The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1914-02-27
CHAPTER XII.

JdCQucitnS.
The stars were still shining when l
awoke in my blanket, lighted candle,
and stepped into the wooden tub Of
salt water outside the tent.
shaved by candle-light, dressed in
my worn riding-breeches and jacket,
then, candle in hand, began cropping
about among the faded bits of finery
and furnished properties until I found
the silver-scaled swimming-tights once
worn by the girl Of whom we had
heard so much.
The stars had begun to fade when
stepped out through the dew-soaked
clover carrying in one hand satchel
containing the swimming suit, in the
other a gun case, in which, carefully
oiled and doubly cased in flannel, re-
posed my only luxury-my breech-load-
ing shotgun.
The Lizard was standing on his door
sill when l came up; he returned my
greeting sullenly, his keen eyes of a
sea-bird rowing over me from head to
foot A rumpled and sulky yellow cat,
evidently just awake, sat on the door
step beside him and yawned at inter
vals The pair looked as though they
had made night Of 1t.
"You took my letter last night?"
asked
eyes"
"Was there an answer for me?"
"Yes."
fh~ LOT
formal line saying the Countess de
Vassart would expect me at FIVE that
afternoon.
Look here, Lizard" I said, 1T in
tend to be friends with you, and I
mean to make you look on me as a
friend. It's to my advantage and to
yours"
ITO mine?" he inquired, sneeringly.
"And this is the first thing I want"
continued; and without further pre-
face I unfolded our plans concerning
Jacqueline.
"Entendu," he said, drawing the
word, "is that all?"
y mo, not all. want you to be my
messenger in time of need. I want
you to be absolutely faithful to me-"
"And what is there in this, to my adj
vantage, m'sieu?"
This, for one thing" I said, care
lessly, picking up my gun case.
slowly drew out the barrels of Damas-
Gus, then the rosewood stock and fore
end, assembling them lovingly; for it
was the finest weapon I had ever seen,
and it was breaking my heart to give
it away.
The poacher's eyes began to glitter
as 1 fitted the double bolts and locked
breech and barrel with the extension
rib. Then I snapped on the fore-end;
and there lay the gun in my hands.
fowling-piece fit for an emperor.
Give it?" muttered the poacher,
huskily.
"Take it, my friend the Lizard"
replied, smiling down the wrench in
my heart.
There was silence; then the poach-
er stepped forward, and, looking me
square in the eye, flung out his hand.
1 struck my open palm smartly against
his, in the Breton fashion; then we
clasped hands.
"Strike!" he cried; take my 9~send-
ship if you want it, on this condition
what l am Is my own concern, not
yours. Don't interfere m'sieu; it
would be useless. l should never be-
tray you, but might kill you. Don't
interfere. But If you care for the good
will of man like me, take it; and
when you desire a service from me,
tell me, and I'll not fail you, by Sainte-
Eline of Paradise!"
He turned on his heel. kicking off
his sabots on the doorsill. Break
bread with me; ask it." he said, gruff-
ly, and walked before me into the
house.
From the ashes on the hearth
spiral of smoke curled. The yellow
cat walked in and sat down, contem-
plating the ashes.
Slowly a saffron light filled the
room; Jacqueline awoke iR-the dim
bed.
She swathed herself in blanket and
sat up, looking at me sleepily.
you came to see me SWIM" she
said.
And I've brought you a fish's sill
yer skin to swim in" replied, point
ing at the satchel.
She cast a swift glance at her ia
Their, who, with the gun on his knees.
sat as though hypnotized by the beauty
of its workmanship. Her bright avas
fell on the gun; she understood In
flash.
Turn your back!" she cried.
/ wheeled about and sat down on
the settle beside the poacher. There
came light thud OF small. bare feet
on the stone floor, then silence. The
poacher looked up.
She's gone to the ocean," he said:
'she has the mania for baths-like
you English" And he fell to rubbing
the gunstock with dirty thumb.