Show black feat erv t lier MIR r 0 harold titus my hy AM citino H algis service 11 SYNOPSIS rodney shaw independent trader arrives in Michili mackinac in 1818 determined to fight the trade monopoly established by the john jacob astor company in the northwest territory he Is met by conrad rich an elderly clerk ramsay crooks asters dominant figure and annette leclere local beauty and inspiration to all the traders especially to butke burke rickman a ruthless trader who Is the instrument of destruction to traders refusing to amalgamate with the astor company roussel the town bully wearing the black feather symbol of invincibility knocks down shaws head oarsman basile and shaw in return throws roussel into the water ramsay crooks presents the symbolic black feather to shaw later at a conference shaw scorns actors proposal virtually to surrender his independence announces his readiness to fight the amalgamation and prepares to depart the following day at a ball that eve ning shaw recognizes burke rickman as the astor agent who had previously robbed him of his partner and his trade and as a dangerous rival for annette with whom he Is infatuated there Is an exchange of bitter words annette is chosen queen of the dance and chooses shaw as king tor for the following evening basile warns shaw to hasten his departure and tells him an old man awaits him at his tent shaw finds leslie an old free tree trader who proposes that shaw join him and go to the rich pillager country where astor Is planning to send rickman he shows him a map and an indian ceremonial stone given him by standing cloud pillager chief shaw accepts lesliea Le offer the spying rickman finds annette alone and artfully belittles shaw aggravating annette into boasting of his plans until rickman teams learns of the partnership and the departure tor for rich unclaimed ground he follows shaw to lesliea Le camp and hides within earshot shaw finds leslie very ill attended by his clerk giles with giles as a witness leslie gives shaw the map and the indian stone CHAPTER III continued i 4 leslie smiled peacefully and closed his eyes good he whispered after a moment set a spell old coon waugh the brave ejaculation came came as no more than a breath giles retired to hl hi stent 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 tor for shaw to go leslie gallantly struggled to his feet and stepped outside his tent luckl luck he said and took hand luck old coon shaws voice wanted to break on that this was a final parting he knew but no more massaid was said he waved as he turned and stepped past the fire he looked back once from the darkness to see the stooped buck skin clad claa 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 all 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 bis lips fingers felt vainly for or the pulse hands rummaged within the buckskin shirt feeling the gaunt and lifeless breast A knife blade glittered in the firelight it poised and found its mark and plunged then breath somewhat hoarse burke rickman drew back into the shadows and who marches for or the pil lagers tomorrow he be muttered A tight pinch shaw but well see who marches 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 he was depressed at leaving les lie in such a condition and he was depressed too at thought of leav ing annette aminette Ai inette leclere he chided him self when first aware of this deac tion lion but he be slowed flowed his pace never and turned tn in the direction oi 01 the girls house he grew a little warn 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 he had a task to do so he walked further tur ther forcing his ardor to cool putting aside this impractical whim and another hour passed before he turned back toward toward his tent tightening his belt walking faster to rouse basile and his men and prepare for or departure but bui basile wai was up the men were up others were there a group about the fire one held a paper in his hands four soldiers from the fort stood silently by the blaze warming their hands with musket grounded and supported in the crooks of their arms well rodney challenged sens ing a menace shaw the man holding the document put the question ive a warrant for your arr arrest estl arrest for the murder of one leslie now dead with a knife thrust in his heart the words took speech from rod ups lips they gripped like a nand hand on his throat arrest imprisonment delay delapl murders Mur derl he cried why why I 1 left the man two hours ago dying of disease and murder wh why its preposterous the marshal shrugged the man is dead and you admit being with him theres a knife thrust in his bis heart and rumored been bargaining without success tor for the goods he has rodney drew a long and audible breath so someone knew someone nad aad tolda his eyes a bit wild searched the faces about him close pressed behind the soldiers and beyond the fire he caught the glint of light on gilt buttons and made out burke Rick mans face set in a sardonic sirile of triumph so your play rickman nl tie he cried so the foul trick try next so that rage choked back the words and ne rushed they were upon him though before his wild hands bands 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 tor for doo doors rs 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 hill carrying him when lie he renewed his struggles and threw him strangling gling curses into the guard house bouse of the fort and at dawn 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 tor for detail of the truth but basile was gone for the moment and only shaws boatmen moved restlessly about ills 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 mhd the poisoning prison ing metal staring across the blue waters of the strait he suspected what was happening he guessed that rickman aware of what his plan had been would waste no time now in putting out for or the pillager country sounds of feet approaching caused him to quiet suddenly ali ah basils you bring news the old man nodded but not gladly the rickman he said embarks at noon the entire force ol of company engages are busied in preparation he goes it is said to the pillager country carmil it was to be expected but tell me basile is there no friendly ear to listen to appeal ay nodding friends we nave the place buzzes with the narrative ot of what was done it amazes one the friends one finds but sadly althe 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 buz buzzes zest 1 basile whispered it was the mam selle the Le leclere lere who betrayed youl you betray this what did she she knew nothing of that 1 astonishment gave oft of into a groan of disma dismay y he kemem i many minutes were required to subdue him bared in that moment his boasts to th ih girl the vixen he cried the wench the trollop so she betrayed my secret to company ears eh trickery eh A device to trap me into confide confidences ices it I 1 had her slender throat in these hands id throttle the smirk from her grimacing face vixen and you take the word to her basile before all else do that say to her that I 1 say ashes a vixen no less he shook his head in helpless rage but master one wastes strength 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 they charge that a knife wound is in the heart but master within the shirt is scarce a smear of blood on the flesh is no more than would now flow from the scratch ot of a splinter no knife entered that beating heart you yet mean basile it he knew he was vas 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 nad had bargained for or his goods and that he refused and that is the motive but giles giles knows giles listened tast last night when leslie gave his goods to me without reservation this gilis giles basile muttered the man has no spine lie he is so frightened of 0 what the company may do to him that he dares not claim his own soul eyes narrowed mark I 1 this basilea theres no aid from the law A trial might vindicate me surely a fair air 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 I 1 must have my free daml find me a file A new sharp file you can smuggle it to me on some pretext or other at night ill saw my way from this place and they can serve their warrant in bell you hold bold the men in readiness you keep watch my childe when I 1 leave this confinement you load the packages leslie left have no interference from giles the goods are minel they whispered further perfecting the plan and then basile departed and rodney paced and plotted further and watched eions on the beach which were designed tor 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 oar blades dipped the great canoes gathered way and another company brigade had begun its march to bring to the fold still one more band of hunters B 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 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 tier her truly it turned ones stomach such kissing and embracing and such pleading with him to remain nl what of the night the moon will be high there will be no wind the file will scream and screech yes and the guard walks his post at all hours damn lie he ground his teeth but keep the men in readiness basile if the wind rises tonight ill try not however until I 1 have good cover tor for the sounds of escape but the night was quiet except tor for the wall 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 aban don hope and throw himself on the bunk to sleep fitfully CHAPTER IV at least one other in the villa village ge had bad 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 annette 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 ag again ain I 1 not until her aunt brighte now by the girls behavior and anaw 1 ger to do what she could to ease her mind panted horne 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 I 1 must see burke go and ask him to come without delay dearest without delay bowl rickman came in answer to the summons he came clad in his buckskin with his decature depa ture but a brace of hours away burke ive sent tor for you to do what no girl craves to do to admit wrong to beg forgive forgiveness his pulse picked up at that th t a covetous instead of a ball bably gleam showed in his bar hard d b bafit eyes you are forgiven dear annette before forgiveness is asked he advanced toward her taking her hands in his did you think for or a moment 1 felt that you were lightheaded enough to take serious stock in a mere upstart her eyes filled and his expression softened somewhat not tor for him to know the emotion prompting tears 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 long the one season only just the one seasonal season you speak so lightly of endless months you belittle hours that can stretch themselves into years then come with me annette the interior tenor tt she cenea voice oh I 1 could not stand it burkel burke id perish in the interior interi orl its you I 1 need you here close sate 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 bink of had failed and her kisses tailed failed as well he would not be seduced from his intent desire for her was strong but ambition as wen well as 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 rodney shaw TO BE CONTINUED |