Williams news., 1917-01-25

phonse.
 Jean rose to his feet and came to- ward him, looking uncertainty about him. T am sorry, AlphOnse," he nut tered.
 | Alphonse stretched out his hand. Jean Petit made a lunge and the hid den knife went into AlphOnse'S breast below the heart
 Alphonse staggered and fell, the mail bag on top of him. The blood gushed from the wound. Faintly he heard Jean shouting triumphantly; he saw the crazed man lean over him and then Jean was striding away upon his snOwshoes as fast as he could go.
 When he was out of sight AlphOnse staggered to his feet and carried the bloOd-drenched mailbag to the sleigh. He collapsed inside it, Lut not before he had ordered the dogs to 'mush."
 The dogs started, and now even the thought of Nanette had gone from AL phonSe's mind. One instinct remained ito get the mails through. Half faint ing, Alphonse braced his body in the narrow sleigh, prOpping up the mail bags lest they should fall.
 The dogs went on at a gallop, but, finding that their masters hand no longer stayed them, they went more slowly. At the foot of the next hill they stopped. Alphonse opened his eyes, to see Jean before him again.
 All the drink had gone out of Jean Petit. Realizing what he had done, he hDl eIo ;rI, ho birch woods. "Alphonse '" he shouted, ''let me look at your wound!'
 Alphonse groaned. If you kill me, Jean Petit, wait until the mail reaches Esquimaux," he said. Nobody will be about in this cold. It will be easy to finish me after the mails are in the village, and to escape"
 q did not mean to wound you, AL phonse," sobbed Jean. q was mad be- causes of Nanette. Let me see the wound"
 He stepped into the sleigh and tore open AlphonSe's sheepskin coat. AL though the wound had bled profusely, it was only flesh one. The rib had turned the point of the knife, and a u, had stopped bleeding already. Jean bound up the wound and fastened AL phOnSe's coat about him.
 The sleigh went on. Alphonse began to revive. Naturally strong, the loss of blood had not seriously hurt him; it was rather his fear for the mails that had weakened him. He began to un. derstand now what Jean was doing. At intervals Jean would halt the dogs and come to him.
 You are getting stronger, Alphonse," |" he would say. Courage. In an hour you shall see Nanette again."
 "Jean," said Alphonse, when the ter. minus was in sight over the hill, "leave me now. I can get the mails in."
 Jean shook his head. 'I must repay you," he answered. q shall give my. self up to the police"
 You did not know what you were doing, Jean."
 '1n truth did not" answered Jean fiercely. q was mad with rage be cause of Nanette.' Does she really love you, Alphonse?"
 You shall hear her say it,' replied Alphonse. "But you had better leave me-"
 The sleigh rolled on, the dogs burst ing into shrill barks of joy as they rec ognized the end of their journey. The little station beside the gulf looked very lonely in the half-nght of the short January afternoon.
 As the barks of the dogs were heard the inhabitants rushed out into the street. The Sleigh came to a stand still in front of the little store owned by Nanette's father, which was the post office.
 Alphonse staggered to his feet just as Nanette came into the street. In moment the girls arms were about his neck. "Alphonse!" she sobbed with joy, "I love thee! I love thee T"
 Jean Petit heard her words, as AL phonse had promised him. He ground his teeth. It was almost more than fought desperately with his evil na. ture, which prompted him to thrust his knife again into Alphonse's side.
 But the good triumphed as Nanette turned toward him. She took his hand and there were tears in her eyes. '1 always hoped for this; I prayed for this," she cried.
 "Eh?" stammered Jean Petit.
 Il was afraid that you would meet on the road, and that you would fight" said the girl. ''It was told to me that you had threatened Alphonse. But knew you did not mean it, Jean, be cause you were always very gentle with me. And I want you to be my brother, Jean."
 The tears in her eyes were reflect ed in the mans. "You do not under stand!" he cried wildly. You do not know how we met and came here."
 T understand that you have come in together as friends" she answered.