Show BLACK B FEATHER A harold titus 0 service TITUS 0 wr HAROLD by AN SYNOPSIS rodney shaw independent dependent trader arrive to determined ke in 1818 in established by the fight the trade monopoly northwest john jacob astor company in the he Is met by conrad rich an AD territory ar crooks actors dominant d elderly id clerk e rk ramsay local ia and annette leclere figure gu re beauty and inspiration to all the traders espee beaucl especially W to burke brickm an a ruthless trader who izittie Is the instrument of f destruction the with to traders refusing to amalgamate astor company roussel Rouss cl the town bully wearing the blick black leather feather symbol ot of invincibility knocks down shans head oarsman buile battle arld and shaw in return throws throw roussel into the wa water ter ramsay crooks presents the symbolic black feather to shaw later at a conference net shaw scorns actors proposal virtually to surrender his once ace announces announce his readiness to fight the amalgamation and prepares to depart the following day at a ball that evening shaw chaw recognizes burke rickman as thel the astor agent who bad previously robbed him of ct his partner and his trade and as a dangerous rival tor for annette annett L with whom he be to is infatuated there Is an exchange of bitter words annette is chosen queen ot of the d dance and chooses shaw as king for the following evening basile warns shaw to hasten basten lit his departure and tells him an old man awaits him at his tent ten t shaw finds leslie an old free trader w who ho cs that shaw join him and go to the rich all lager country where astor is planning to send end rickman he shows him a map and an aa indian ceremonial stone given him by standing cloud pillager chief shaw accepts lesliea Le offer the spying rickman ond finds annette alone and artfully belittles shaw aggravating annette into boasting of bis plans until rickman learns of the partnership and the departure tor for rich unclaimed ground lie he follows shaw to les lies bes camp and hides within earshot shaw finds ushe leslie very ill III attended by his clerk giles with giles as a witness leslie gives shaw the map and the indian stone CHAPTER III HI continued leslie smiled peacefully and closed his eyes good I 1 he whispered after a moment set a spell old coon waugh the brave ejaculation came as no more than a breath giles retired to his tent then and shaw sat in the faint glow from the fire for a time silently watching the face of the older man regretting that his partnership could not be carried out leslie roused after an interval and they talked of the route and of the canoe maker who once superior was traversed could supply the smaller craft necessary in the rivers and all the while that prone figure outside the tent listened scarcely breathing it was time for shaw to go leslie gallantly struggled to his feet and stepped outside his tent luckl he said and took hand luck old coohil shaws voice wanted ranted to break or on that this was a final parting he knew but no more was said he waved as he turned and stepped past the fire he looked back once from the darkness to see the stooped buckskin clad figure there outlined against his tent then the trail turned and took him from sight so he did not see leslie clutch at his breast and sway and take an unsteady step and fall he did not see that other man rise from his concealment behind the tent and stand and watch the motionless figure A quick hand rolled leslie over A cheek went close to his lips fingers felt vainly for the pulse hands rummaged within the buckskin shirt feeling the gaunt and lifeless breast A knife blade glittered in the f firelight ire it poised and found its mark and plunged then breath somewhat hoarse burke rickman drew back into the shadows and who marches for the pil lagers tomorrow he muttered A tight pinch shaw but well see who marchert mar chesl chest rodney did not go directly to his encampment when he put off he would march with vigor and his boatmen would need all the rest the night might afford lie he was depressed at leaving leslie in such a condition and he was depressed too at thought of leaving annette leclere he chided himself when first aware of this reaction but he slowed his pace nevertheless and turned in the direction ot of the girls house he grew a little liitle warm thinking of what manner of place a fort might be with annette leclere established in his house as wife and mother and sharer of his burdens and successes he was tempted then to fling gravel at her window to plead with her to come but he put it back telling himself that lie he had a ta task sit to do so he walked further forcing his ardor to cool putting aside this impractical whim and another hour passed before he turned back toward his tent tightening his belt walking faster to rouse basile and his men and prepare for departure but basile was up the men were up others were there a group about the fire f ire one held a paper in his hands four soldiers from th the e fort stood silently by the blaze warming their hands with muskets grounded and supported in the crooks of their arms well rodney challenged sensing aa a menace shaw the man holding he document put the question ive a warrant tor for your arresta arr estl arrest for the murder of one leslie now dead with a knife thrust in his heart 1 the words t took ook speech from lips they gripped like a hand on his ahr throat oat arrest imprisonment delay delapl Mur murder derf he cried why why I 1 left the man two hours ago dying of disease and murder why why its preposterous the marshal shrugged the man is dead and you admit being with him theres a knife thrust in his heart and rumored been bargaining without success for the goods he has rodney drew a long and audible breath so someone knewl knew someone had told I 1 his eyes a bit wild searched the faces about him close pressed behind hin d the soldiers and beyond the fire atre he caught the glint of light baht 0 on n gilt buttons and made out burke bu Rick mans face set in a sardonic smile of triumph so that s your play nl he cried so the foul trick try next so that rage choked back the words and he rushed they were upon him though before his wild hands reached rickman they bore him down shouting and cursing many minutes were required to subdue him long enough for candle lights to appear in windows for doors to open and men to come running they led him away a soldier on either side one ahead and one behind they marched him up the 4 k many minutes were required to subdue him hill carrying him when he renewed his struggles and threw him strangling curses into the guard house of the fort and at dawn da wn annette leclere slipped out of her aunts house no longer able to maintain the pretense of sleeping she had heard news of the happening shouted in the small hours now she sought basile for detail of the truth but basile was gone for the moment and only shaws boatmen moved restlessly about his encampment she turned back something in the trampled sand attracted her she stopped and picked from the dirt the frayed and battered black ostrich plume which ramsay crooks had handed shaw on his arrival days before annette thrust it into her bosom and hastened homeward tears beading her long lashes rodney shaw stood at the narrowed window hands gripping the P poisoning prison riso ing ning metal meta 1 staring across the blue waters of the strait he suspected what was happening in 9 he guessed that rickman aware of what his plan had been would waste no time now in in putting out for the pillager country sounds 0 of feet approaching caused him to quiet suddenly ali ah basilea you bring news the old man nodded but not gladly the rickman he said embarks at noon the T e entire force of company engages engage s are busied in preparation he goes it is said to the pillager c country 11 damal it was to be expected but tell me basile is there no friendly ear to listen to appeal aall ayl nodding friends we have the th e place buzzes with the narrative narra ti ve of what was vas done it amazes one the friends one finds f but sadly the friends one finds lack courage the shadow of the great company with a shrug lies like a threat he glanced nervously at the guard standing near the place buzzes 1 basile whispered it was the mam ma ml selle the leclere who betrayed youl betray wh ats this what did she she knew nothing of that astonishment gave off I 1 into a groan of dismay he kemem bred in that moment his boasts to the girl the the vixen vix erill he cried wench the tro trollop I 1 so she betrayed my secret to company eh trickery eh A device to ears trap me into coref confidences II if I 1 had her slender throat in these hands id throttle the smirk from her grimacing face and you take the word to her fisi basilea lel before all else do that I 1 say to her that I 1 say ashes a vixen no less I 1 he shook his head in h helpless rage but basterl one wastes w a a t e s strength strength streng ih hating what is done is done the puzzle now is to be free to move you will go before the justice here and be bound to the detroit court weeks may elapse I 1 have seen lesliea Le body it is true what charge that a knife wound is in the heart but master within the shirt shirl is scarce a smear of blood on the resh cesh is no more than would flow from the scratch of a splinter splint erl no knife entered that beating I 1 heart you mean baskiel it he knew he was dying he bade me farewell he must have died after I 1 left A spy waited and knifed the corpse to give this charge against me the color of truth truth and it is said that you had bargained for his goods and that he refused and that tha t is the motive but giles giles knows giles listened last night when leslie gave his goods to me without reservation this giles Gile sll 11 basile muttered the man has no spine he is so frightened of what the company may do to him that he dares not claim his own soul eyes narrowed mark this basile theres no aid from the law A trial might vindicate me surely a fair trial would clear me but rickman departs at noon he will have plenty of strong backs he will march fast we should be gone attend basile theres but one way I 1 must have my freedom find me a file A new sharp file you can smuggle it to me on some pretext or other at night ill U saw my way from this place and they can serve their warrant in helli hell I 1 you hold the men in readiness you keep watch my child when I 1 leave this confinement you load the packages leslie left have no interference from giles the goods are mine they whispered further perfecting the plan and then basile departed and rodney paced and plotted further and watched preparations on the beach which were designed for his final crushing two great canoes were loaded with goods A crowd gathered maciver was there viewing detail shaw saw conrad rich the old clerk who had worked in crooks office garbed in buckskin surely bound for the interior to cast the tat fat accounts that rickman planned to show from the pillager trade and rickman himself was there tall and commanding but shaw thought the man conducted himself as one whose mind is neither at peace nor completely on the task rickman gave his final order the te oar blades dipped the great canoes gathered way and another company brigade had beun begun its march to bring to the fold still one more band of hunters basile came at sundown bringing a fresh linen shirt to replace the torn and soiled and bloodied one rodney wore he thrust it through the grill in the door with a significant 1 narrowing of the eyes and shaw felt within its folds the hard outline of a file did you deliver my message to the vixen rodney asked 1 I tried and failed rickman was with her for long when he left she followed from the house she wept and begged him not to leave her truly it turned ones stomach such kissing and embracing and such pleading with him to r remain emain what of the night the moon will be high there will be no wind the file will scream and screech yes and the guard wa walks aks his post at all hours damal he ground his teeth but kee keep p the men in readiness basile if the wind rises tonight ill try not however until I 1 have good cover for the sounds of escape but the night was quiet except for the wail of fiddles and laughter from company headquarters and from dwellings in the village although rodney watched and listened until dawn he was forced at last to abandon hope and throw himself on the bunk to sleep fitfully CHAPTER IV at least one other in the village had spent a night of distress it seemed to annette leclere as dawn broke that the wells of her tears had gone dry burke rickman came and annatte would not see him she paced the rooms started out a score of times turned back cried tossed clothing and pillows and books about refused food wept again not until her aunt frightened now by the girls behavior and eager to do what she could to ease her mind panted home with the word that rickman was about to march did annette quiet it was a tense and desperate quietude which then possessed her annette came close and embraced her aunt saying the way is clear now dear onel one I 1 I 1 must see burke go and ask him to come without delay dear estl without delay bowl rickman came in answer to the summons he came clad in his buckskin with his departure but a brace of hours away burke ive sent for you to do what no girl craves to do to admit wrong to beg forgiveness his pulse picked up at that and a covetous instead of a baffled gleam showed in his hard blue eyes you are forgiven dear annette before forgiveness is asked I 1 he advanced toward her taking her hands in his did you think for a moment I 1 felt that you were lightheaded enough to take serious stock in a mere upstart her eyes filled and his expression softened somewhat not for him to know the emotion prompting tears 1 and now you see youre intending to leave after ive found again my lost senses leave me here color came quickly into his cheeks at that shed never spoken so tenderly to him not for langl the one season only just the one season you speak so lightly of endless months you belittle hours that can stretch themselves into years then come with me annettee An he begged on a knee before her his arms seeking to draw her close come with me today march with me and ill make it the interior she cried voice a t oh I 1 could not stand it burkel burke id perish in the interiors interi orl its you I 1 need you here close safe she stroked his hair she patted his cheek she pleaded and begged and did not surrender to his lips until all else she could think of had failed and her kisses failed as well he would not be seduced from his intent desire for her was strong but ambition as well was mighty A messenger came summoning rickman and annette threw herself upon him desperate in her pleas she followed him to the gate making a scene such as villagers had never beheld before and it was this basile watched and reported to rod ney shaw TO BE CONTINUED I 1 |