The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-07-16
Chapter X-Continued
wNU Service

d
laugh that came suddenly from her
lips. Nepeese was listening to the
growl that was again in Baree's
throat. 1t was low but terrible
sound When half mile from the
cabin, she unslung the panniers from
his shoulders and carried them her
SELF Ten minutes later they saw
man advancing to meet them.
1t was not McTaggart. Pierrot rec
ognized him, and with an audible
breath of relief waved his hand. 1t
was DeBar, who trapped in the Bar
rem Country north of Lac Balm. Pier
rot knew him WELL They had ex-
changed fox-poison They were friends
and there was pleasure in the grip
of their hands. DeBar stared then at
Nepeese.
"Tonnerre, she has grown into a
woman!" he cried, and like woman
Nepeese looked at him straight, with
the color deepening in her cheeks as he
bowed low with courtesy that dated
back a couple of centuries beyond the
trap-line.
DeBar lost no time in explaining his
mission, and before they reached the
cabin Pierrot and Nepeese knew why
he had come. M'sieu, the Factor at
Lac Balm, was leaving on journey in
FIVE days, and he had sent DeBar as
special messenger to request Pierrot
to come up to assist the clerk and the
half-breed storekeeper in his absence.
Pierrot made no comment at first.
But he was thinking. Why had Bush
McTaggart sent for him? Why had
he not chosen some one nearer? Not
until fire was cracking in the sheet
iron stove in the cabin, and Nepeese
was busily engaged getting supper,
did he voice these questions to the
fox-hunter.
DeBar shrugged his shoulders.
"He asked me, at first, If could
stay. But l have wife with a bad
k-iung, Pierrot. 1t was caught by frost
4 last winter, and / dare not leave her
long alone. He has great faith in you.
Besides, you know all the trappers on
the Company's books at Lac Balm. So
he sent for you, and begs you not to
worry about your fur-lines as he will
pay you double what you would catch
in the time you are at the Post"
"And = Nepeese?" said Pierrot.
'M'sieu expects me to bring herr"
From the stove the Willow bent her
head to listen, and her heart leaped
free again at DeBar's answer.
she said nothing about that. But
surely-it will be great change for
lille mselle."
Pierrot nodded.
Possibly, Netootam."
They discussed the matter no more
that night. But for hours Pierrot was
still, thinking, and hundred times he
asked himself the same question:
Why had McTaggart sent for him?
1t must be. he told himself finally, that
M'sieu had sent for him because he
wanted to win over the father of
Nepeese and gain the friendship of
Nepeese herself. For this was un-
doubtedly very great honor that the
Factor was comforting on him. And
yet, deep down in his heart, he was
filed with suspicion.
When DeBar was about to leave the
next morning, Pierrot said:
TELL M'sieu that will leave for
Lac Balm the day after tomorrow"
After DeBar had gone, he said to
.(epeese:
"And you shall remain here, ma
cherie. will not take you to Lac
Balm. L have had dream that M'sieu
will not go on journey, but that he
has lied, and that he will be sick when
I arrive at the post. And yet, If 1t
should happen that you care to go"
Nepeess Strengthened suddenly, like
a reed that has been caught by the
wind.
"Non!" she cried, SO fiercely that
Pierrot laughed, and rubbed his hands.
So 1t happened that on the second
day after the fox-hunter's visit Pierrot
left for Lac Balm, with Nepeese In the
door waving him good-by until he was
out Of sight.
On the morning Of this same day
BUSH McIaggart rose from hiS bed
while 1t was still dark. The time had
come. He had hesitated at murder
at the killing of Pierrot; and in his
hesitation he had found a better way.
There could be no escape for Nepeese.
1t was wonderful scheme, so easy
Of accomplishment, so inevitable in it's
outcome. And all the time Pierrot
would think he was away to the East
on a missioni
He ate his breakfast before dawn,
and was on the trail before 1t was yet
light. There was vast amount of
brutal satisfaction to McTaggart In
anticipating what was about to hap
pen, and he reveled in it to the full.
There was no chance for disappoint-
ment. He was positive that Nepeese
would not accompany her father to
Lac Balm. She would be at the cabin
IN the GRAY I.nOh--alona