The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-11-09

Old stepho sat In his chair asleep,
out as they approached him. he
opened his eyes. looked at Nadine,
then at Drace.
~Monsieur was YER strong. An 1
Kill you If be not struck down like
the beef An Tony kill you If he here,
but send him off for something All,
the leetle gel. she hate me now?"
Monsieur" she said. "I cannot find
It In my heart to hate 1t Is the poi
son. Many times you were kind. and
I remember them"
He bowed his head. and through his
tangled lashes looked up at Drace. fire
cleaning through brushwood. But he
less malignant glance.
"The paralyze, 1t begin down here
an creep up. When 1t touch the heart,
I was go. say just now that Tony.
be would kill the strong monsieur. He
would not. He be scared when I was
"Your name. leetle GEL" pursued
6lcInO, was w uaukutCE VI
a northern man who live in the same
town with Mr.. Drace's father near Gin
cinnati. You an your mother were
carried OF by my men; but your moth
er, she fall from the horse just as we
come to our camp and she die. About
her neck was purse with money and
papers-one that tell where more
l. l-1 h.
back and dig up this money. but 1
keep 1t for you, for your dowry. 1t
is here-buried under the hearthstone
e.. Now-now beg you to go for
Father Tahan. You know where he
live. Quick. for 1t creep up"
Eyes, will go. Virgil will stay to
keep you company"
LET me go with you," Drace plead
ed, fearful that some harm might be-
fall her.
mo. my love one" she gently op-
posed him. "You must stay here for
no harm can come to me now. Stay
here and be kind to him, for kindness
Is the will of the One above. You
will. yes?'
She kissed him fondly. and the old
wolf-eyes closed, that they might not
see. Now she was ready to 60. Virgil
steadied the canoe for her and gently
showed 1t of. She threw him a kiss,
and rounding green cape, raised her
paddle into the sunlight and flashed
him adieu.
Drace returned to Stepho's chair. the
old man shagging his brows at him.
Then thinking of the rope still but
toned tightly beneath his coat, he tore
1t out and threw it away. Nature, he
reflected, had usurped his task. and he
could safely turn over to her his
claims. A slight noise behind him; he
looked quickly about. and there few
feet behind him at the edge of the
cane stood Tony. Upon him the vision
Of Drace's countenance came, 1t
seemed, with startling flash. In
stantly he fell back, through the cane
fringe, into the bayou. Loudly he
cried for help.
"Oh, monsieur" implored the old
man, please hep heem queek. He can
NO swim. An he die bef0 hees sins
they was forgive. Hep the po' wretch.
monsieur. Queek. monsieur"
Virgil threw of his coat and his pis-
tol-belt, and leaped into the water. A
moment before, he would have shot
the beast; now he would save him.
Tony was not in sight But soon he
arose. swimming, and Drace saw q
knife In his hand. In the water Tony
was as much at home as a beaver |
He dived, and Virgil knew now that
1t was his aim TO dart beneath him and
with the knife to rip him as skillful
swimmer rips crocodile. But In the
water the strong man, young Drace.
was at home, too, and turning about
with a quick swirl, he waited. Tony
came up; and now they came toward
each other. like rival otters-grappled
and struggled. treading water, shoul-
ders up. Virgil caught Tony's left
wrist, wrenched his arm limp and
helpless, seized him by the throat. his
left hand steel-gripped about the muir
derous right wrist, the knife hand.
| No mercy now! Fire and water.
their camel Down, gasplng. down !
l