The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-07-14

ana tueu flC6Iu ledPeu A6neAJ w
feet.
II win!" 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lection would be withdrawn.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 her
from Black Henri, to whom her "a
ther had promised her in marriage.
Black Henri, with Jules consent.
had challenged Picard to game In
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 dark
smudge appeared and grew more
sharply outlined, till at last it devel'
oped into six dogs and a sledge, be-
side which strobe man.
They topped rise, and started
down an incline. Presently the outfit
reached the bottom and the uttered
q cry of delight, for before him
stretched the broad level of the frozen
Mackenzie, 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 1t Picard saw a dog team far
away to the left, also heading for the
river. There was no doubt but that 1t
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
forward, and vainly tried to get more
speed out of his tired team. Sud.
denly his eyes distended with horror,
for he saw deadly danger. Then
he smiled. for he saw chance to
cheat again. Crack! went his whip,
and the leader leaped out, but seeing
the danger at the same instant, turn.
ed sharply only to find the singing
lash wrapped around his nose. He
SHE'D back and plunged ahead Just
as Black Henri rolled safely from
the sledge. Now the dog tried to
stop, but it was too late, for the rest
Of the team crowded him into the
open water Of a submerged ice crew.
Ice.
Picard, close behind, had been get
ting ready to graphic with his en-.
envy, and Don, seeing the leading
dogs running straight ahead, was mis-.
led and ran so close to the open wa.
ter that he barely had room in which
to swing to one side. As he turned
Picard's warning: DOM" rang out,
but it was useless, for red-hot
snake coiled across his eyes, and
Black Henri's exultant oath roared III
his ears. Springing away from the
sting Of the whip, Don landed fairly
into the open water, dragging the
rest Of the team and the sledge after
him.
Even before Picard realized the
clever trap into which Black Henri
had drawn him he was floundering in
the water. Don had his forefeet
planted upon firm ice on the other
SIDE Of the sunken section.
The dog knew his master and
mates were behind helpless, depend.
Ing upon his efforts alone to save
them. A quick breath, and his strong
shoulders shot into the collar with
impact that Strengthened every trace
IN the line. At last when he was all
but slipping the strain ceased and he
moved forward and up. The dog be-
hind him secured foothold. One sec.
ond more. and the anxious man was
yanked from the icy clutch of the
black water.
Picard turned to see what had be.
come Of his enemy. Ten rods to the
right Black Henri's dog team was
Just getting out on to firm ice. But
Black Henri himself was srovelins
upon tottering ice cake ringed
round with silent, mysterious water.
He shook his horny fist at Picard. and
the cake slanted with the motion
The ragged edge Of the ice came
down, and the opposite side rose
high In the air with a loud swash.
then toppled back again just as Black
Henri's head came to the surface in
the eddy directly beneath the de.
scending chunk. Down came the mas.
sive cake with a terrific splash, and
the great north was forever rid Of q
hated pirate and cheat
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