woman turned frantic eyes on the officers. “Go away—or we'll all be killed.” “Nonsense !’’ exclaimed Valder. “He'll keep as far away as he can if he thinks the police are around.” The woman wrung her hands in dumb despair. “But he followed you here. He heard everything Emma told you. He was right there under that window. He caught me at the edge of the woods again and told me he was going to shoot her.” “Vou can't remain here,’ Schepers said gently. “We'll take you and the children to your uncle’s. And—whatever you do —don't budge from there until I tell you it’s safe to leave.” ~ Leaving Chartrand to watch the Rich- ards place, and Supeene to patrol the rail- road, he hurried back to Desjarlais’ cabin with Valder. The door was still unlocked, and no one appeared to have entered. With Valder hidden in the woods, he stationed himself where he could com- mand a view of all approaches. Night enfolded the woods in its gloomy mantle. As hour after hour crept by broken only by the chirping of the frogs, Valder, keep- ing contact with Chartrand and Supeene, reported no sign of the wanted man. More Murpers Just after sunrise the silence was broken by snapping brush and the pad, pad of hurrying feet. ‘“Desjarlais!” Chartrand ran from the woods, his face a mask of horror. “He’s killed Mrs. Rich- ards and beaten it with the girl.” A cold sweat broke on Schepers’ fore- head as Chartrand panted out his story. “T was following Desjarlais’ tracks. I heard a shot, and screaming, and dashed out of the woods to see that big devil diving into the bush with the girl scream- ing under his arm, and Mrs. Richards stretched out on the road with a bullet in her breast. Desjarlais had burst right into the.Coteau cabin, grabbed up the girl, and shot the woman when she tried to defend her daughter with a stick .. .” Turning savagely on his heel, Schepers plunged down the road to find Supeene standing guard over the body of Mrs. Richards who lay in a pool of blood, her dead hand still holding the puny weapon - Armstrong Sawmill Ltd. Manufacturers Box Shook Rough and Dressed Lumber © Armstrong, * B. C. EIGHTEENTH EDITION with which she had tried to defend her daughter. Organizing a posse of white-faced vil- lagers, Schepers proceeded to comb the woods. Burdened with the weight of the girl, the murderer’s footprints, clearly embedded in the moss, swung in a wide semi-circle, then struck directly towards the Desjarlais cabin. “Look out!” warned a leathery-visaged veteran, hugging an ancient buffalo gun, as the cabin appeared ahead. ‘‘He’s bad actor, dat man. If he see you he shoot to kill.” Edging from one willow clump to another they drew a cordon around the house. KILLER CoRNERED AT LAST To all appearances the place was still deserted. Then, for a fleeting second, a swarthy face appeared at the window. “Cover the door!’ Schepers told Supeene. “Now, Chartrand—’ Disre- garding the bullets that droned between their heads they tore across the clearing and flattened themselves against the log wall. Another shot boomed within. “Come on—together!” With hunched shoulders they crashed through the splintered door to find the lower floor empty. “Look out!” Chartrand’s fingers caught Schepers by the shoulder and yanked him to his knees. Crack! Through a ragged hole in the ceiling a gun belched flame, a bullet thud- ding into the floor. Another report rang out as Pete sprang up the stairs with drawn revolver. No fusillade of shots assailed them. The air was heavy with the acrid smell of powder and the atmosphere of death. As he crouched there, peering through the darkness of the loft, Schepers knew that the chase had ended. Outstretched on the floor, a smoking gun beside his lifeless hand, lay the hulk- ing form of Desjarlais. Trapped, and driven to desperation by Schepers’ unre- lenting pursuit, he’d managed to cheat the gallows, but not without a last tragic gesture of brutal fury and defiance. Huddled in a corner lay the mortal re- mains of the once laughing and: happy Emma. Gazing at her body, Schepers recalled again his warning to Mrs. Richards: “Some day you'll wish you'd told the truth !” Leaving Supeene in charge, Schepers made his way with swift strides to the Coteau home. With the menace of Des- jarlais removed perhaps one of the Richards children might give him the key to the man’s movements on that fatal Christmas Eve when Chaboyer too, had met with violent death. Wir DreatH oF MURDERER TRIPLE TRAGEDY IS SOLVED Under the Constable’s kindly question- ing, twelve-year-old Ida sobbed out the details which, had they only been told LIMITED THE B. C. PEA GROWERS AVION BRAND PEAS AND PEA PRODUCTS Post Office Box 280 ARMSTRONG Phone 131 British Columbia Notary A. E. Sage “Insurance for Less” Representing Strong Independent British In- surance Companies at Non-board Rates ARMSTRONG British Columbia Public -:- J. Pothecary SAGE & POTHECARY General Commission Brokers At It Here Since 1903 Conveyancing Licensed Real Estate Dealers DODD'S FURNITURE HOUSEHOLD GOODS FURNITURE and Sold. New and Used Goods Bought IMPLEMENTS ARMSTRONG .- British Columbia Firestone Each for All. . GROCERIES AND MEN’S WEAR SOCIETY Boots and Shoes PHONE 41 ARMSTRONG CO-OPERATIVE . All for Each ARMSTRONG =. British Columbia Tires Phone 122 ARMSTRONG, B.C. 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