Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 123: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

PRIDE OF THE NORTH. been there when this meeting did occur, what would they not have given? Dieu, but they would have with gladness paid dearly! Jason Kirk, some six weeks later, was once more at Louis Leblanc’s. With seven others, he sat at a table under the central acetylene lamp. The faro layouts, the rou- lette wheels, the bar, were practically de- serted. Here were eight old-timers, as the phrase had it, sitting down to what prom- ised to be one of the biggest stud games in years. Notice of it had come in advance—even a full week in advance—for it had been noised about that these eight men, who had not had large play in several years, had decided to enjoy at least one more real game. Need it be said, therefore, that on- lookers were actually on the point of draw- ing weapons for a chance at a place that would give them a good view? Before the game had been long in prog- ress they were witnessing the action for which they had hoped. With two sevens showing against a pair of queens and a pair of aces, respectively, Jason had raised the hundred-dollar bet an even thousand. But then, before the breathless crowd could learn what his opponents might do, there came an interruption that far, far more thrilled them than the completion of that deal, no matter what it might have been, could have. ‘Raise your hands high—high—Mac- kenzie Joe. And you, too, Paul Duschene! I promise on my father’s soul, if you don’t, that I positively will kill without another word!” From the doorway the words came— came in the clear, resolute voice of Gervaise Armagnac. Instantly, with the coolness that was al- ways his in a crisis, Jason Kirk was on his feet, his revolver out and ready. In a flash his eyes followed those of Gervaise, standing in the doorway with her rifle lev- eled. He had seen that the half-breed she had mentioned first—Mackenzie Joe—was covered by her own weapon. Immediately, therefore, his gaze searched for the other man, Paul Duschene, and found him on the inner circle, directly opposite him, of the 8 A 593 audience that pressed about the table. He drew a bead on him, and then asked quiet- ly: ‘“‘ What is the trouble, Miss Armag- nac?” Before replying she looked hastily at the two men with arms raised. ‘Have those two looked after first, Ja- son!”’ With the thrill running through him that. his name on her lips had given him he nodded to several companions at the table. ‘“* Mind covering them, boys?” Even before this was done, completely, Gervaise stepped closer to him. Her face was very white, except for two crimson patches on either cheek bone, and her breath was coming hard. Her glorious hair was awry, and she pushed several strands from her eyes as she spoke—eyes now that were large and wet. ‘‘ The trouble isn’t any more, Jason,” she said. “The trouble always has been, in the past, my terrible pride and—and your own, as well.” She was looking at him squarely through that lane that had instinctively parted be- tween them, and she appeared utterly ob- livious to the fact that the huge room held another person than just the two of them. “Yes, Jason,” she went on firmly, “ it is our pride—my pride, like the other night at the post—that has kept us apart so long. Sven Landquist came again this morning at dawn. This time I was able to disarm him. In his rage he let out his plan. This Paul Duschene man, some time during the night, was to make you fight. He was to bring in my name. Before you could draw your weapon Mackenzie Joe, who would be standing where he is by the end of that bar, was to shoot you from behind. He would be near the window, and a fast team was waiting in the rear. The two were to be paid well—fabulously. That is why I came and—’’ ““ Gervaise,” cut in Jason gently, ‘‘ we are not alone. Perhaps you would rather ex- plain to me later, in pri—” “No, Jason—no/!” Almost fiercely the words came from her. She stepped nearer, and there was appeal in her eyes, in her hands that had suddenly been outstretched COMCEWIOOKSxC olin gt te eA, 0 28S eee tie a