Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1913-03-14
Copyright 1911. BY the Bobbs-
Merrill Co.

Os-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s
with dead in Them" he reported In bis
own language to Williams. "a COM
pany man. with a one eyed leader and
four trailers. left the Gray Otter TO
burn them" williams took down his
birch bark moose horn and beloved
weird signal to Cummins. who opened
a crack OF bis door to listen. with Me-
llsse close beside him.
"Thoreau Is In the thick OF II TO the
SOUTH" he called. There's too mncb
Of II for him. and I'm going down
with the dogs, Crolsset will stay In
the store for few days"
The days brought quick changes
now. One morning the moose horn
called CummIns to the door. II was
the 9th day after Williams had gone
south.
There was no smoke this morning.
and looked through the window"
shouted Croisset "Mukee and the old
man are both dead. I'm going to burn
the cabin"
A stifed groan OF anguish fell from
CummIns' lips as he went like daZed
man to bis cot and flung himself face
downward upon It. Melisse could see
his strong frame shaking as II he were
crying like child. and. twining her
arms tightly about his neck. she sob
bed out her passionate grief against
his rough cheek.
The next morning when Cummins
went to awaken her his face went as
white as death. Melisse was not
asleep. Her eyes were wide open and
staring at him. and her soft cheeks
burned with the hot glow Of FIRE.
"You are sick. Melisse," he whisper
ed hoarsely. "You are sickw
He fell upon his knees beside her
and lifted her face In his hands. The
touch OF 1t sent a chill to his heart.
such as he had not felt since years
ago. in that other room few steps
away. N.
Il want jan" she pleaded. ~ want
Jan TO come back TO mer'
Il will send for him, dear. He will
come back soon. will so out and
send Croisset."
He bid his face from her as he drag
Ged himself away. Croisset saw him
coming and came out OF the store to
peet him. A hundred yards away
CHmmins stopped.
"Crolsset, for the love Of God. take
a team and go after Jan Thoreau." he
called. TELL him that Mellsse Is dying
of the plague. Hurry. hurry!'
might and dayr shouted Crolsset.
Twenty minutes later from the cab
In window Cummins saw him start.
Jan will be here very soon. Me-
lisse." he said. running his fingers
gently through her hair. Toward
evening there came change. The
fever left the child's cheeks, Her
eyes closed and she fell asleep
Through the night Cummins sat near
the door, but In the gray dawn. over
come by his long vigil, his head drop
ped upon his breast aud he slum
hered.
7 When he awoke the cabin was filled
with tight. He heard sound and.
startled, sprang to his feet. Mellsse
was at the stove building fire.
I'm better this morning. father.
Why didn't you sleep until breakfast
was readyT
Cummlns stared, Then he gave
shout made a rush for her and. catch
Ing her mp In his arms, danced about
the cabin like a great bear. overturn
ing the chairs and allowing the room
to 6ll with smoke In his wild JOY.
"lt's what you saw through the win
dow that made you sick, Melisse" he
cried. putting her down at last. Il
thought He paused and added, his
voice trembling. Il thought you were
going to be sick for more than one
day. my sweet little womanr'
He opened one of the windows to let
in the fresh air of the morning.
When Croisset returned he did not
find a red nag over Cummins' cabin,
nor did he bring word Of Jan. For
three days he had followed the trails
to the south without finding the boy.
But he brought back other news. Will
liams was sick with the plague In
Cree wigwam on the lower Porcupine.
1t was the last they ever heard of the
factor, except that he died some time