Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1923-11-14
The Trap for
Pierre
BY ANTHONY REIMERT
'."'".".'.."."."s"s"s"'
20. 1928. Western Newspaper Union.)

1t was a trap for man, not for
cealed, too. The other man would
never guess that Jean had put trap
right in the middle of the trail. He
would step right INTO it, and it would
nave him fast by the leg, and Jean
would come TO see him, and how he
would laugh! Jean would laugh and
leave Pierre there.
He had twofod quarrel with
/ Pierre. Pierre had stolen the love of
! Marie, the old traders daughter, and
he had robbed his traps. There was a
blue fox skin Jean felt certain Pierre
had taken. But that was nothing to
Marie.
Pierre had no business to walk
along that trail, FOR that was Jeans
trnp-line, and any one passing that way
could only have come for plumber And
then Marie-he was always thinking of
| Pierre and Marie Marie who pre-
/ tended still to love him, when her
! have good deal of fun out of that
trap.
He was on his way now. to see 1t.
Perhaps Pierre was already caught in
1t. Pierre had gone away to trap, as
he said, but Jean knew that it was his
own traps he meant to plumber.
Pierre should have reached the trap
by now. Even so experienced man
as Pierre would undoubtedly walk into
the trap.
Jean chuckled. Afterward, long
time afterward, he would tell Marie,
but not until she had grown tired of
waiting; not till she had grown thin
and pale. Then he would tell her: Il
have a skeleton in my trap, the skel-
eton of a man whose bones the vol
verines have picked clean"
Then he would take Marie there, and
afterward he would go away
Chuckling over his scheme Jean
proceeded along the trail. Suddenly
he stumbled. He felt a sharp pain in
his leg. In another moment the ghast-
ly truth was borne in upon his stupe-
fed brain.
He had fallen into his own trap.
lie was held fast.
For Il few milE&tes he struggled
frantically, but the steel teeth only
bit more securely into his leg, and at
last he was forced TO deSist. He
crouched, qualIing with horror. He was
twenty miles from his camp. Nobody
would pass that way, for it was Jeans
~ IL
Hours passed; hours of pitiful mem
tal agony. Sometimes re would begin
the frantic struggle anew. But all
ways he dessted. He dared not try
to- cut his laG Oh. Better to die. Bet
ter To let hunger or the wild beasts"
finish HIM He passed the night in IA
stupor.
Dawn cald,er the round sSn mounted
the sky, Jean lay in the agony OF ap
proaCA!ng dissolution. There WIS no
help now. Pierre would not come, and
if he did.
A light football reused him from the
coma into which he was sinking He
opened his eyes. Pierre stood over
him. And Pierre was smiling. He
understood. lie could not help but
understand, for why should Jean have
placed "a trap in the middle of the
trail?
He grnned: $50, Jean, thou art
caught in thine own trap"
Help me and forgive" groaned
Jean. Il have rich furs in my cabin,
Pierre; set me free and they axe all
yours
"Heinl And what about the girl,
Marie?" demanded Pierre
Curse you, she. is yours alre@dy.'
Jean groaned
but why should. set you free, my
friend. when woman who is fellle
may turn to thee againf'
81 via go away. viii never see
her again"
Pierre turned his back, whiscGug.
Jean closed his eyes. This was. the
end.
Pierre turned back, He sprung the
trap Jean staggered to his feet, Sree.
He stood staring at Pierre.
81 did not steal thy furs,' said
Pierre Il caSe to see what luck
thou hadst, because-because l dad not
wish thy marriage to- Marie to Do de
layed."
"What?" Jean stared at him.
"Sha loves toee alai has Away loved
thee. Come, Jean, let me help thee
back to thy cabin before thy wound
gets poisoned'
"And " set this trap fox thee,
Pierre" Jean grosned
"5Iy frieral man in love does foot.
ish things l, fer example, plan tn
| give thee any winters furs for wetl,
| ding present before | go away"