Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-04-01

wwered. sitting with chin cupped In
hand. face averted.
's0h, do you mean 70 say that you
prefer selling yourself to that store
keeper. Lascelles. to living Ia luxury
In Montreal. Winnipeg
~You may insult me. monsieur.
have no means Of defending myself,
she broke In, coldly.
Then Lafiamme lost eli self-control.
and stormed:
Insult your on. yesl But that is
the truth, Is II not9 You do not love
this man. do your To save your ia
Tiers future you have agreed to marry
him-this man you despisel On,
know! He's not 1T to look at you
you beauty"
White-faced, the girl sat with eyes
on the foor-silent, as II she did not
hear.
"True, yor think you hate me now.
but you would change ne ran on.
talking as If to himself "You may
have heard hard things said o. me.
but swear TO you. II you will marry
me, Denise St Onge, I'll show you
what love is. I'll make your father
fndependent-make you" his voice
broke with emotion, yes. make you
happyi I've loved you ever since you
played for us that night at Albany
years ago"
Lafiamme stopped and looked down
with q gesture OF helplessness at the
woman OF stone In the chair. Then ne
heard the low words: "You forget
monsieur. someone who Is still at
Ogoka-
Il know how that looks to you" he
defended, sbut that was over, years
ago-years I've given her a home
couldn't turn her out. But she hates
me, tried to knife me, wanted TO run
away with that American. Steele. this
Octo6erl She put on black the day
slFe heard he had been drowned on the
way home"
There was long silence, then:
~Why were you afraid to have him
reach NepIgon7'
Lafiamme started, then laughed.
"Afraid TO have him reach NepIgon7
That's funnyl he got some supplies
and went on. What do you mean7p
Then the girl countered: "Y0ur In
dams are not faithful to their MASTER |
monsieur. We learned that you had |
Monsieur Steele ambushed after steal |
ing his ammunition, and forced him
to 20 to his death"
do You believe that7" demanded
Lafiamme. puzzled
'Ts 1t trueT
sNo ~
The room was again silent while the
man, famed for his cold nerve. his re-
source, bit his lips IN impotency before
the Icy calm OF this strange girl who
so otsessed him. Then be played HIS
trump card.
$50 you insist on casting your lot
with that rat at Albany Then 1t Is
Tor me to save you from yourself.
have brought an extra sled. Pack
your clothes at once !"
The girl rose to her full height and
met his cynical look with resoIute
eyes. but In her heart was fear.
"You do not daret" she cried. They
would hunt you from Fort Hope, from
Albany. from Nepigon House In three
weeks the police would be at 0goke.
But before the police teams arrived.
10 you know what they would do to
you7 They would burn you in your
iFade- housed You do not dare r
With open admiration Lafiamme
watched the play Of color and emo I
ion in the face Of the frightened girl I
Who confronted him. I
IF you'd flush that way when say
love you" he cried. 'Pd give all I
AVE In the world. Why. girl. I'D sell {
ny soul, II you'd look at me. just a
nee. and say you loved mel" &
Il despise you r li
The sting Of the words cue like the I
ash Of a whip. Hls> self-eontroI, al 0
eady at the breaking point. crumbIed. c
sDespIse me. do your" he snarled. b
Dare me to do my worst7 Suppose
axe you at your word7 Mon Dleu &
m mad enough about you to DO any s
hing Who It Is. then. you lover Il
lie thrust his passionate face close TO 9
ers. You hate meyOu don't want n
ascelIesi II must be that id dead u
lmerican you're incoming about Well,
e's mt the bottom OF the Jackfish. N
ud be forgot y0u before he had been el
0goke two hours-forgot even your n
anne when he saw Rose r
She faced bis anger proudly. con "
.npt In her bloodIesa face, untll he 81
Ientioned Steele, then slowly her a
neea gave way and she sank in q
MIR l.
~Es was that AmeFfcang Z" be aformed. n
aiey i didn't flmtsi him myself" Ct
Then sonelhlmg on the table caught
q eye-heRd SCI EEfs face went dark ID
tn his sinister purpose when, VITA fr
quick m0vement. he seized fhe vio~ q
A. raised IL above haN head, and ia
ought n COWS WITH crash 80 the bd
Bile. fhen dropped 4 ka the aoar ans hi
ampaed Il mnfaar hss feet. W.
w1kh q sroan the girl tell 10 her Ia
'ees ard gafherlag khe apllnfered AZ
ga q flze violin 20 hex hreasa. "a