The Lamar register., 1916-11-29

In due course they reached the
store at Big Lake. Their visit was
complete surprise. Black DOE had
been seen in the nclghhorhuad, AID
evidently was of his guard. Mitchell
ascertained that he had made no
purchases, without which # would be
impossible for him to continue on his
way northward into the barrens.
"Nveu spend the night at Johnny
Dufour's," he said TO Crum. as the
three rode away toward the shack.
Dunn's heart sank when ne off
saddled. Marie was already in the
doorway to greet the visitors, and her
eyes wandered with wonder from
Dunn's face to Nntchell's.
Take my horse to the stables !"
commanded Mitchell CURLY. And
sayi Take Crum's, too. And see thar
they're well groomed before you come
in TO supper"
Dunn went away obediently, riding
his horse and leading the two others.
Now he began to understand lie
thought, the reason why Mitchell hao
selected him. He wanted to humiliate
him in the eyes of the girl.
AT supper Mitchell kept up a cross
fire of chaff, banter, and spltefulness,
directed at Dunn. Dunn's acqufes-
cence seemed TO enrage him. He would
have welcomed chance either for
brawi or for punishment for indisci-
pline: but Dunn only sat silently
watching Marie furtively, while the
sergeant's eyes were alight with tri-
umph. He felt that he had won, had
shown Marie his superiority over
Dunn.
They retired to their hunks. They
were to start up the trail at day
break, on the quest for Black Doe.
Dunn slept fitfully; he was thinking
of Marie. and his heart was full of
passionate resentment.
He was the first up, and went to
groom the horses. As he came back
To the shack he heard Mitchen's voice
and the girls behind the open door.
Mitchell had his arm round her waist
and was drawing her toward him.
Crum was nowhere in sight.
Then Dunn knew what he meant 10
do. He crept back very softly to the
stable and loaded his rife He took
Il in his arms, carrying it as mother
might her first born, and approached
the door again.
Mitchell held the girl in his arms
now. and she was struggling as he
tried to kiss her. Dunn. aiming DELHI
erately, was conscious of the open
door at the back of the shack, and u
clump of dwarf fir about a hundred
yards distant. Then he concentrated
his attention upon Mitchell Carefully
he drew a bead on him so as to avoid
hitting the girl.
Bang!
Mitchell leaped into the air. flung
out his arms. and pitched head fore
most. Dunn stepped Into the shack
There was no need to look more than
once at the dead face, or the blood
oozing from the heart.
Marie ran to Dunn. sobbing wildly
You did right. the beast!' she cried.
Come with me- said Dunn.
They raced to the stables, and in a
moment he had freed the horses,
saddled them, and placed her on the
sergeants. In another moment they
were galloping across the barrens. At
the time Dunn vas conscious of won
dering where old Dufour and Crum
We're. But u moment later they heard
shouts behind them They galloped
frantically forward, anywhere so long
as they could win free.
Crum was a man of resolution, and
Dunn knew that he would take up the
chase and never leave II. He reckuned
on the fact that Crum's horse was the
slowest OF the three. The freshly fall
ing snow would hide their tracks If
they could win the country across the
river bed, where series Of hummocks
swelled into the Big Lake Mountains.
Far behind him Dunn heard a shout
He turned and !, kri back as he rode
Crum was standing at the door Of the
stable, waving his arms to him.
A few minutes later Dunn, looking
back, saw Crum mounted and In pur-
snit of them. a tiny figure upon a tiny
horse. They rode madly for the dip
toward the river.
I'VE must be careful" said Marie.
rs they began the descent. "The rocks
are dangerous"
Even as she spoke her horse tripped
on u projecting bowlder, stumbled. and
flung her face downward uu0n the