The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-11-03
Into His Own !
Trap
By ANTHONY REIMERT

~ WoS SACSCiy SCI SoA sAoks
1t was q trap for man. not for an
animal. 1t was so skillfully con-
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 1t. and 1t
would have him fast by the leg.
and Jean would come, to see him.
and how he would Taught Jean
would laugh and leave Pierre there.
He had a twofold quarrel with
Pierre. Pierre had stolen the love
of Marie, the old traders daugh-
ter, and he had robbed his traps.
There was q blue fox skin Jean felt
certain Pierre had taken. But that
was nothing to Marie.
Pierre had no business to walk
halong that trail, for that was Jeans
-'trap-line and anyone passing that
way could only have come for plum
der. And then Marie-he was al
ways thinking Of Pierre and Marie.
Marie who pretended still to love
him. when her heart was Pierre's.
Yes, Jean would have q good deal
of fun out of that trap.
He was on his way now to see It.
Perhaps Pierre was already caught
in it. Pierre had gone away to
trap, as he said, but Jean knew
that It was his own traps he meant
20 plumber. Pierre should have
reached the trap by now. Even so
experienced man as Pierre would
undoubtedly walk into the trap.
Jean chuckled. Afterward, a long
time afterward, he would tell Marie
but not until she had grown tired
of waiting; not until she had
grown thin and pale. Then ne
would tell her: II have a skeleton
IN my trap, the skeleton Of man
whose bones the wolverines have
picked Clean"
and afterward he would 60 away.
Chuckling over his scheme, Jean
proceeded along the trail. Suddenly
ne stumbled. He felt a sharp pain
in his leg. In another moment the
CHASTITY truth was borne In upon
his stupefed brain.
He had fallen into his own trap.
He was held fast.
For n few minutes he struggled
frantically, but the steel teeth only
bit more securely into his leg, and
Mt last he was forced to desist. He
crouched. quaking with horror. He
was twenty miles from his camp.
Nobody would pass that way, for It
was jeans own trap-line-nobody
unless Pierre.
Hours passed; hours Of pitlful
mental agony. Sometimes he would
: begin the frantic struggle anew,
But always he desisted. He dared
not try to cut his leg of. Better
to die. Better to let hunger or the
wild beasts finish him. He passed
the night in a stupor.
Dawn came, the round sun
mounted the sky. Jean lay in the
agony Of approaching dissolution.
There was no help now. Pierre
would not come, and II he did i.
A light football reused him from
the coma into which he was sink
ing. He opened his eyes. Pierre
stood over him. And Pierre was
smiling. He understood. He could
not help but understand. for why
should Jean have placed q trap In
the middle Of the trail?
He griRped: $50, Jean, thou art
caught in thine own trap"
"Help me and forgive aroaned
Jean. II have rich furs in my
cabin, Pierre; set me free and they
are all yours"
"Hein! And what about the girl.
Marie?" demanded Pierre.
course you, she is yours nj.
ready" Jean groaned.
"But why should I set you free,
my friend. when woman who Is
tickle may turn to thee againY"
II will 60 away. I will never zee
her again"
Pierre turned his back, whistllng,
Jean closed his eyes. This was tho
end.
Pierre turned back. He spruns
the trap. Jean staggered to his
feet, free. He stood staring a,
Pierre.
II did not steal thy furs," said
jPierre. ~ came to see what luck
thou hadst, because-because did
not wish thy marriage to Marie to
be- delayed" - z
"What?" Jean stared at him.
"She. loves thee and has always
loved thee. Come, Jean, let me
help thee back to thy cabin before
thy wound gets poisoned"
"And II set this trap for thee,
Pierre" Jean groaned. ~ l-E
MY friend, a man In love does
foolish things. I, for example, plan
to give thee my winters furs for q
wedding present before go away"
20. 1923. Western Newspaper Union)
NOTICE AND CITATION, HEARING
OF FINAL ACCOUNT AND DIS
TRIBUTION OF ESTATE.
STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA, County
of Burleigh.-ss. In County Court
poforz u.N~ nov;oc InAnAo