Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-05
Nothing, AI'sieur."

Nothing, M'sieur."
WAS II Thorpe who attacked you
on the cliff at Churchill?"
NO. 1 am sure that it was not he.
If the attack had not failed-it wouid
have meant loss--for him. have
laid 1t to the rufiiians who wanted to
Kill me-and secure Jeanne. You
understand"
Yes. but do not believe that was
the motive for the attack, Pierre"
said Philip. Did Thorpe 60 to see
any one in Churchill?"
II don't know. He was concealing
himself in the forest"
A convulsive shudder ran through
Pierre's body. He gave a low cry of
pain, and his hand clutc' ed at the
babiche cord which held the locket
about his neck.
"M'sieur," he whispered, quickly.
this locket-was on the little Jeanne
when I found her in the snow.
kept 1t because II bears the womar's
initials. am foolish. M'sieur. 1 am
weak. But L would like to have It
buried with me-under the old tree
where Jeanne's mother lies. And If
you could, M'sieur-if you only could
place something of Jeanne's in my
hand-I would rest easier"
Philip bowed his head in silence,
while his eyes grew binding hot.
Pierre pressed his hand.
"She loves you-as / love her." ne
whispered so low that Philip could
scarcely hear. You will love her
always. If you do not-the Great
God will let the curse of Pierre Cou-
chez fall upon you!"
Choking back the great sobs that
rose in his breast, Philip sank upon
his knees beside Pierre, and buried
his face in his arms like a heartbroken
boy. For several moments there was
a silence, punctuated by the rasping
breath of the wounded man. Suddenly
this sound ceased, and Philip felt a.
cold fear leap through him. He list
ened, neither breathing nor lifting his
head. In that interval of pulseless
quiet a terrible cry came from Pierre's
lips, and when Philip looked up the
dying halfbreed had struggled to a
sitting posture, blood staining his lips
again, his eyes blazing, his white face
damp with the clammy touch Of death,
and was staring through the cabin
window.
1t was the window that looked out
over the lake, toward the rock noun.
tain half a mile away. Philip turned,
Mortified and wondering. Through the
window he saw a glow in the sky
the glow of a fire, leaping up in a GRIM
son flood from the top Of the noun
tain!
Again that terrible, moaning cry fell
from Pierre's lips, and he reached out
his arms toward the signal that was
blazing forth it's warning in the night.
"Jeanne-Jeanne-" he sobbed. my
jeanne"
He swayed, and fell back. His words
came in choking gasps.
THE signal" he struggled, fighting
to make Philip understand him.
-Thorpe-tonight. He
neutrality-suspicious. Attack to-
night. Jeanne-Jeanne-my jeanne
has lighted-the signal-fire!
A tremor ran through his body, and
he lay still. MacDougall ran across
from the half-open door, and put his
head to Pierre's breast.
as lie dead?" asked Philip.
Not yet"
"Wili he become conscious again?"
Possibly"
Philip gripped MacDougall by the
arm.
THE attack is to be MADE tonight,
Mac" he exclaimed. Warn the men.
Have them ready But you-you;
MacDougall. attend to this man, and
keep him alive!"
Without another word he ran to
the door and out into the night. The
signal-fre was leaping to the sky. 1t
lighted up the black cap Of the noun
tain. and sent a thousand aurora fires
flashing across the lake. And Philip,
as he ran swiftly through the camp
toward the narrow trail that led to
that mountain.top, repeated over and
over again the dying words Of Pierre-
"Jeanne-my Jeanne-my Jeanne!"
CONTINUED TOMORROW