Louisiana Lou

he fine," began Solange, do

ney, you will have need of all you possess. The cowboy, Sucatash, is a type I kn

ed instructions, her quick

pring. From there is only one way that you can go to follow your father's trail. He must have come out of the

e heard him coming she swung round and, with a smile, held out her hand to the soldier. His sallow face

lectively, balancing it on his palm. It was just such a bullet as might have been shot from any one of a hundre

ere remained any one who had even been p

t regarded as seriously as in later days and a Basco sheep-herder's murder would arouse little interest. The mine, however, was a different thing, as he knew by the fact that even

uld understand the urge that had led her on the ridiculous quest. A young, pretty, but portionless girl, with just enough money to support 142 life in France for a few years, hopeless of marriage in a country where the women outnumbered the men by at

With those eyes and that hair and her voice, the stage would open its arms to her, and act

ot likely that he would confess. Though she might be certain, the only thing left to her would be the taking of the law into her own hands; and that would not do. He did not doubt her ability or her willingness to kill the man. He knew that she would do it, and he knew that she must not be allowed to

to serve her; he had no particular object in life; he wa

ght that, if the impossible happened, he could redeem himself in her eyes by an act that woul

ge of him and led him from the jail to the street, across it and down a little way to the criminal court

eaking from his guardians when he was led back to the jail. But he formed a new one a

opposite led into the dock. A number 144 of prisoners were seated there and two men in uniform formed a guard. O

had brought De Launay, and who, presumably, was to make th

dsmen, who went from one to another, whispering their plans and proposals. One, a bulbous-nosed,

policeman who sat near the center of the room. The other glanced perfunctoril

, near the outer door, and talked with him a few moments. He suggested that the man wait until they discovered what the bail w

and strolled away to seek further 145 prey. De Launay calmly tu

hen he hurried along until he saw what he was looking for. This was Sucatash, lounging easily against a lamp-post wh

purs hung at the saddle horn and that the saddle poc

the slightest indication of any hue and cry after him. This he kn

y and rolled a cigarette. He did not even look at

make it,

" said the o

now. You'll find pack hosses and an outfit at

e felt the cinch of t

you get them there? It

Sucatash, complacently. "Better hit the h

ee you at Shoestring, this side the

spurred the horse and took the middle of the road

remarked. "He's a sure-enough, stingi

ill-gotten habiliments, excited policemen and citizens came rushing to where

ere a minute ago?" The questions were fired at him in rapid succ

oss here, yes

it yo

and forked it. I allowed it was hisn and so I didn't snu

way did

bouts when I last seen him," said Sucatash. "And h

found a man or two who had seen the galloping horse and its rider. But, as following on foot was manifestly i

eets gave way to gravel roads, and the smoke of the factories hung in the air behind him. Past comfortable bungalows and well-kep

ne side of it the farms lay, brown and gold in their autumn vesture. At reg

d the cloud of dust out of which 148 he rode, and turned in his saddle to open the pockets back of the cantle. From one he drew belt and holster, sagging heavily wi

nd others were armed with forks and rakes. They waved their weapons and shouted for h

e man with the shotgun suddenly saw the pistol

!" he yelle

"You pointing that gun at me

n was not long in that country, but he was long enough to know the diff

caped convict," he mutte

drop that gun and those pitchforks. What do you mean

to be disregarded. Capturing escaped prisoners was all very well, but when it involved risks such as this

" said De Launay, s

when the farmer, who had run back to his gun, fired it after him. The shot scatt

ssport which these citizens were eager to honor, and which the police had not taken into account. To sto

with the muffler open. Looking back along the road, he could see the car as it rounded cur

passed it. He kept on for two or three hundred yards at the same pace while the car, forging up on him, was noisy with shouts and commands to s

ked, pleasantly. His forme

," he cried. "Get off that h

oice grew har

warrant for

n escaped prisoner! Climb do

g. Where's your ex

ands and imprecations, waving

ery well. If you want to shoot, you may get me-but I can promise that I'll get

orcement. He is decidedly at a disadvantage. The policemen were courageous-but they faced a dilemma. If they shot De Launay, they would have to explain. If he shot them, it would be in self-defense and lawful resistance to an illeg

been his guardian

head," he said. "We'll just linger with

fferently. "But don't crowd me too clos

roceeded slowly, allowing him to gain about forty yards. The officer thought of shooting at him wh

oad. Turned in his saddle, he raised his hand and the staccato rattle of his automatic 152 sounded like the roll of a drum. The startled officers fired and miss

oud of dust from which echoed his mocking laugh and a chanted, jubil

ana! Louis

5