| Show 1 Vanished Men o j j By GEORGE MARS Peen 7 c. c Till STORY STOny SO FAR FAn found Bound tor tot the Chibougamau gold country six men nun lost toil their lives on the way river Red lied Malone Garrett 1 brother of one of the six Ix U and flake HUlte halt bre halfbreed breed d guide arrive at posing at as surveyors Ill bet his liquor comes in by air said Red fled Exactly So he tried to wipe you out tried out tried to stop a government survey survey sur vey party Now I t wonder just wh why What's back of it all all all' Of course the they must have decided decided de de- de that we were only prospectors posing as ns surveyors Shooting prospectors is not so dangerous as firing on government men but Its It's still murder aint It snorted McNab True laughed Finlay trading winks with Red fled behind the Ule back of the outraged McNab l ab The traders trader's hatred of Isadore would be useful He lie knew much about Waswanipi which they would learn for tor the eve evl evening ning ping would be long If youve you've heard he flies stun in from somewhere some where south in the Province possibly possibly bly youve you've heard about the August plane from the flay Day suggested Garry From the hay Day demurred Mc Mc- Nab Now what In thunder would he be Wait be-Wait Wait a minute The trader scratched his jaw as his half shut half shut shuteyes eyes squinted at a gun rack gun rack in a 8 teeming seeming effort to recapture a 8 vague memory Ive got it ill he ed North at Rupert House two summers back they were talking about a strange schooner some traveling traveling trav trav- eling Crees had told of at seeing oft the mouth of at the The Indians In Indians In In- di said a seaplane sea was lying in inthe inthe inthe the lee of an anchored ship Later the plane headed south and disappeared disappeared over the muskeg of the main main- land They've been trying to figure that out at Rupert ever since Finlay glanced triumphantly at Malone Lise's story was rated Was it spring summer or ortall fall tall they saw It McNab nursed his chin Why lets let's see seel I was at Rupert in early September It must have been in inthe inthe inthe the summer Finlay's face brightened with sat McNab that plane was bound for Waswanipi Every August Au gust a plane from the North stops there then heads south Waswanipi blurted the puzzled trader the reason for It What could it carry Finlay leaned toward the Scotchman Scotchman Scotchman Scotch Scotch- man chewing nervously on his pipe stem McNab that's just what Constable Constable Malone and I would like to know After a clean up and shave Finlay and Red fled joined the llie trader at his house for supper A shy woman whose face wore lines etched by a alife alife alife life of isolation and worry and an excited girl with an unruly red red gold gold bob and the height and vitality of her father welcomed them Mary this is Mr Finlay and Mr Malone said the trader Gentlemen Gentlemen Gen Semen my daughter Thistle The quick violet eyes of the girl swept Finlay's erect figure and clean cut clean cut features with a passing glance of approval But it was to Reds Red's freckled face with its in infectious infectious in in- grin which bared his regular regular regular regu regu- lar teeth that the girls girl's dancing eyes clung As she laughed at Malones Malone's sallies dimples dented her brown cheeks What a pair thought Garry 1 If It I know the signs she's fallen for the devil already Far into the night three men sat satIn satIn satin In a cloud of smoke in the trade trade- room Sergeant demurred McNab Its flat suicide for you to go back there now I tell you you haven't a chance But Dut if 11 you do hang on until that plane shows up from the Bay Day how are you going to learn if she carries gold south with that Indian Indian In In- dian mob of Isadore's watching her Man its it's ridiculous Malone laughed Youve never neverseen neverseen seen leen Sergeant Finlay operate McNab said Finlay quietly If It were we're there when that plane arrives ar as- rives were we're going to learn what all this mystery's about McNab's blue eyes snapped Yes I think that's just what you two would start to do in the face tace of them all Youve You've got the nerve all allright allright right But Dut have you ever seen what whiskey will do to bush Indians Tete Blanche Tete-Blanche Blanche and that wipe you out then hide up in the Bitter Ditter BitterWater BitterWater Water swamps Between muskeg and water and swamp theres there's fifty miles of it Its It's absolutely Impassable except for an Indian trail or two They'd never be found there Sergeant I dont don't want you to go back until you have help The gray Irises of Finlay's eyes were rings of steel circling the pu pUt pals pils our hard luck then It Its It's our job to get this crook Well We'll start someone else may have to finish it McNab stubbornly wagged his sandy andy head I 1 know Sergeant I 1 know I But Dut think of the odds man Its It's fifty to one up there now with the Indians Indiana against you youl Red grinned at the grave face lace of his bis chIef At Fort McLeod It was wasa a hundred miners to one Mountie eh Sergeant What happened asked McNab Sergeant Finlay elbowed his way into that mob of drunks and took big bis man Mr McNab TWELVE E Suspicion prevails prevail that thit Isadore rich fur furman man has made marts a gold strike and alms aims to keep prospectors out of the country at any cost in tin route to tn the Hudson na Slay Hay post they visit Isadore In his palatial home meet rnett hi wilt wile and ft IMe e. e McNab's face lit with admiration What do you know about this Tote Blanche ever seen him I saw him once at the steel He lie looked uglier than a starved wolf Never saw such a face facet They say Isadore brought him here from th the West up Gods God's Lake way He lie was probably wanted there and had to leave Two years a ago o. o after those four men were reported drowned led he went up tip river to and hung around making malting a n lot of ot veiled threats He lie had everybody uneas uneasy The people know Isadore is rich and think he has government pull of some kind Thc They're re afraid of him Nobody but the station agent has dared open his mouth and hes he's been threatened Finlay handed the letter he carried carried car car- ried sled In his wallet to the trader McLeod Mc Me Leod Lead did more than talk He lie wrote McNab returned the letter what they all think up there Pretty state of affairs in u Ii free country snorted Red fled About Tote Blanche Finlay's dark face was bitter Is he half halt crazy The night they trussed me up upI I had a good look at his eyes The pupils dilated like those of an Eskimo Eskimo Eski Eski- mo gone McNab squinted hard at the speaker You know I believe he Is y i l Fr This is my daughter Thistle just that blood crazy Ive I've talked to who've drifted here from Waswanipi They say the Indians Indians In In- are afraid of him They think hes he's got some mysterious power power- talks with the spirits But its it's this medicine man that he works through whiskey and medicine making have turned the young bucks against us said Fin- Fin lay By the way McNab why did Isadore build such an elaborate outfit outfit out out- fit I cant can't account for it It must be sheer vanity Hes He's certainly made big money in fur But there must be something else lIes lIe's got gota a partner in Montreal Blondell who flies files here every summer and Im I'm sure carries the liquor They say he lives like a prince in the city What my people are wondering is what Blondell does in Montreal besides besides be be- sides handle the fur fur And they cant can't find out No its it's a mystery I How about placer gold asked Red fled what they've suspected Flake gold and nuggets would be easy to transport secretly in a plane He lie may have struck some rich sandbars sand bars in the upper That may be the answer But Sergeant the trader rested his hand on Fin Fin- lays lay's shoulder as they parted for forthe forthe forthe the night I wish you'd have that police plane sent here and wait for it They fly to Isadore's place and arrest him I like you two boys I dont don't want you to go back to Was Was- With the Indians loose and Isadore not knowing youre you're police it its it's deliberate suicide Finlay took the traders trader's big hand The shadow of the pain which lanced his heart crossed his face as he thought of the boy in his grave beside beside be be- side the thundering Waswanipi As Asyet Asyet Asyet yet Ive I've nothing tangible on Isadore except this liquor business with the Indians Before Im I'm through Ill I'll I have something hell he'll swing for Im I'm not sending for help McNab ToI Tomorrow To To- morrow we st start back k I XIII The following morning Blaise and the fretting airedale circled by the hostile post huskies waited on the beach beside the loaded Peterboro Over at the stockade gate Thistles Thistle's eyes clung to Malones Malone's sober lober face Ive guessed what you are you are you two she said her chestnut brows meeting as she searched his bis candid eyes eye In an snort effort to read what t lay stepdaughter ler n An an as it appeal 11 a I from teem I Use Lise Ise Finlay Is ambushed t mb hed but hut escapes escape It develop clops mat they are Arl Mounted officers They continue on to the Yost and discuss the situation lIon with SIc McNab a trader k in his heart Its the way you Mounties carry yourselves yourselves some something thing so cool and masterful about you You cant can't fool tool me Mr Man ManI I know youre you're police pollee Tears sud Iud blurred her eyes as she drew drewn drewa n R quick breath And I know from the way father noted acted this morning that he never expects to see you again Oh Red fled she lung Hung out desperately des I want to see sec you ou n again I want you to come ome back bad Nell Red had the girls girl's trembling hands in his Im coming coating back Thistle h ho he said and his voice was hoarse with feeling Im coming back straight to to 1 to you kid Then with a n shrug of his heavy y shoulders he swallowed hard and the dancing lights returned to his eyes Now flash finals those white dazzlers of yours in one of at those smiles that makes m my heart go pitty or Ill I'll rumple that gold stuff you call tuU hair right before your mother who's watching us through the window A smile snide broke through h the girls girl's clouded face at nt the sally of the Ule ir irresistible irresistible ir ir- resistible Red fled Over at the trade house Finlay and McNab were sa saying good goodby My 1 men should reach the Uie steel with your report in thirteen days but I wish you'd you'll change your mind Sergeant Ask for immediate help and wait here for It m Finlay's thoughts were with the girl who waited for his message at Waswanipi His Ills mouth curled at a corner In his eyes was the glint of sun on young ice McNab l the Mounted 1 Police never send for Immediate immediate immediate im Im- im- im mediate help I know knowl I know McNab wagged his head resignedly as he gripped Finlay's hard hand But Bid I 1 like you two boys Its It's a shame shame shame-a n rotten rotten- The trade room door swung wide and Blaise rushed in Tino Caro 1 no comin from de cle easl David David Da Da- vid look in glass and say it come I from Isadore I hid cano and shut up Flame Tell Red fled I want him quick Malone burst into the room Put your glasses on that canoe Garry Red cried Mine lIne are arc packed Something's Some- Some things tiling's up Are they near enough to see us No they're miles away What are the orders Finlay took his binoculars from his duffle bag If It they stop here Red fled he said well hole up in the loft fur-loft and listen while McNab draws them out It may prove able They've decided we passed them that night and are arc out to overtake overtake over over- take us on the river Red shrugged his wide shoulders Overtake you and liaise Blaise and me in strong water Swell chance chancel But we dont don't happen to be running No we dont don't happen to be running running run run- ning Far to the cast east on the wind-rippled wind surface of Matagami moved a black block speck Finlay focused his Isis glasses It was a big Peterboro driven by byan byan byan an outboard motor with a crew of 01 four menDo menDo menDo men Do you recognize any of them he asked McNab Not yet But its it's from Isadore's lies He's got the only outboard motor in inthis inthis this country The two returned to the trade trade- room while Finlay made his plans Whoever it Is McNab get them in inhere inhere inhere here and pump them dry Well We'll lie Ill up there in the loft fur and hear it all aU Tell them we stopped for grub yesterday on our way to Rupert That may send them hunting us down river And well we'll surprise Isadore Isadore Isa Isa- dore when we show up at Correct Ill I'll handle those In In- I Make them Ulem talk even if it you have to feed teed them some of that scotch I of at yours It will be legal for its it's an order from the police I The two men grinned Leave it to me Sergeant Red Hed and Blaise appeared with their Lee Lee Dont think you'll need them Red fled said Finlay Now well we'll hit that tha t ladder for the loft Ill have another look and let you know what I see said McNab as the three men disappeared through the trap-door trap of the fur As they lay on the floor of hand hand- hewn spruce planks near the opening open lag ing Finlay outlined his conversation conversa tion llon with McNab Suppose Blanche Tete-Blanche is s in that canoe queried Red Our job is Isadore cautioned Finlay What we want today is information A fight tight here will spoil span it all allRed all all- Red chuckled I 1 wasn't serious chief I was only worrying about Blaise Well We'll have to lie on him to keep him from tram jumping through that hatch batch Brassards Brassard's slit eyes glittered inthe in inthe inthe the haU light halt light as he grunted I can wait walt But dis di big fallar wid red redhead redhead redhead head we have tough time to keep ma his shut Red shook Blaise calloused paw Now were we're square you old wolverine wol wol- verine verinel Shut upI snapped Finlay Someone coming I ITO TO BE DE CONTINUED |
