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Show s TOMIIGER TRAIL & A GREAT MYSTERY STOIzW ( KcJwncs Oliver Curwood X OvoniMi tt BaMMcrfia ri m -A V OBAFTES XIX i i Tha Flgbt. Beyond the door Howland heard Jean Muse. There followed a few momenta alienee, al-ienee, aa though the other were listening for sound within. Then there came a fumbling at the bar and the dour awung Inward. "Ron Jour. M'seur," called Jean'a cheerful cheer-ful voice aa he stepped Inside, "la It possible pos-sible you r, not up wlln ,u tni. barking and" Ills eyes had gone to the emptv bunk. Despite his cheerful greeting Howland saw that the Frenchman' tun m haa- trled to kill m on the trail, tried It again In the coyote, and you tame back here determined to kill me. You've held the whip hand from the first. Now It' mine I swear that If I take yeu back to th Wekusko we'll get you all." "If. m'seurr' "Yee If." "And that If " Jean was straining against the table. "It rests with you, Croiseet. 1 will bargain with you. Either I ehalt take you back to the W'ekusko. hand you over to the authorities and send a force after the others or you shall take me to Meiers, Me-iers, which ehall It be?" "And If I take you to Meleeae. m'seur?" Howland straightened r hla volca tram bllnr a llttla with rxcltemnt. "if you take ma to Met artd swear to do as I say. I shall bring no harm to you or your frlendV" "And Meleae " Jean's eyes darkened dark-ened again. "You will not harm her. m'seur?' "Harm her!" Thsra waa a laughing tremor in Howland's voice. "Good God. man. are you so blind that you can't see that I am doing this bscause of her? I tell you that I love her. and that I am willing to die In fighting for her. I'ntit now I haven't had the rhanee. You and derhand game, Crolsset. You have taken me from behind at every move, and now it's up to you to square yourself a little or there's going to be hell to pa v. I n-denttand? n-denttand? You taka me to Meloeie or there II be a cleanup that will put you and the whole bunoh out of business. Harm her" Again Howland laughed, teanlng hi white face toward Jean. "Come, which shall It be, Croisst?" A cold glitter, like the snap of sparks from striking steels, shot from the Frenchman's French-man's eyes. The grayish pallor went from his face. His teeth gleamed In the enigmatic smile that- had half undone! Howland In the fight. j "You are mint ken In some, things, j gsrd and pale as he turned quickly toward to-ward him. He observed no further than thai, but flung his whole weight on the unprepared Croliset, and together they V. crashed to the floor. There was scarce a struggle and Jean lay still. He was flat on his back, his arms pinioned to his sides, and hringlng himself astride tha frenchman's body so that each knee 1m- Erlsoned an arm Howland coolly began "plug the bahoesh thongs that he had , antched from the table as he sprang to the door. Br hi ml Howland's back Jean's lea-a siiut suddenly upward. In a iulck choking clutch of eteelllke muscle they i arlnpd ashnut hi ntu.it una powerful arras and in atnothi instant he was twisted hackward with a force that sent him half net k broken to the opposite wall. He staggered to his feet, rinsed for a mo-men mo-men i. and Jean Croiseet stood In the middle of the flor. his -arlhou akin coat thrttwn off. hi bands clenched, his eyes darken inn with a flrce tire. As quickly as it had come, the fire irj away, and a he advanced slowly, his nhouldera hun' hed oer. tils white teeth gleamed a , pinlle. Howland smiled back, and sd- vancf! to nr-et him. Then was no humor, hu-mor, no friendliness In (he smiles. Both had seen that flash of teeth and dcsdly KrlntiMatlun of even at other times, both knew whet It meant. "1 believe that I will kill you. m'seur," said Jt an softly. There was no excitement, excite-ment, no tremble of passion in his voice. "I have been thinking that I ought to kill you. 1 had ajmoat made up my mind i kill you when I came back to this Maison de Mort Kouge. It Is the justice of God that I kit) yu!" I'hf two men circled, like beasts In a pit. Holland in tne attltud of a boxer, Jun with his shoulders btnt. itts arms nightly cunt-vt ttt his side, the toes of hi mociabined feet bearing Ma weight. Hu'lutnly rif launched himself at the other's thrnt. In a flash Howland stepped a little to - one aide and fcliot out a crashing blow ihM,l caught Jean on the head and sent inn. Mail on hts oack. tin If stunned Cruls ct crime to nis feet. It was the first time that he had ever come into contact with acience. He was pussier. His head rang. c and Kr a few moments he was dtcsv. He darted in again, in his old, quick. ct like way, ami received a blow that dated him. This time he kept his feet. i iii, nil re now that S him aoing to kill you. m seur," lie said, as coolly as be loic. i x i ner was some tiring terribly calm and; v ceca.ve tn Ins voice. He was not e.x-; citer. He ii nut afraid. Hts ringers oid not go near the weapons In his .belt, and slowly the smile faded from How-! 'land's lips as Jean circled about him. He had nccr fought a man of this kind; never hid he looked on tne appalling con-ndem-t that was in his antagonist's eyes. t roni thuse c es. rather than from tlie man. found hinisc.f slowly retreating. They followed tiim. never taking them-..elves them-..elves from his tace. In tnem the nr re-iut4d re-iut4d and giew deeper. Two dull rod spues teaan to glow In t'roiaset's cheeks, and he laughed softly when he suddenly leaped In so that Howland struck at him and missed. He knew what to expect now. And Howland knew what to expect. It was the science of one world pitted against that of another the science of civillitalaon against that of the wilderness. wilder-ness. How'and waa trained in his art. For sport Jean had played with wounded lynx; his was the quickness of sight, or instinct the quickness ot the great north loon that hu nen played this same name with his rifle fire, oi the sledge dug a hose ripping fangs carried death so tiuicklv tnat vyvn could not follow. A third and a fourth time he csme within distance and Howiand struck and missed. m seur, he said quleijy. "intll today I have fought for you and not against you. But now you have left me but one choice. I all) take you ' to Meleeae, and thai means " "Good''' cried Howland. "La. Ia, m'seur not so good as you think. It means that aa surely as the dogs carry us there yon will never come back. Mon Dleu. your death Is certain:" Howland turned briskly t the stove. "Hungry, Jean?" he asked more com-pardonably. com-pardonably. "Let's not quarrel, man. You've had your fun and now I'm going to have mine. Have you had breakfast?" "1 was anticipating that pleasure with you, m'seur." replied Jean with grim humor. hu-mor. "And then after I had fed you you were going tn kill me. my dear Jean." laughed Howland. flopping a huge caribou steak on the naked top of the sheet Iron stove. "Rest nice fellow you are, eh?" "You ought to be killed, m'seur." "8o you've said before. When T see Meleeae I'm going to know the reason why. or " "Or what, m'seur? "Kfiryou, Jean. I've just made up mv mind that you ought tn be killed. If anv one dies up where we're going, Crolsset. Crols-set. It w'lt be you Drat of all." Jean remained silent. A few minutes later Howland brought the caribou stak. a dish of flour cakes and a big pot of coffee to the table. Then he went behind Jan and untied his hands. When Ive sat down at hts own side of the table he rocked his revolver and placed ft beside bis tin plate. Jean grimaced and shrugged his s! sou Id ere. "It means business." said Ms captor siarnlngly. "If at any time 1 think you deserve it I shall shoot you In your tracks. Crolsset. so don't arouse my suspicions." sus-picions." "I took your word of honor." said Jean sarcastically. i "And. I will take yours to an extent. replied Howland. pouring the coffee. Suddenly he picked up the revolver. "You never saw me shoot, did you? Bee that cup over there? ' He pointed to a small tin pack pup hanging to a nail on the wall a dosen paces from them. Three times without miselng he drove bullets through it. and smiled across at Crolsset. Crols-set. "I a m roi nc to al ve you t he use of your arms and legs, except, at night," he tafd. "Mon Dleu, It Is safe." grunted Jean. "1 give you my word that. I will be good, m'seur." The sun waa up when Crolsset led the wav outside. His drgs and sledge wer a htindrd yards from the building, and Horn land's first move was to take possession posses-sion of the Frenchman's rifle and ejet the cartridges while Jean tossed chunks of caribou flesh to the huskies. When they were ready to start Jean turned slowly and half reached out a mlttened hand to the engineer. "M'seur," he said softly, "I can not help liking you. though I know that I should liave killed you long ago. I tell you again that If you go into the north there Is onlv one change In a hundred fiat you will come baxk alive. Great (rod. m'seur, up where you wish to go the very trees will fall on you and the carrion ravens pick out your eyes! And that chance that one chance) In a hundred, hun-dred, m'seur " "I will take." Interrupted Howland de-, clslvelv. " ( "1 ess going to aav, m'seur, finished Jean quietly, "that unleas accident has befallen those who left Wekusko yesterday yes-terday thst one chance la gone, tf you go south you Are safe. If you go Into the north yeu art no better than a dead man- There win at least bt a Httle fun at fhe finish." lauched the young engineer. "Come. Joan, hit up the dogs!" "Mon Pleu. I aay you are a fool and a brave man." said Crolsvet. and hla whip twisted sinuously In midair and rrarked In sham command over the yellow backs of the, huskies. fTo be continued.) "1 m goinf tu kill you. he ssld again. To thia point Holnd had remained cool. Meif poaaeaslon In his sciencs he knssr tu be heir the battle. But II felt In him now a alow, rwelllns anger. The amillna flash In Jean s eyea began to Irritate Irri-tate mm: the fearless, tauntlne- gleam vt hla teeth. Ills audacloua conttdence. put him on edge. Twk again he struck out awlftly, but Jean had come and (one like dart. His llth body, fifty pound lighter than Howland a, aeemed to he that . of a boy dodging hlra In some tantalizing sport. The Frenchman made no effort at attack: hla were th tactic of th wolf at the heels of ths bull moose, of th lynx before the prongs of a cornered buck tiring, worrying, ceaseless. Howland's striking muscle, begen o ache and his breath was growing shorter with the exertions which seemed to hsve no effect on Crolsset. For a few moments he took the aggreslve, rushing Jesn to the stove, behind the 1. Me. twice around the room striving vainly to drive him Into a corner, to reach him with one of the aweeplng blowa which Crolsset evaded with the lightning quickness of e hell diver. When he stopped his breath came In wind broken gasps. Jean drew nearer, amlllng. ferociously cool. . "1 am going to kill you. m'seur, he repeated again. Howland dropped his arms, his fingers relsxed. and he forced hla breath between Ilia llpa aa If he were cm the point of exhaustion. There were still a few tricks In his science, snd these, he knew, were about his last Tarda. He backed Into a corner, and Jean followed, hla eyes flashing flash-ing steely light; hi body growing more and more tense. "Now. m'seur. I am going to kill yon. ha said tn ths same low vole. "I am going go-ing to break your neck." Howland backed rttalnat the wall, partly part-ly turned a If fearlna the other'a attack, at-tack, and yt without atrength lo repel It. There waa a contcmpttioua amlle on Crolaaet'a Hp he poised himself for n lntnl. Then he leaped In. and as hla finger gripped at the other'a throat Howland right no hot upward In a deadly abort arm punch tnat caught his antagonist under the Jew. Without a sound Jean stsggererl hack, tottered for a moment on his feet, and fell to the floor. Fifty seconds later he opened his eves to find his hsnds bound behind his back and Howland standing at hie feet. Hon Dleu. bul that waa a good one! be gasped, after he had taken a long breath or two. "Will you teach It to me, nKiel up'" commanded Howland. "1 have no time to waste. Croleeet." - He caught the Frenchman by the ahoulders nd helped him to a chair near the table. Then he took possession of the other's weepons. Including the revolver which Jean had taken from him. and began to dress. He pok no word until be was done. "Ue you understand what I going to happen, f'rotrset?" h' cried Ihen, hts eyes biasing hotly. "IM you understand thst what you have done will put you behind prison bars for ten years or more? Itoea It dawn on you. that I'm going to take you back to fhe authorities, and that aa soon a w reach the Wekuako I'll have twenty men back on th trail of these friends of yoursT" A gray pallor spread Itself over Jean' thin face. "The treat God, m'ur. you ess not do that!" r "Can not!" Howland's Angers dus Into th edge of the table. "By thla great Ood of vour. Crolsset. but t will! And why not'T Is It because Meleese Is among this gang of cutthroat and murderers? Plan, mv dear Jean, you must be a fooL They |