The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-07-14

HtIt6 bltue6 llhbi
and then Picard leaped lightly to his
feet.
n winlp 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lection wogld be withdrawn.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 fa-
thar 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 curslng Picard.
Miles from the warm fire of the sa-
loon, on the rough trail, binding
storm was raging. Suddenly out Of
the entwlned snowy haze dark
smudge appeared and grew more
sharply outlined, till at last it devel-
ored into six dogs and a slcdge. be-
side which strobe a man.
They topped a rise, and started
down an incline. Presently the outfit
reached the bottom and the uttered
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 spisng 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
forward, and vainly tried to get more
speed out of his tired team. Sud
denly his eyes distended with horror,
for he saw a 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 stinging
lash wrapped around his nose. He
shied 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 GREY
ice.
Picard. close behind, had been get
ting ready to grapple with his en-
emy, 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
10 swing to one side As he turned
Picard's warming Donl" rang out
but It was useless. for a red-hof
snake coiled across his eyes, ant
Black Henri's exultant oath roared II
his ears. springing away from tbs
sting Of the whip, Don landed fairly
into the open water, dragging th'
rest of the team and the sledge aftel
him.
Even before Picard realized th'
clever trap into which Black Henr
had drawn him he was fioundering II
the water Don had his forefee
planted upon firm ice on the othe
side of the sunken section.
The dog knew his master an'
mates we're behind helpless, depend
ing upon his efforts alone to say
them. A quick breath, and his stronl
shoulders shot into the collar wltl
impact that sGaightened every trac
In the line. At last when he was al
but slipping the strain ceased and b
moved forward and up The dog be
hind him secured a fo0thold. One see
ond more, and the anxious man wa
yanked from the icy clutch Of tn
black water
Picard turned to see what had b
come Of his enemy Ten rods to tn
right Black Henri's dog team wa
Just getting out on to firm ice. Bu
Black Henri himself was grovelin
upon a tottering ice cake ringe
round with silent. mysterious watel
He shook bis horny fist at Picard an
the cake slanted with the motor
The ragged edge Of The ice cam
down, and the opposite side ros
high in the air with loud swasl
then toppled back again just as Blac
Henri's head came to the surface !
the eddy directly beneath the d
scending chunk Down came the mat
sive cake with a terrific splash, an
the great north was forever rid Of
hated pirate and cheat
copyright, by Daily Story Pub. O.