OCR Text |
Show THE PAGE SIX -- NEPHI. UTAH. S, Friday, February 19, 1926 tion," she replied, Tetter than I. When will it returnr Dick turned his back to her. All d ire to confide in her, and tell her the. conversations he had overheard be tween Mr. Blake and Captain Brent, vanished. Her attitude of suspicion piqued and angered him. "Ask Mr. Blake," he said, turning In the doorway. Then smiling mockingly, he added, "I'm going how ; but I'll be somewhere on the Island. With the yacht gone even I can't get off." Wall! bu TIMES-NEW- George Ethelbert Walsh VALLEY 0vrnr.F.s CHAPTER VI breath, drove his light sled up to Steele, the noses of Ms dogs white with rime. "Get de stuff on de sled, queek!" cried the excited OJibway. "Here ees de word from Michel !" And he thrust Into Steele's hands a roll of birch bark on which. In the syllabic writing of the woods Indian, was burned the message from Michel, In OJibway, left at the jack pine by Little Jacques. "Come to Portage lak', fas'," read David over Steele's shoulder. "Plen- tee work for de dog! Michel." In his delight, Steele slapped the capote of his friend. heavy caribou-ski"The Windlgo's loose over In the val"When can we get ley !" he cried. there. If the snow holds off?" "We camp at Portage lak' een free sleep mebbe two. De dogs ees tired. I leeve Wailin' Riviere onlee one sleep back," replied the OJibway, making the bags fast with the sled lashings. Through the day the team hurried hills of the past the silent spruce-clavalley of the Little Medicine. Through the day the men cast anxious looks at the black cloud-bank- s hovering In the north, for no snow had fallen in a week and It was overdue. To his delight, Steele hnd already learned that the dog could easily hold to a fresh trail over the ice or hard snow, packed by the wind. But a fall of new snow on a trail was another matter, and the Wlndlgo might not stay in the country. That night they camped on the Walling, nnd in the morning pushed on up the Stooping river trail to Portage lake, following the sled tracks of Still the snow held Little Jacques. off, but Portage lake and Michel were fifty miles away. In the early afternoon of the second day from the Walling, when the narrowing of the river and the break in the hills ahead Indicated their nearness to their goal, the snow they feared began to fall. Shortly Little Jacques' sled trail grew fainter nnd snow, nnd fainter on the vanished. And by the time the team turned Into Portage lake and sought a camping place In the thick scrub back from the shore, men and dogs were sheeted In white. Well, we've lost again !" said Steele, bitter with disappointment. "We know bettalr w'en we see Michel." replied the philosophic Indian. Soon, as the early November night. shut down, like a blanket, on the white lake, the birch logs blazed high before the shed-ten- t and the tea pall tnd the kettle of moose stew were simmering over red coals. "If the old boy is loose now, hell appear and sing again somewhere. There's some consolation in that," lropped Steele, as he filled his pipe. 'We strike hees trail yet, you nev aire " David broke short off, to rise and peer suddenly into the wall of murk hemming in the fire In the scrub, then walked swiftly into the blackness beyond the circle of light from the fire. "What Is It, David?" called the man at the fire. But there was no response from the other who had faded into the night. The excited dogs broke Into a horus of howls to the accompaniment of the bass of the hound. There was something out there In the snow-cu- r tained gloom. Steele rose to his feet Then a voice called: "Bo' Jo! And he knew that Michel had found them. "Hello, Michel!" he cried, shaking the hand of the Iroquois, who pre"We ceded David to the camp-firdid our best to beat the snow here. hut it was no use. Now tell us about n Walking unchallenged from the GEORGE MARSH leaving Alice Cutler white and V AUTHOR. OF quiet behind, Dick made a complete tour of the island before any of the "TOILERS OF THE TRAIL A others were up. "THE WHELPS Of THE WOLF "K It was a larger Island than he had COPYRIGHT by THE PENN PUBLISHING CO. been led to think. In all It comprised FLI G HT at least several hundred acres, half of Ogoke; under the pretense of seeking CHAPTER XII Continued "and it low and flat, and the rest rough and CHAPTER V Continued J lng In his pocket for her card; information, had met Kose Laiiamnie In 19 with the south side rocky, ending me." banded reward here's the you only to escape surprise and secretly, Walla bluff. The be at would he rambling precipitous "What a doing She glanced indifferently at It, but detection by the alertness of his "Of course. I expected that, but on was house half built the Steele But Itiver?" highest point. ing already "Did watch-dog- , David. Thus the situation he'll blame me, and not you. That's tiny frown creased her forehead. come as one of the crew?" she commanding an unobstructed view of guessed. Itself in the mind of the smartshaped why I'm sending the yacht back to you he In all directions. "He cum once een de summer asked suddenly, and, as Dick thought, the ocean as It Is ever with the and, the ing Steele; servants the responsiget taking The west side was somewhat shel cum wld 'noder man to tak' her to "I can't Imagine how else he had, with n suspected, unjustly bility upon myself, you see. Mr. Cut- hopefully. a dock and constructed been had tered, Ogoke. here." show of indifference, hardened brave ler may rave and tear around, but he'll you got he an Inside stone artificial to that mean You breakwater, "What? say answered frankly, "I smug"No," .to quiet down. How's the medicine workwas crazy enough to try to his sore heartwas the suffering girl gled myself aboard the yacht and came that formed a safe basin for boats. burden whose already sufficiently Did ! Alster ing? say?" It was In this basin that the Pelican take her by force? Nonsense, Michel I as a stowaway." great. "No, he doesn't tell me much. had had the the Its landed would have St. night passengers police Ongi "Why?" But her welfare demanded his early don't know. But Miss Alice Is worried at Ogoke. within a month." Dick shrugged his shoulders. A slow before. from the post and the nytn departure about her uncle more than about the flush In island the to but the "Eet was crazee t'ing early morning glow, try came Into her cheeks. When he whose she tilled, left her that servants." thoughts was a shimmering Jewel of rare beauty he try eet." did not answer, she rose from the up"Too bad for her sake." morning without an attempt at desaid me from the half told tropnever sea, this," "St. abruptly rising Onge "I won't question you fense or explanation. There was genuine sympathy In the turned boat. she added a little stiffly, ical and half temperate in its climate the provoked American. "It explains "We were going up the river at voice, and Marie turned quickly and further," was me saw and neither The air that when she her fear day." once, mademoiselle. vegetation. "but now that you're on the Island I want you to glanced at him. nor chilly, but of Just the right "She nevaire know Beeg Antolne know in case I'll see that properly fed and sultry happens and anything "Why should you be sorry for her?" housed. I'll you're see Mr. Blake and tell temperature to soothe Jangled nerves try to get her, but she have fear." trouble, that I have done what 1 ehe asked, with awakening jealousy. owner. care of the without taken have "So enervating you always "Why! Oh, no reason whatever," him" Part of the flat side was under culti her since the visit of Big Antolne? could." Dick cut In with a laugh. "If you The- - sober eyes of the girl grew Blake stammered. Then halting abconsiderable expendi Tell me about It." don't mind," he said, "I'd rather he vation, showing She started as if to wistful. must back "we he go added, ruptly, ture of time and labor In advanced ag "Eet was las' June, after dat Indian then turned her head, whilespeak, I was here. As for feedhe now. You're lucky If you can reach didn't know fruits tell He riculture. Gardens of and vegeLatlamme. from letter to I won't carry put you ing and housing me, watched the blood surge to her throat, your room without disturbing Miss that trouble. warm In bloomed to tables the was me get Laflamme sunlight; I brought enough food goin' er face, then fade. Never had she Alice." to last several more days, and trees bearing flowers and buds of fu- ma'm'selle, scmetam. So de nex' tarn seemed more lovely more exquisite. "Why go In?" Marie murmured. "The along Michel can sleep anywhere outdoors In this ture crops tulips, oranges and lemons she go to play at de rapide, mad desire urged him to take her moon la beautiful." along with cypresses and oaks were ees dere. After long tarn I hear in hia arms to climate." make her see how Come late. "Yes, but It's getting I in the wait de bush. move een array along planted orderly was She somet'ing quiet again, watching him her hurt wronged deeply now, you must leave. I'll see you to on lower watch of hills and the the Antolne he an' see dis Beeg slope love for her; to tell her that it his the door. No, we'll say good night closely." runs de for ; poultry, her but she don' know; she play That's all," he added, uneasy under levels buildings and was all so futile so useless, this sus here." game lnclosures, pens for sheep and feedle. I don' wan' to scare her so scrutiny. "I'll go now." picion of hers, which walled them off It was a perfunctory kiss he gave her"Where and and barns wld I de low, on de cows, beeg rambling walk will portage you go?" on whistle so dey hear me an' get out. from each other. Then she said: her, but It awakened slumbering emoanywhere. I want to explore sheds took up considerable space "You have been so good to us are tions In the girl. She flung both arms the"Oh, south sides. west and I the follow dem tni' de bush an' een Island." so mucli. We can never repay doing around his neck, and drawing his head reBut the north and east, which little tam on de riviere 'bove de pos', "Suppose," she began meaningly, "I I wish you all success, monsieur, down lavished kiss after kiss on his forbade ceived the brunt of the storms and see Beeg Antolne talk to 'noder fel- you. that." and a safe return." unlips, cheeks and forehead. ler." "Why?" be asked In "genuine sur pounding seas, were left almost "You're my man," she said emotionThat was all. Sick at heart he was Here hands. touched and his Michel stopped, relit by civilizing pipe, ally. "You love me, and I love vou. If prise. a touch of primitive nature wild, smiled tantalizlngly at the Interested turned away to the waiting answer not some for did She time. which, followed by the blanketed you ever love any other woman I'd but studied him from head to foot with rugged and untamed. The gray walls Steele. die. No, I'd kill her kill you! I'm bloodhound, Jingled out cf the clearing wildest beat back rocks the What of on! surges heaven's go "For "sake, rest Dick slow, appraising eyes. grew down and to the river Ice on their that kind, Allan. You. understand?" twisted and of the both drill the sea, didn't do? did gnarled, you you Why and moved toward the door again. "Don't make a scene, Marie," re- less, trees that grew on their sides and of them?" she "I you know," suppose began plied Blake, trying awkwardly to dis- quietly, "that we're practically alone tops were mute testimony to their Michel blew a cloud of smoke beengage the arms around his neck. "This on this Island that Is, uncle. Doctor long defiance of wind and waves. fore he said : JH ittP HI! IF ! H Is no time for such talk. Of course Dick found this side of the island "You see dis Beeg Antolne at we love each other." was his more to taste. It possible Ogoke?" "Are you sure quite sure?" she defor one to seek shelter from the "Yes." manded unexpectedly, looking him In storms at any time in the caves. As "Wal, he move hees head when I the eyes. sures and depressions between the shoot. Eet was bad shot." rebuk-ingl"What a question!" he said "So It was you who gave him that rocks, and in an emergency one could "Why do you ask it?" find a spare living there. Sea birds scar?" she "Because," replied slowly, "Ah-hn!" had their rookeries In sheltered "sometimes I think you you care for and squawking In "What happened to the other man?" screeching places, Miss Alice and If you had the money "He did not move," said the Irotermittently the day long, and In the you would rather have her than me. below, left there by the receding quois, grimly. pools "The moonlight must have affected "You hit him?" tide, whole schools of fish and crustayour brain. Marie," he laughed unceans were caught "Beeg Antoine go back to Ogoke easily. "I can't Imagine what else put an occasional raid on a hen a'one." With such a notion In your head. I have to "And they never came again?" coop and the dairy, I could live here be pleasant and companionable to Miss whima Dick like "No, but we had fear." king," observed, Alice. I owe It to her because of my There was n hard glint In the eyes sically smiling. "A veritable paradise all her uncle. That's with position of Steele as he turned to David. down in the ocean." flung there is to it." "David, he said. "I owe yon an Not exaly sure of his next move. Either satisfied by this explanation When we had that snake in Dick apology. force matters, and is unwilling or unwilling to pursue the suhje'ct the rough side of the our hands we should have finished explored lazily reand Marie nodded, further, they Island, hiding In the caves whenever the Job. It would have been held traced their steps to the front door of e by any decent Jury." any suspicious noise alarmed him, and the gloomy house. Dick waited until utDavid lifted his wide shoulders. to himself the otherwise enjoying they had disappeared, and then drew most. In this way he spent the morn- "We feenish dat Jot sometam, boss.' long breath of surprise. ing and early afternoon. "Things are getting as muggy and As Steele had foreseen, the run Toward sunset, he was watching the thick as the weather," he reflected ocean on the north ning down of a beast patrolling a of the shimmer aloud, "and that's saying a good deal, when a tiny speck, bobbing up and country of the size of the Walling for there'll be a storm before morn down on the waves, attracted his at- River valley was clearly a matter of "If the Old Boy Is Looie Now, He'll ing." Appear and Sing Again Somewhere." tention, lie watched It Indifferently chance. This prediction proved true, and was decided that Steele and It with more concern. then and at first, strange quest. And, until the bend within half an hour the rain fell. Dick When Ha Did Not Answer She Arose He shuiied his eyes with both hands, Dtivld. with the bloodhound, which shut them from sight, a knot of post hurried down to the dock and found From the Upturned Boat. on to the test were anxious to his feet with an exclamacame nnd they Indians In awed wonder watched the shelter In a boathouse filled with ra snow at once, should work over to the sleds of surprise. In one of the Alster, Mr. Bluke and my maid. The tion noes and catamarans. speeding south. For thnt men Phantom lakes and "It's somebody clinging to a life-ra- Medicine hills should thus set out In search servants aren't here. It's a little mysformer lie curled up and fell asleep. district with the purpose of quieting of a horrible calmly 1" he said. death was a matter be It was morning when he wolie. The terious to me. I don't understand It. and If the holding Indians, possible, He watched It a few moments longtheir ken. sun was shining d'rectly In his eyes. They were supposed to have been here In the country, as well as of yond week ago to have everything In er, and then added, "He's nearly all them One morning, a week later, Steele of pouring through tin open doorway In waiting the possihle reappearance In, and trying to reach the Island." was frying moose steak In his camp which stood a flirure that he did not readiness for us." Michel, with Little In the rocks, he the night waller. dowu how'd were here get "If the spruce, on the Little Medicine Hurrying they they was It Kreneh-C'ree- , Al apparent sent a Instantly recognize. from Jacques, "They couldn t reached the edge of the water. The river. Three days before, David had from her eyes and face that she had away?" Dick asked. to the the at work after post on the raft was bnny with the dogs for the rendez teen him first, and had been dubiously go on strike and Just walk off the shipwrecked man loss of the fur canoe, and the sole In started Island." vous at the mouth of the Stonpln swimming freely now, and with pow- dian to volunteer for such dread watching him as- he slept. duty river where "No, and they had no boat noth erful strokes propelling his frail sup- were to (from Portage lake) word "Hello!' he said, sitting up with a patrol the Portage Lake coun-tr- would be left on a row boats, port toward the Island. Dick waved and these but ing piece of birch bark on the Lit as as the grin and blinking at the strong rays of and far trapllnes his hands, and shouted: by the partner of Michel. In the Med they're all here." ffunllfc'ht. "Yon got the surprise on me. Both the and Current tle Drowning. "This way! I'll help you!" "Queer 1" mused Dick, his mind busy I was out late last night. What time to report back at Wail icine hills the friendson had found , most There seemed to be a moment of In- parties were with the machinations of Mr. Blake their Is it?" In two weeks. In the mean of the Indians bark decision on the part of the swimmer, lng Blver hut uneasy and fcarful of the early "it s early," was the calm reply, "so and Captain Breat. "I can't account and a of at the Junction Jack time, pine, then as If Dick's words had been return of the Wlndlgo, arid the condl The sun's Just for It." you needn't apologize. the Stooping with the mnln stream lions sbout it. the signal he threw up both hands, was "Yon don't inow along the Phantom chain of center to the chosen as message tip" and called faintly: lakes were similar. "You rise with It?" he added, recog then?" was to a man from each which party Dick turned a startled pair of eyes As Steele sat by his fire eating his "Help ! Help 1" nizing the speaker for the first time. return In a week for news of the oth his fair questioner, the blood Dlck lost no time In throwing off er, and whither St. Onge would send breakfast of moose, bannock and tea She Alice Cutler nodded. i at nose of Wlndlgo, the hound, lying hla superfluous garments and plung drpssed In an athletic outing suit, with mantling his checks at the expression any Information from the post down the lier hnlr confined In a Jaunty cap. In her face. She suspected him of be- lng Into the sea. The surf was not river. could at his side, lifted to sniff the air manner In this they jlie heavy, and be had no great difficulty cover a Then a low rumble swelled his black "Yes," she replied. "I generally rise ing Involved In some way with servgreat area of the lower Wall in reaching the exhausted swimmer. throat with the sun when down here, and mysterious disappearance of the ants. He caught the frail raft with a hand lng.The take a paddle before breakfast." "What's the matter, old boy? Smell settled with of campaign plan In. "I see," he drawled affectedly, to and began towing It Dick Intercepted her glance, and of St. Onge. the something?" And Steele patted the the npproval hearty "Can you hang on It?" he called. umlled. "And I'm In your canoe," he conceal his anger, "you believe I'm traps were divided between the sleds. dog's wrinkled forehead. TO BE CONTINUED.) wild. "It's the one you wanted. Isn't mixed up In some plot to deprive you The wind blowing upstream again loaded with supplies for two weeks. of the services of your employees, and of brought the message, and springing to terror that beast. the If Imitating Coffee' I've hidden some that them "Di$covry" "Yes," she replied gravely when he fearing his feet, the bloodhound ran toward h.irthern trapper, the wolverine, There are many stories as to who the attempted to clifrb out. "Hut never where on the Island you don't want me trap-linesome the river,' sucking In the biting air the ro:!.lued robbing first discovered the food value of mind. I don't think I'll tnke a paddle to get out of your sight." night relentless Jaws would yawn un through quivering nostrils, then raised He hesitated a second, and then coffee. In Europe this Important dis- der this mvnjltig." his head In a deep throated bay. the snow for his unwary feet l to the "I hope finding me here isn't going added defiantly Mml!y accredited "Suppose I am! covery If once shut, would hold Curious, Steele left his breakfast to which. Jaws, to hold Inmates of an old monastery In Arabia to toIl your morning's sport. I'll leave What would you do .tiujt in grip of steel until the follow the dog to the river Ice, where victim their who had observed that their goatt me a prisoner? right a way." already his heavy voice boomed out freezing death brought swift relief. She sat down on an overturned rowAgain she rerusea to give iiitn a after browsing upon the coffee berries P.cfnre he started. StPele returned upon thp silence of the frozen forest. but on decided were after coun the direct answer, pause decidedly lively. They host, placing her feet squarely For a space he gazed downstream At break fust Denlse had to taste the berries to see If they, too, to the house. floor of the boathouse to give her bony tered with another question: a dark at but moving up the white affable, been Impersonal, gracious, would be similarly affected. "Did you know the yacht left unex first nnd Steele felt that the mood of th trail, then object mil'port. and In this attitude she re exclaimed : mained silent for a few moments whli pectedly and very mysteriously In the they chewed the berries but were dl "That's Ivld! And he's pushing still her. Then thf previous eveninghe made f'sessed Dick got to his feet and prepared ta night?" appointed in the taste. no attempt to the dogs for all there's In them. News tmrt, So, Justly saw It I them success. he txilled but without go," "Yes. leave. The, replied, smil his ease or corret the Impres He's heard from Michel." they tried roasting them and found plead ing. "At least I saw her light moving "Wait, please!" she commanded. Ilunnlng to the tent, Steele hastily had patently suffered herself she sion a "You're the fisherman who rescued jny out on the ocean, and I took It for this gave a delightful flavor. his bags ready for a nwlft return belief he ha the that nonrlsh got to tixf! from the river tlirea days ago, granted It was leaving. When will It monk hrewed a stimulating drink by from her revelation of downriver, then returned to the Ice. gone !'gbtly roasted V the berries la return pounding arr.ri you?" In a matter of minutes, David, with -the secret places of her heart, lhat mortar T M:s Cutlet be grinned. Cita "Perhaps you cao answer that qut-s- day on the beach, to a low Intrigue at face circled b tha frost from his boat-bous- e, n '.mmHV.v . . self-inflict- ' dog-team- h self-defens- ft coei trap-lines- s, d wind-packe- d e. it!" Seated with his friends by the flaming birch logs, the headman tolfJ bis story. When he and Jacques reached the Little Current, he had found all but a few of the most timid hunters on There hail been rutheir trap-linemors afloat In the valley of the howl ing of the beast at Big Feather, but the Portage lake hunters had refused to listen to an Indian who claimed that he had heard the Wlndlgo, in September, on the ridge across from Walling Blver post. "Dat Pierre, he try do good Job." "It was Pierre, was It?" "Yes, he try bard to scare dem on de Little Curren', too." But to the surprise of Michel, he returned to Portage lake to find a v camp of hunters he had left but two days before, wild with fear and preparing to leave the country. For, In his absence, the Wlndlgo had filled the night with horror from a neigh boring ridge, Michel had lost no time In finding the trail and following It down to a creek where he lost it on the Ice, and although he followed the stream for miles, failed again to pick it np. Then he sent Little Jacques with the message which David found at the rendezvous. "Well, he's In this country and well keep after him," said Steele, when the headman had finished his story. There was nothing to do but patrol the country, following the trappers' camps, In the hope that some night lurk would strike them, and they should wake from their warm robes s. to hear the voice. Steele rolled himself in his blankets under the shed-ten- t by the fire he wondered if tle girl at W'alilng Hirer, who had so lightly weighed hlra nnd found him wanting, had paused to consider whether the choice of a winter of toll with the dogs, on the snow of the Hudson's Bay watershed, rather than the alternative of the soft life of the city, bore nny Indication of the singleness of his heart. As TO BB CONTINtJBU.I China hng an area of 4.22S.iss, population of and square miles - |