Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-05
FLOWER OF THE NORTH
BY JAMES OLIVER CURWOOD

the Cree, who loves Jeanne as his
own daughter.
II was Jeanne's idea-to save you.
Jeanne told him OF Thorpe's plot to
destroy YOU, and to lay the blame on
Sachigo's people. Sachigo is out there
In the mountains-hiding with thirty
OF his tribe. Two days ago Jeanne
learned where her fathers men were
hiding. We had planned everything.
tomorrow night-when they move to
attack-we were to start a signal.fire
on the big rock mountain at the end
OF the lake. Sachigo starts at the
signal and lays in ambush for the
others in the ravine between the two
mountains. None of Thorpe's men
will come out alive. Sachigo and his
people will destroy them, and none will
ever know how it happened, for the
Crees keep their secrets. But now
1t Is too late-for me. When it hap.
pens-I will be gone. The signal.pile
is built-birch-bark-at the very top
~ ss'N 'ONh' otdllilo Will wait IOr
me out on the plain-and 1 will not
come. You must fire the signal.
M'sieur-as soon as IL is dark. None
will ever know. Jeanne's father is
dead. You will keep the secret-of
her mother-always--
Forever" said Philip.
MacDougall came into the room. He
brought glass, partly filed, with a
colored liquid and placed It to Pierre's
lips. Pierre swallowed with an effort.
and with a significant hunch of his
shoulders for Philips eyes alone the
engineer returned to the little room.
Mon Dieu, how 1t burns!" said
Pierre, as If to himself. MAY I lie
down again, Msieur?"
Philip lowered him gently. He made
no effort to speak I'm these moments
Pierre's eyes were dark and luminous
as they sought his own. The draught
he had taken gave him a passing
strength.
Il saw Thorpe again this afternoon" :"
he said. more calmly. "D'Arcambal
thought I had taken Jeanne to visit a
trapper's wife down the Churchill. I
saw Thorpe-alone. He had been
drinking. He laughed at me, and said
that Jeanne and I were fools-that
he would not leave as he had said he
would-but that he would remain-aI.
ways. 1 told Jeanne, and asked her
again to let me kill him. But she
said no-and ] had taken my oath
to her Jeanne saw him again to-.
night. I was near the cabin, and saw
you. told him I would kill him IL
he did not go. He laughed again, and
struck me. When / came to my feet
he was half across the open. I fol.
lowed. I forgot my oath. Rage filled
my heart You know what happened.
You will tell Jeanne-so that she will
understand"
Can We not send for her?" asked
Philip. "She must be near"
NO, M'sieur," he replied, softly. at
would only give her great pain to see
me-like this. She was to meet me
tonight-at ~ o'clock-on the trail
where the roadbed crosses. You will
meet her in my place. When she un.
derstands all that has happened you
may bring her here, IL she wishes to
come. Then - tomorrow night--you
will go together to fire the signal"
But Thorpe Is dead" said Philip.
"Will they attack without him?"
There is another, besides him." said
Pierre. THAT is one secret which
Thorpe has kept from Jeanne-who
the other is-the one who is paying
to have you destroyed. Yes-they will
attack"
Philip bent low over Pierre.
"I have known Of this plot for a
long time, Pierre" he said. tensely. Il
know that this Thorpe, who for some
reason has passed as Lord Fitzhugh
Lee, is but the agent Of a more power
full force behind him. Have you told
me all, Pierre? Do you know nothing
more?"