The evening world. Newspaper, May 13, 1922, Page 13

Bevo’ it ty y ie 2 n h e le n TWO LOVERS A SCHEMING WHO’S WHO IN THE STORY. ALLE} DERWENT, trader; owner of the store at Linwell’s Landing, in the Canadian wilderness. NDA DERWENT, the trader’$ daughter, brought up in the * wilds and possessed of a woman's characteristics of men. intuitions regarding the JACQUES PERAUX, regarded by Linda as a brute and told so in plain language, enamored of the girl and determined to possess her at any hazard. IERRE LE BLANC, also in love with Linda, for won he prepares a cabin at White Stone Gulch and awaits the \: day when Father ‘Ambrose will perform the wedding ceremony. OSEF, a trapper, whose appeal afforded Peraux an oppor- tunity. ARIE, his wife, nursed back to health by Linda. ILVERSHINE, a husky, more important to the working out of the drama than any other member of the cast. ILVERSHINB lay fn his traces, his weary, bloodshot eyes star- ing in cold indifference at the closed doors of the cabins. hind him whimpered and whined mates—no, not his mates, for even t cameraderie of the harness which kes a dog-team commonly stick to- her through cold and curses, un- had no It seemed nothing feeding and ill treatment, ht in his heart led in Silver: hine’s heart but sav- ery The rest of the dogs feared m with a wholesome fear that was luable to their master, since it ‘pre- ded the fights that so often take ce between members of. the best ms going ti was a good team, a very good m, picked and sifted from full rty dogs that had made it up at es, for it ran a 500-mile journey ith deadly regularity and hauled pplies to the finy store at Lin- is Landing, 0 owned it, he best. hat, for hand ind his compassion nil and Jacques Perauy, would have none but It had been a brutal sifting Peraux’s was heavy He was even now inside store where the stretching the warm stove glowed to its grateful . his black eyes sparkling, his teeth under his small while in direct deflance of red his palms shining uustache, I laws of custom, his dogs shivered harness, stiffening ertion of the from the last run. He was the only iver in a radius of a thousand miles ho would so have neglected his am, But who was to say a word to lacques Peraux concerning this acques Peraux, boring of eye, traight of mouth when the laugh ardened, weighing two hundred and n pounds without an ounce of fat his six-fect-three? No one. His dogs might freeze in ‘their tracks, might shiver and whine and watch the bright windows of the ins with piteously eager eyes, and though this ‘and that one might look lat them with pity, cab- yet that was all. And it was this very thing which proved their supremacy, these gaunt, hard-driven dogs, not care and full feeding which made them good, but the fact that they were good, were the the best-in all that stretch of frozen country, in spite of their hardships. “Great Gar!" said Pierre le Blanc, "what would they be, M’sieu, with a full belly 2"* The man to wliom he spoke, Allen rwent, who owned the store at Linwell’s Landing, shook his big blond ead anf puffed his pipe in silence. ut Lir Derwent, big and blond like er father, beautiful, ame from that Y and watched them cover the last jong slope of snow at a racing gait, nd her china-blue eyes clouded. “I think that Jacques Peraux is a reat bully," she said sharply, “and a ‘orse brute than that splendid silver ing which runs in the lead." calm and very behind the counter © it was that, on that very day when Jacques was warming himself and talking rapidly with a deal of delight in his wn rather musical voice, the girl tepped to the rimed window and oked out on the team, Silvershine ad dropped in his tracks, and the lest had followed" his example. They vere panting from the last dashing weep up the slope, and. their quick reath curled out on the cold air like airy Silvershine had seen Linda Derwent any times before, but suddenly, and r the first time, he lifted his pale yes that could glow so swiftly, and joked at her face in the window Something flashed between them—a ue electric flash, The girl swung trem the window plumes and went out, closing the heavy door behind her. Fearlessly she went straight up to’ Peraux’s leader, bent down, and looked deep in his eyes. At the closing of the door Peraux sprang and opened it He was all laughter, but alert or. “Ma'‘amselie!’’ he cried in his big voice, "I advise th queek. Don’ do dat,’ sharply, girl made a motion toward the d “at Angel's Lift he tear off a feengar for a woman who reach at heem.” t you come away— the Linda straightened up and jooked at Peraux “Peraux,"' she said flatly, ‘‘y the cruclest man in the Yukon. The dogs are savage because you are suy- age,” The man stopped in his tracks, hi dark cheeks flaming i "he asked. “So?” Linda did reach the hand, feurle ly, and laid it om Silvershine’s broad head. The pale eyes glowed like fos a second, and the master click ed his tongue sharply fire for But there was something in that firm touch which bore out the message of the eyes through the window, and the grea! gray husky suffered it in silence, The girl turned and whisked away, aml Jacques watched her with a little cur! to the lips beneath the small mu tac "So?" he said wondevingly; ‘she one beauty, dat ol’ Derwent girl, and she teenk Jacques Pe uel? Sacrebleu!”’ Later, in side the store, the driver watched her with a new und lively interest. She was fre: of all the Mttle huddle of cabins at Linwell’s landing, free of her father's trading store, free of the hearts of most of the men who came and went their long journeys in the snowbound land, for she was very sweet. Her pale-gold hair shone like satin under the coal-oil lamp: he cheeks were roses blooming in her ‘ milky skin curved red mouth was like pmegranate 1 stood by the roaring stove and listened to tie talk of the men, amd knew all the news of the Noxth OR the first time took note of her. Peraux really There was a girl at Angel's Lift and an- - other at Nugget Flat who rightfully supposed they owned his THE EVENING WORLD SATURDAY, MAY 13, heart, true to nothing. “By Gar!" he told himself, ‘she ées-one wildcat! An’ those red lips! Peraux, why you nevaire see thees White Rose’ beauty befor He rose and swung his great body over to where she stood. When Peraux smiled with those white teeth flashing, women were wont to answer, but Linda Derwent gazed at him with unsmiling eyes. “‘Ma'amselle,"” he said in a low tone, “why you theenk me cruel?" “Because you are,"’ she said. Peraux spread expressive hands. “But not to—you.”’ "No," said the girl coldly, *‘you'll never get the chance."* Instantly the smile died on his face that cruelty flashed out lik it in darkness. Ma‘amselle—jus’ mebbe, time the chance, she come, raux prove himself—tender.'’ CORT: ae but that heart was and iT that so? Mebbe, some now, an’ He turned and went abruptly away and with the closing of the door al! eyes turned after him All eyes save those calm contemp tuous blue ones under the banded gold air. Pierre le Blane looked once at the door and then af Linda, and th black eyes under their jetty lashes which gave his face such charm were Warm with adoration Bele first dawn cs Lig was nt hi 4 trail never a custuma the wear team—and that was Peraux’s way He was iron—steel—himself, and all that ran with him must be of tha same metal. But in the dark and the snow, while he rode on the empty sledge or ran beside the gee-pole, his active mind was filled with the face of the girl at IAnwell's Landing, and the devils of resentment Lit at his vanity. For Peraux was a vandal’ He licked among women. his fect, T the next trip down he MEMS emacs ahs brought her a black-fox skin (U°U 0)" | Wate tat worth a little forttme, but she 01 ln pushed it away. ‘Give it tothat girl at Angel's Lift who Is dying of a broken heart, they say, Peraux,"’ she told him. At that Peraux's eyes flamed, ani he dashed the fine skin furiously into @ corner. At the door his dogs lay crouched on the snow, waiting, patient, sullenly obedient. He flung out, and as he passed he struck down savagely with bis heel. Tt landed in the, side of Silvershine, and the dog rose ominously on his four feet spread apart. His head dropped low, and he regarded the man With such hatred that slavers ran from shaking back from his fangs. Linda Derwent saw through the door swiftly lips, play, and she ran you cowardly whelp!"" she cried Th ye would you do, “LT wish I were a mont’ trapper turne he drawled M ‘I'd whip you t hipped myself!" Once more she put a hand on tie savago head, heedless of the danger— and so they stood, wn a standst she sald the woman and the dog, allied against him, pnle-yellow eyes and blue ones flashing with hatved for him—and Jacaues Veraux went quite saad wie ange The girl deliverately 1922, 13 snow, turned and hughty with conte was not a wise actio The long days drew away, one like there in the lone land on civilization, Trappers the other, the fi far fringe of went mpt 1 Anc PERAUX’S FACE CHANGE LIKE whem snd could A CURTAIN.” 1 of a thousan und m ad lime 1a Derwent quee lost world, le father’s coun sand that one winter ime more ling from his as new |t was t led to betray ely, At what his nti inter, umaelie’ he “Eh her he nd mile away ax ned aned he ters, and And passed that and me {ts pres he hoped rre'n dark face would grow hand tre stammere M's be th t n his lips and swayed on hands on his belted Nips. Matamselle,” he said whipping my hees woman spat upon the m dreamed face? He, the wisest ot of women any ways Indoors, that blond beauty for the stim youth. The ity, unspeakable. of hardship, felt the fury. Old Loopo took it with pat yes, cowering, — Poo . whimpered under the begging plteously, wi 1 Sitka-Bob fonght back luring—and paid fo n flesh an peti But Silvershine, so on is four fe iw al hung ! Itened Heraux, him of that fleet de W Landing when kirl Wh Lind foed Lim togothe 1 and blue eyes whining fontlont tht, ‘That ontempt, Now he loc " win he carried t ing to whoot the husky, lounging his stove there « ed fancied he saw love in humble’ trapper UT Jacques Peraux, by the warm y ghts in—Jacques on her Poraux, in the knew that the big had smiles in her heart knowledge was fire to tow, fuel to the flame of his wounded van- The light in his cruel face grew with each trip and his temper became A GREAT GRAY SHAPE SAILED UP AND FORWARD THROUGH THE WITH THE SWIFTNESS OF LIGHTNING. “I can keel heem," he muttered, her father's store, and Pierre sang “but dat's not conquering. No, I all day about tha cabin on White wait. A man's dog—an' hees wom- Stone Gulch, ‘There must be new an." chairs fashioned by his own hand, And he put the gun away and a low table set beneath a looking And one night along about that glass whore a fair face under banded time Linda Derwent stood in the cold gold hair might reflect its beauty. Starlight at the store's corner and The finest of his furs must be made spoke with Pierre le Blanc. The youth was tr and his golden voice was husked with passion and fear of hi “Ma‘amselle,"" he “the starlight—it sets TALE OF THE Bg iad into priceless rugs for the rough embling again, floors, books ordered for the very first dog train in the spring. is temerity. Father Ambrose, the good little said haltingly, Priest, would come with the early loose the thaw and then—Pierre could scarcely believe his own great fortune and must needs go down again to Linwell’ Landing to make sure once more from Linda's wine-red lips, All the small world of the landing and its frequenters knew the glorious secret, and on his next trip in tt reached the ears of Jacques Peraux. He said nothing when he heard 4t from Allen Derwent in the lighted store that night, but his black eyes narrowed. He bowed before Linda, wishing her happiness in his rich voice, which wus not, somehow, sincere, and the girl frowned, accepting. But out in. the white wastes next he scowled at shook a, doubled fist, ame of a name ees not for dat small Piérre Silvershine muttering. I he said, ‘she Only me strong.” thinking And the fruit of this thought a plan—a devilish plan, 9 and, Jacques Peraux—beeg an’ So he made his journeys, much. became HE long seams were near done under Linda’s skilled hands, and Father Ambrose would be in before many moons, when Opportunity along and whis- peréd to Peraux, Out on Honda's Head there was @ sidled woman in a trapper’s cabin, a quarter- breed, but still a woman, who was ill of a great sickness, The trapper loved her very much, and on a Bitter day he intercepted raux twenty, miles from the cabin and sent word to the landing. “My die!" he crie@ tragically so patient, ‘Bef I only Je “a woman to talk to. w theenk, an—from ei she going" ‘an’ she say, had a woman, Another * You woman—T the n—who would onderstan’! M'sieu, Leenwell Landing my Marie Peraux, quickly. in cramped Frene! woman: a woman—some wom- — she come for comfort “Write it," s And so he wrote, a pitiful messuge to some any at Linwell'’s Landing— done with a stump of pencil on a sheet woman Peraux’s notebook woman at the landing was And w to see th Linda £ tender me with her hands, went, of course, heart her capable Peraux was clever, for he gave the sheet to the trader himself and left without suggestion ‘Three days later Linda drew up at the mound of frozen snow with its cut entrance and its wisp of smoke that was the cabin on Honda's Head, driven by Derwent hilmself. The girl stooped over the thin woman in the bed, looked her over efully and told her flr y in Prench that she was not golne to die, and the trader slapped a hearty hand on the trap- per's droopin ilder, while he set ut from pack a change of food ind some good Liquor 1 Allen Derwent mushed away, ind Linda took hold with a strong ud. She made the man dig more y away from the small windows, doand fed the sick woman . ry tinet And Life followed tr ev wake, for the woman took new ope man had no words for his mbh atitud one ening he SHADOWS. SHE _SAW ¢ is wite's overed FEAR FLASHED ACROSS IT “! was siiclng Up thee t Linda with adoring a dark € ow ttered ile," he choked, “Ma’am- selle—I would say—would tell you guarded tongue oO Ma'‘ameelle a tan’ my life, an’ yeu u giv them both back to met" ih ioe And dropped cliunsily to his The girl had played long enough cnt anatohinu tho ite bande She reached out a soft white hand ¢ w bie line Linde’ eentie ama luid It on Pierre's shoulder Gar vii ppes-eare vale bots euk, Plerre,"" she whispered lowly. “Speak—I'm listening ND then cume the day’ when With a gasp, the youth caught the Jacques Peraux drove up to ind and pressed it to his heart the a flourish of thundering beneath his pluided coat " He brought word from *1—ean not," he thickly, “Do Linwell's Landing that, if Josef and u—not know-—my’ beloved ar ‘| fbr nda's oyes were | sur 5 é tan neas in the darkness a she smiled at that she was to come with Peraux, aa m, and Plerre inc murmured two of Derwent’s dogs had developed u Mts prayer of thanksgiving to le a malady which made them unfit for hon Dieu us he folded her to that trave hey would make the trip in eurt which was bers unalterably, two days, and he would turn aside to ver the cabin of an Indian, who had a Su Linda stopped her playing and wife and five children, for the ono began to sew wonderful long seams in night's stop. If Ma‘amselle would the privacy of her ows room behind comet t please make ready quiekly, {