White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1926-08-06
THE BULLY OF ST. ANNE'S
By Vingie E. Roe

1--WE can excuse you now, Ma'em-
selle." he said pointedly, II would
speak with my frie'. Monsieur lie
Facteur."
All the northland knew Du Bots.
There was much to be known of him,
for he had passed along it's majestic
reaches like meteor. They knew OF
his prowess as hunter, of the great
stag moose he had followed for twen
ty days in snow time, bringing in its
mighty head upon his shoulders, a.
feat for superman. They knew OF
the panther he had killed with club
in open fight.
There was the man on Deer River
whom he had all but killed, fighting
over a woman. Du Bots took her
the other mans woman. 1t was an
open theft. But look you-when she
lay dying year later at Lake-of-the-
Woods she blessed his name to Father
Tenau, who gave her consolation!
Strange, was it not? However, there
were those who said it was just as
we'll she died. for Du Bots was be-
ginning to tire of her. This he never
heard-for none dared to tell him the
gossip.
But Father Tenau knew that the
bully had knelt by that lowly couch in
the wilderness and wept like a child,
her dying hand on his head. He knew
also that he, the priest, passing that
way the following autumn, had Wis
tied the unmarked grave for human
itys sake and had found there a little
jar with flowers dropping in it, set
there by one who must have journeyed
far to place them there. So what
would you? Who was there to say
he knew the heart of this man?
A few days Du Bots stayed at Fort
st. Anne's, filling his canoe with
stores and smoking many pipes with
McQuoid, thefactor. The latter had
promised dance in the long room at
headquarters to celebrate the mar
riage of Cosan, to his Marcelle. The
thought of this tickled Du Bots.
1t would be great fun, dancing at
the ceremony of man who hated
him! 1t came near, however, being
more, for with his characteristic high
handedness the trapper tok big Elsa
from the very arms of Pierre La
Forge in the middle of the figure and
finished it out with her himself.
Pierre was small man, light and
sinewy, but the spirit of warlike fore
bears lived in him, and he waited
only for the dance to be done before
he launched himself in the bully's
face like a fury. 1t took Du Bots but
a scant few minutes to punish him
frightfully, to pick him up bodily and
toss him away. But, as he straight
ened up with laugh, he met Cosan's
flaming eyes, an dsaw his fingers
playing with a knife.
How long, my frien's," cried Co
san, ARE we goin' to be playthings of
this fellow? How long?" At his cleo
trio cry four youths, friends of his
and Pierre, drew in behind him and
+, faced Du Bots. Du Bots laughed again,
shrugged his massive shoulders.
"Eh?" he asked, IAN wat you goin'
to do to Du Bois?"
Lick you, M'sieu!" said Cosan
through closed teeth. Lick you like
HE'LL"
| 1t is hardly possible to describe
what followed. There were five, stand
ing together against this man, and yet
those who witnessed the fight say that
never for a moment did they have
the advantage. Like tree in a storm
he stood among them, his great black
head tossing, his huge arms pumping
like pistons, his broad back and slen
der hips working beautifully, his pow
erful legs spread wide to stop the on
slaught. And he laughed continually.
One by one he sent his assailants
down, Cosan, white and furious, last,
with a threat and a menace for the flu
ture. AS he stod swaying above his
fallen foes, hands on hips, there fell
from the breast of his torn shirt a
small bright object that shone amaz-
ingly for second in the light from
the big lamp hanging above. Cosan,
rising, snatched it up.
Instantly Du Bots was upon him
again. He caught the hand that held
the bauble and bent it forward at the
wrist-a powerful pressure. The help
less fingers loosened and let fall a
curious locket, like nothing ever seen
at Fort st. Anne, SO rich in workman
ship was it, AS it fell 1t opened SO
that Cosan looked for moment into
the lovely face of woman framed
in gold and diamonds.
Du Bots picked it up and put it back
into his breast again. He faced the
circle, wearied, painting, his unkempt
head lowered.
Some more?" he said thickly. "Du
Bois-is-glad to accommodate"
AS no one moved he flung back his
shoulders, tossed the hair from his
forehead and swung away down the
floor.
Gray dawn found him on the beach,