into the collar with
impact that Strengthened every trace
n the line. At last when he was all
tut slipping the strain ceased and he
moved forward and up. The dog be-
lind him secured a foothold. One sec
md more, and the anxious man was
'anked from the Icy clutch of the
lack water.
Picard turned to see what had be-
ONE of his enemy. Ten rods to the
light Black Henri's dog team was
ust getting out on to firm ice. But
Black Henri himself was groveling
Ipon a tottering ice cake ringed
ound with silent, mysterious water
lie shook his horny fist at Picard, and
he cake slanted with the motion.
The ragged edge OF the ice came
own, and the opposite side rose
Ugh in the air with a loud swash,
hen toppled back again just as Black
Ienri's head came to the surface in
he eddy directly beneath the de-
cending chunk. Down came the mas
i've cake with a terrific splash, and
he great north was forever rid of q
Iated pirate and cheat.
(C,opvriChf nv nailv Gforxr D,h 49,