Rouletta nodded, with a curious little smile upon her lips. "Yes.
I heard all about it, the first thing--how Rock ran down those fellows--everything. The town was ringing with his name inside of an hour. Of course, I went to the Barracks, finally, looking for you. I"m just back. I saw the lieutenant and--he told me the true story."
"Poleon stirred uncomfortably.
"He swore at you roundly and said he"d take it out of your skin as soon as he was able--giving him the credit. He told me it was you who did it all--how you followed those men over the Line, alone, after he played out; how Joe McCaskey killed his own brother in trying to kill you. But the whole thing is public now. I heard it as I came back. You"re quite a famous character in Dawson to- night, "Poleon dear, what with this and with Frenchman"s Hill."
"Ho! Dat Frenchman" Hill," the man broke out, hurriedly. "It"s beeg s"prise for us, eh? Pierce told you "bout dat?"
"Pierce?" The girl shook her head vaguely.
"You "member I stake two claim", one for you, one for me. By golly! ma soeur, you"re millionaire."
"I remembered, of course," Rouletta said, faintly. I--" She closed her eyes. "I couldn"t believe it, however. At first I didn"t understand where the strike had been made; then I couldn"t credit it. I thought I was dreaming--"
"You dream as much as you can," "Poleon said, warmly. "Dey all come true now. What? Everyt"ing come out nice, eh?"
Rouletta opened her eyes. They were shining; so, too, was her face. "Yes, my dream has come true--that is, my biggest, finest dream. I"m--the happiest girl in the world, "Poleon."
"Ma soeur!" the man cried brokenly and with a depth of feeling that even Rouletta could not fathom. "I give my life to hear you say dose word", to see dat light in your eye. No price too high for dat."
A silence, throbbing, intense, fell between them, Rouletta felt her heart-beats swaying her. She opened her lips, but no sound issued. The figure before her was growing misty and she had to wink the tears back into place.
""Ma soeur!"" she echoed, faintly. "I love to hear you say that, dear. It has grown to be a caress, a--kiss, when you say it. But I"ve something to tell you--"
"I know."
"Something you don"t know and would never guess. I"ve found another brother." When he stared at her in open bewilderment she repeated: "Yes, another brother. I took him for something altogether different, but--" She laughed happily. "What do you think of a girl who doesn"t know her own mind? Who lets the one man, the real man, go away? She doesn"t deserve much, does she?"
"Ma soeur! Ma soeur!" the big fellow cried, hoa.r.s.ely. He had fallen all atremble now; he could have believed himself demented only for something in Rouletta"s face. "You mean--HIM? Wat"s dis you sayin"?"
"I mean him--you. Who else could I mean? He doesn"t care for me, but for another, and I"m--oh, so glad!"
"Mon Dieu!" "Poleon gasped. "For why you look at me lak dat? Don"- -don"--!" His cry was one of pain, of reproach; he closed his eyes the while he strove to still his working features. He opened them with a snap when a small, warm, tremulous hand closed over his.
"You wouldn"t mind if he called me his sister, if--if you called me--something else, would you, dear?"
"Oh, ma soeur!" he whispered. "I"m poor, ignorant feller. I ain"t no good. But you--de bes" man in all de worl" would love you."
"He does, but he won"t say so," Rouletta declared. "Come, must I say it for him?"
One last protest the fellow voiced. "Me, I"m rough-neck man. I scarcely read an" write. But you--"
"I"m a gambler"s daughter, nothing more--a bold and forward creature. But I"m done with dealing. I"m tired of the game and henceforth I"m going to be the "lookout"--your "lookout," dear."
With a choking little laugh the girl drew nearer, and, lifting his hands, she crept inside his arms. Then as life, vigor, fire succeeded his paralysis, she swayed closer, until her breast was against his.
With a wordless, hungry cry of ecstasy, so keen that it was akin to agony, "Poleon Doret enfolded her in his great embrace. "Don"
spoke no more," he implored her. "I"ll be wakin" up too soon."
They stood so for a long time before she raised her dewy lips to his.
THE END