The Tomahawk., 1924-09-18
GIVING
PIERRE EQUAL
CHANCE
By GEORGE ELMER COBB
20. 1924. Western Newspaper Union.)


! He spurred his horse, and it broke
into a canter across the snow.
Though the ground was still white,
spring was in the air, and spring was
In the heart Of Jean Minguy, for he
was riding to see his sweetheart Nam
cite, old Baptiste's daughter. They
had been engaged eight months, ever
since Jeans last visit to the cabin in
the early fall.
Now he had amassed a pile Of rich
furs, which he would exchange for
gold in plenty at the trading store But
first he must see Nanette and get her
to fix the wedding day.
He had left his furs in his cabin and
had ridden 200 miles to see her; and
he had ridden so eagerly that he had
not even turned the dozen miles out of
his course that were necessary for
him to meet his old friend, Pierre Du-
four
Old Baptiste came to the door and
laid a hand upon his horses bride.
You have come for NanetteT he
quavered. He was very old and al
ready in his dotage.
"Where Is sheT demanded Jean,
feeling his heart hammering within
his breast.
Haven't you heard?" cried the old
man. "She left here with Dufour this
morning"
A fiery mist swan before jeans
eyes. Pierre Dufour! The two men
had been friends for many q year, and
Jean had known that Pierre was in
love with Nanette. But the girl had
plighted herself to him, and he had
hardly thought of Dufour in the &c
stasy of his happy anticipations.
He had been so proud of her, his
beautiful bride-to-be, with her dark
hair and eyes. One more season in
the north, and then, if luck was with
him he had intended to take her south
to civilization, and the perils and hard
ships of the wilds would be thing of
the past.
Jean Minguy pulled up his horse
sharply.
"Listen" the old man began, catch
ing at the bride again.
But Jean Minguy was already spur
ring his horse back along the trail,
paying no attention to old Baptiste's
shouts. Only single thought was in
his mind-to kill the false friend who
had betrayed him.
Dufour's cabin lay at the junction
of the Peace and st. Paul, a small
tributary stream, 40 miles back, and
some II miles off the route along
which he had come. There was his
cabin; that was the trapping district
which Dufour had marked off for his
own. Jean had visited there in the
days before they had ever thought of
Nanette, save as a shy girl Of fourteen
or fifteen, and they had spent many
long evening together, smoking, ST.
lent, happy in each others company.
There they must fight 1t out face to
face. Jean contemplated no treacher-
Gus attack. He would give Pierre an
equal chance; but it must be fight
to the death.
If Dufour had won the girl fairly
Jean would have acquiesced. But Nan
cite and he had been engaged so long.
and Dufour had known it, and he had
stolen her. Jean could understand
what pressure he might have used.
when she had only doddering old
man for her companion. His anger
rose into a fierce fame as he pursued
his way.
Night fell before more than half of
the 40 miles was accomplished. Jean
dismounted and scooped out a shelter
In the deep snow beside the stream.
He was not sorry for the opportunity
to nurse his wrath. He crept inside.
turning his pony loose, for the wealth
er was warm enough for the little,
half-savage creature to take care Of
itself, and Jean knew that it would
not stray far from him.
He wrapped himself in his furs and
lay down. But his mind would not let
him forget his grief and rage in the
temporary relief of sleep. He had
dreamed SO long Of the day when Nan
cite was to be his wife; and now his
dream was ended and his life was
shattered.
1OWdTu ud"h oldltCu up ulCIl
upon the instant. His trained ear had
detected the approach of a mounted
man, coming from the direction Of the
st. Paul. 1t was not his own horse
that he heard, for that, being In
dian, did not trot, as this horse did
besides, the difference between the
sound of a horse with a rider on its
back and that Of horse alone Is I'M
mistakable.
: Jean c-ept out Of his shelter. The
dawn was not far away, but the moon
still shone brilliantly. A horseman
was riding along the bank Of the Peace
river.
Jean recognized Dufour, though to
other eyes he would have been only
q silhouette against the snow. He
saw Dufour rein in his horse and lean
forward. They were within 25 PAGES
of each Siher ..