Mexico Missouri message., 1916-08-03

the body-yet he voiced no alarm"
was silent, and my eyes fell from
his face to the green water.
"'Twill be hard to explain" he
went on. "But he shall have chance"
"a chance! You will question him;
and then"
He hesitated whether to answer me,
but there was a cruel smile on his
thin lips.
Faith, l do not know. 'Tis like to
be n courtmartial at the Rock, if ever
we get him there; though the chances
are the fellow will take to the woods
when he finds himself suspected. No
doubt the best thing l can do will be
to say nothing until we hold him safe,
though tits hard to pretend with such
villain"
He paused, as II hoping 1 might
speak, and my silence angered him.
bah, IL l had my way the young
cockerel would face a file at our first
camp. Ay! and 1t will be for you to
decide If he does not"
what is your meaning, monsieurp
THAT / am tired of your play-act-
ing; Of your making eyes at this forest
dandy behind my back. Sang dieu!
am done with all this-do you hear?-
and I have a grip now which will
make you think twice, my dear, before
you work any more sly tricks on me.
Sacre, you think me easy, hey? have
in my hand so," and he opened and
closed his fingers suggestively, "the
life of the lad"
/ had one glimpse of his face as he
leaned forward, and there was a look
in 1t which made me shudder and turn
away. His was no idle threat, and
whether the man truly loved me or
not, his hatred Of D'Artigny was suf-
flcient for any cruelty.
realized the danger, the necessity
for compromise, and yet for the mo-
ment lacked power to speak, to ques-
ton, fearful lest his demands would
be greater than I could grant. had
no thought Of what saw, and still
that which my eyes rested upon re-
mains pictured on my brain, the spar
kle Of sun on the water, the distant
died in the canoe, the dark shining
bodies of the Indians ceaselessly ply
ing the paddles, and beyond us, to the
left, another canoe, cleaving the water
swiftly with Pere Allouez' face turned
toward us, as though he sought to
guess our conversation. was aroused
by the grip of Cassion's hand.
"WelI, my beauty" he said harshly,
haven't waited long enough to learn
if 1t is war or peace between us"
I laughed, yet 1 doubt If he gained
any comfort from the expression of
the eyes which met his.
"Why choose peace of course, mon
sieur," l answered, assuming care
lessness 1 was far from feeling "Am
1 not your wife? Surely you remind
me of it often enough, so 1 am not
likely to forget; but 1 resent the in
suit of your words, nor will you ever
win favor from me by such methods.
have been friendly with Sieur dArti-
gny, it is true, but there is nsthing
between us. Indeed no word has
passed my lips in his presence would
not be willing for you to hear. So
there is no cause for you to spare him
on my account, or rest his fate on any
action of mine"
"YOu will have naught to do with
the fellow?"
"There would be small chance If
wished, monsieur; and do you sup
pose would seek companionship with
one who had killed my uncle?"
"'Twould scarce seem so, yet 1
know not what you believe"
'Nor do I myself; yet the evidence
is all against the man thus far. con-
fess / should like to hear his defense,
but make you this pledge in all honor
Il will have no word with him, on
condition that you file no charges un-
til we arrive at Fort st. Louis"
"Ah" suspiclously, "you think he
has friends there to hold him limo
cent"
"Why should I, monsieur? Indeed
why should care but to have justice
done? l do not wish his blood on your
hands, or to imagine that he is con
ueuueu DeCduSC OL HIS lIleuuSuip lOl
me rather than any other crime.
know not what friends the man hal
at the Rock on the Illinois. He wal
of La Salle's party, and they are m
longer In control. La Barre said tina
! De Baugis commanded that post, anC
for all know De Tonty and all hi
men may have departed"
: "'Tis not altogether true, and TO
!, that reason we are ordered to Join tn,
, , company. De Baugis has the right o
it under commission from La Barre
but does not possess sufficient soldier
=, to exercise authority. La Sales mel
remain loyal to De Tonty, and the In
dian tribes look to him for leadership
Mon dieu! it was reported in Quebe
that 10000 sayages were living abou
the fort--ay! and D'Artigny said h
: doubted it not, for the meadows wer
e covered with tepees-so De Baugis ha
: small chance to rule until he has fore
behind him. They say this De Tont
is of a fighting breed-the savage
q | c,II hin, tha man with the iron hand