The Jasper news., 1918-02-21

But without means or 0efenSe ana OF
obtaining meat she felt that she could
never hope to reach safety. And so
she turned her face back toward the
camp from which she had but just es-
capped.
She thought Malbihn dead, SO ter
rife blow had she dealt him, and she.
hoped to find an opportunity after dark
to enter the camp and search his tent
for the cartridge belt. But scarcely
had she found hiding place in great
tree at the edge of the bona, where
she could watch without danger of be-
ing discovered, than she saw the
Swede emerge from his tent, wiping
blood from his face and hurting vol
ley Of oaths and questions at his terri
fed followers.
Shortly after the entire camp set
forth In search of her, and when Me-
riem was positive that all were gone
she descended from her hiding place
and ran quickly across the clearing to
Malbihn's tent. A hasty survey Of the
interior revealed no ammunition, but
in one corner was box In which were
packed the Swede's personal belong
ings that he bad sent along by his
head man to this westerly camp.
Meriem seized upon the receptacle
as the possible container Of extra am
munition. Quickly she loosed the cords
that held the canvas covering about
the box and moment later had raised
the lid and was rummaging through
the heterogeneous accumulation of
odds and ends within.
There were letters and papers and
cuttings from old newspapers, and
among other things the photograph of
a little girl upon the back of which
was pasted clipping from q Paris
daily, clipping that she had no time,
to read, yellowed and dimmed by age
and handling. But something about
the photograph Of the little girl which
was also reproduced in the newspaper
clipping held her attention.
Where had she seen that picture; be-
fore? And then, quite suddenly, 1t
came to her that this was picture
of herself, taken years and years be-
forel
Where had 1t been taken7 How
had 1t come into tile possession of this
man? Why had it been reproduced In
newspaper What was the story
that the faded type told Of it2
Meriem was baffied by the puzzle
that her search for ammunition had re-
vealed. She stood gazing ut the faded
photograph for time and then be-
thought herself of the ammunition for
which she had come. Turning again to
the box, she rummaged to the bottom,
little box of cartridges.
A single glance assured her that
they were intended for the weapon she
had thrust inside the band of her rid
ing breaches, and, slipping them into
her pocket, she turned once more for
an examination Of the battling likeness
of herself that she held in her hand.
AS she stood thus in vain endeavor
to fathom this inexplicable mystery the
sound Of voices broke upon her ears.
Instantly she was all alert. They were
coming closer. A second later she rec
ognized the lurid profanity of the
Swede. Malbihn was returning!
She thrust the photograph into her
waist. Quickly she slipped cartridge
into each Of the chambers Of the re-
volver. Then she backed toward the
end of the tent, keeping the entrance
covered by her weapon.
The men stopped outside, and Me-
riem could hear Malbihn profanely Is
suing instructions. He was long time
about 1t, and while he talked in his
believing british voice the girl sought
some avenue of escape.
STOPPING, she raised the bottom OF
the canvas and looked beneath and be.