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Show THE pCs' ? J SSfc jTiW TTf XV$OTlftuV JL VALLEY ,7 VOICES GEORGE MARSH AUTHOR- - OF " TOILERS OF THE TR.AIL " "THE WHELPS OF THE WOLF HA1 COPVR'OHT wf rSfcV'CfciV. ty THE PENN PUBLISHING I could help THE TRACKS SYNOPSIS. With David, d guide, Brent Steele, of the American Museum of Natural HlHtory, I traveling In northern Canada. By a stream he hears Denise, daughter of Col. Hllaire St. Onge, factor at Walling; River, He Inplay the violin superbly. troduces himself and accepts an Invitation to make the post his home during his stay. He finds the factor worried iind mystified. The "log chateau" Is a real home. From St. Onge he learns of the mysterious creature of evil, the Windigo, and the disappearance of a canoe and its crew, with the season's take of furs. Then at night the Windigo gives a weird performance. Even Steele Is mystified. David, Steele's Indian, and St. Onge'g head-maMichel, leave for the scene of the canoe's disappearance in an attempt to solve the mystery. St. Onge tells Steele that Lascelles. the company's manager at Fort Albany, seeks his ruin in order to compel Denise to marry him to save her father. Steele and Denise fall In half-bree- n, love. Continued CHAPTER HI "Like the white roads or your Touralne?" he replied. "I think I pre' fer the northern winterto the sum mer, but, of course. It la often grim and lean for the families of the hunt ers for the women and children." Her eyes clouded. "It Is always they bo, for the women and children find life hard here In the north For a long Interval she was silent and he knew that her personal prob lem again haunted her thoughts. Steele Then the handed the hag containing the violin to Its owner, with : "Please, anything you care to play that Is not sad. To day, you know, you were to forget," and he smiled significantly. Stretched at length, with hands be hind head and closed eyes. . Steele listened as the violin of the girl ran the gamut of the composers. Rhap oodles, love songs of many peoples, fragments of melodies he had never heard, tnad dances of the Slavs, of the plains of Hungry, serenades of Spain and Italy, a riot of love and Joy, redolent of moonlight and fra grant gardens, of Ivied towers and old romance, she conjured for the en chanted ears of the man lying on Canadian hilltop. For two hours the violin sang on the height above the forest. And as he watched and listened, Steele often compared this girl he had known hut days, to other women who In the past had caught his fancy and to his surprise, as he conjured them np. and contrasted them with the vivid personality of Denise St Onge, the memories of the former blurred to Insignificance. Slight as was his knowledge of her. the quality which was so patently a part of herthe mystery of personality, had wronght Its spell. At length she ceased playing. ani asked : '"Now would you like to hear some thing of my own? "It would be delk'htfuir "I call this. 'When Spring Onmes North,"' And she liroke Into a gay melody filled with the rush of the brooks, the soft wind In the young birch leaves, the love songs of the returning birds. "You have caught It ell the spring!" he applauded. "I'lonse piny It again !" Hut she tioik her head "Now I am to break my promise by playing 'Farewell.' We were to be ray today; If you do aot care to hea music-hungr- It r y "Mease play It! You mean fare well to summer?" Her face darkened as she replied with n characteristic shrug: r nrewcll to summer to every thing!" "Oh. yott cannot moan thnt!" Without replying she drew her how across the strincs In a low minor and swiftly lost herself In n stark revHa tlon of grief anil despair. As he listened lie heard again the fnoanlng of n heart without hope, the anguish of n tortured soul, which w first met his ears at the rapids. Seem he was voicing through he Ingl? Tlolln what she could not express In words, and the sympathy of bis quick understanding went out to the lonely girl with her unknown burden. She censed as swiftly on she hsi begun, nnd stooi gazing out on the lie respected her tranquil valley. mood by his sllenwe. his brain active lth con lecture, his emotions danger Otisly out of hand. Then the wainin of the low sun called the girl from he She turned n wistful face blooding as she said: and lune broken my pm-nlshi'-I'li i sad, monsieur." "v'"l hmo been teMInsf me much M ,, mademoiselle. 4:1 l M Y'll C'lh '('! FP th 1 1 " CO. you." There was momen tarily In her eyes that which whipped the blood to his face as she said: It was because you have the henrt of a poet that I played my 'Farewell.' And 1 do trust you. Monsieur Steele, some tli'.ie you may know Why some time, why not now. If 1 am to aid you?' he demanded Im- pulsively. But she only shook her head. Carrying the violin and rifle, Steele led the way down the trail to the post. They had reached a hollow ut the foot of the ridge where the soil nas spongy nnd moist, even In September, because of the springs be neath. Here and there in the forest mold, flowers vividly blue and fringed. bloomed on graceful stems beside the trail. 'Here are my gentians, monsieur! cried Denise. "Are they not beautiful? I cannot make them grow so lovely at home, It Is not damp enough." She bent and touched the petals of a flower, and looking up said : think. I love them more than the other autumn " she suddenly checked her self, her eyes widening. The man was staring at the trail beyond them. "Monsieur !" He turned to her, his puzzled look shifting to a smile. "Pardon me. your gentians are beautiful but we should hurry or we shall be late at the post, and your father will won der," he said, and started brirkly np the trail, followed by the bewildered girl. He had walked but a few yards when a scream stopped him. With the lunch basket at her feet, fallen from shaking hands, Charlotte swayed In the path behind them, her face gray with terror. "Oh, what Is it, Charlotte?" cried Denise t. Onge. as Steele strode past TIMES-NEW- NEPHI. UTAH S. for the lost," and as she quickened her pace, the heightened color of her face betrayed her. Like the strings of her violin she had vibrated to his emotion. Beyond the mystery and the despair, there was the woman, and ho followed her swift feet over the trail with an elation he had never before known ; with the resolve to fight through to the root of this mystery if it meant a winter on the snow. "No way out for the lost," she had said, and he smiled as he repeated to himself, "But the lost has been found ; the lost has been found." Mystery, Windigo, Intrigue at Albany, were as nothing now that he had seen the blood leap to ber face at his touch. He did not follow np her strange words. It would have profited little and his mind was full of what he had seen beside the trail unmistakable tracks In the mud. mammoth and strange, beyond his experience. Shaped they were, somewhat re sembling bear tracks, with deep In dentations of claws, but the weight was not distributed as In the trnck of a bear, and there were separated pad marks, like the track of felines. Yet no lynx or cougar ever owned feet so misshapen and huge. He would return at daylight and follow them up. Here at last was something tangible to work on. In the meantime, Charlotte would have the post people maud lin with fear. It would be a bad night for Wailing River.As they entered the clearing. Steele saw a knot of men gatnerea oerore With a swift good the trade-housbye, Denise hurried to her kitchen while Steele joined the factor, who announced: "Good evening, monsieur, It seems our friends have returned." From the head of the portage moved a canoe, above the familiar legs of David. Fol lowing him came Michel, doubled under a heavy load slung from his tump- line. "What have they got?" queried St. - Onge. "Give It np ; maybe some of the fur!" hazarded Steele. "We shall never see that again," muttered the factor. Near them the post people discussed the safe return of the search party In awed whispers. Then, as Michel approached. Steele grinned. "Meat!" he announced drily. "Good, we need It!" added St. Onge with a sigh of relief. Swinging the canoe from his shoulders, David wiped his brow with his sleeve and grinned Into Steele's questioning face as the latter gripped his hand. "Back safe nnd sound, David?" Steele looked hard Into the snapping eyes of his friend. ! Bo'-j- o Safe an' soun'l Meester St. Onge!" and the Ojibway took the proffered hand of St. Onge. "Well, Michel, you "found moose. If you didn't strike anything else," Steele said to the Inscrutable' Iroquois. "Don't see any signs of teeth on you ; you must have run too fast for the Windigo," he suggested, but the head man glanced significantly at the post Indians and made no reply. Steele dr?w David from the" group, congratulating Michel on his escape from a hideous death down river and asked: "Any lurk, David?" "We fin" noding of canoe, but we see some sign. Ver' strange sign, boss." "What was it?" "Wal, we fin' de laa' camp of bnt no sign of cano' or men. Den we fo'low river shore an' noding there. Den we circle back from de camp an' two smokes Into de muskeg we fin' " David stopped short to scowl past Steele Into the face of a hovering TndlaTi, who quickly advanced with extended hand. bo'-J"Bo'-J! ! Daveed." greeted Tete-Boul-e as David seized his proffered hand. "Bo'-Jo"- , Tete-Boul!" and the Iron grip which wns known from Nepigon to Lac Seul closed on the unsuspecting Interloper. e "Ough! Hugh!" cried doubling with pain over his crushed fingers. "Why you shak' de ban' so hard?' The broad face of David wrinkled in amusement as he sun-eyethe writhing victim of his linndshake. ? "Wat de trouble wid you, Wen I ver' glad to see you. I give de god shakehand.'' As left them nursing his fingers. Steele tn uttered : "He won't forget that soon. Trying to hear what you nre saying, was he?" "Ah-haI IV nex' 1am eet weel be bees neck." "But what was It you found in the mtiskegT "In the muske? we fin ver' feeen track of mtiiot1ng. We nevnire see such rtrange sign before." The OJibway shook his head. "But de rain wipe eet JJit. Tiit-f;!!fid more, stnyin? here, than you did down the river." "W'nt you we?" "Well, David, I've seen the trail of the Wlndlen. and I've made another little discovery. We've got a Wabeno at the post nnd I lit you guess who "Ah-hah- fnr-can- o' Then I Found More, Staying Here, Than You Did Down the River." her, and seizing the palsied OJibway by the arm. half carried her forward to her mistress. "I'lease, mademoiselle," he Insisted, "hurry along! I'll take care of Charlotte. It's nothing. She thinks she sees something, but It's only Imagination." And he started with the moaning Indian, numb with fright. 'Nia ! Nin !" walled the OJih vay. "De trail! I see trail. in'iim'solle ! Ituii ! Hun!" And with feet spurred by fear. Charlotte led the way back to the post. "What wtis It that you tried to bide from me?" demanded Denise, as she walked rapidly at Ms side. "I saw your face. There was "It was nothing. It looked like a hmr trail, only a bear trail. iTiarMte Is full of myth and was She's been uneasy all stauieded. day." The doubting eyes of the jriri renrched his as they wnlked. "It Is kind nf you, monsieur." she said, "but you must not deceive me. I have to face this thin;." "You are not afraid yon do In " "Afraid?"' she cried passionately, "yes, I am nfinid, of, oh, so n.nny things. You do not realize it Is so hopeless !" He was walking close to her, of her nearness. Her shoulder touched his. and bis pulse leaped at the contact. A loose strand of her hair hrt.shed his cheek, and He be felt the blood In his face. was perilously near rash action, but be coveted her good will and he feared the mystery In her and the dignity. "Hut Is there no way out?" he managed to say, fighting for mastery of himself. "Way out?" she repeated In a strained voice "There Is no way out finding her feet. wonM-thing- Tete-Boiile'- s over-conscio- e Tete-Boul- Tete-Boule- Tete-Bonl- e It Is." "A Wabct-.o!echoed the surprised f)it'.l. 'JT.rn with a grimace he uncled. "I t'lnk dat Wabeno got a sore han' now, but de Windigo trail w'ere you fin' eet?" "I'll tell you and Michel what I " know after supper; they are calling me now." And the two friends parted Evidently the Windigo Is sufficiently real to make a hideous noise and leave a huge tracU. What is the thing? 4TO Bit CONTINUED It?" Inquired the minister, the first to speak. Jane did not give Oliver a chance to reply. Do about It?" she cried. "Why, he's going to run against old Gooch and beat the life out of him!" Oliver looked up at ber. She stood at the top of the steps, the light from the open door falling athwart her radiant face, half in shadow, half In the warm, soft glow. Suddenly Ids heart begun to pound heavy, smothering blows against his ribs that had the ef fect of making him dizzy, as with verti go. He continued to stare, possessed of a strange wonder, as she turned to her tall, pnrent and laid both hands on his shoulders. "I wish I could say 'gee whiz' asj Sammy says It," she cried. "I feel all over Just like one great big 'gee whiz. Don't you, daddy?" The man of God took his daughter's firm, round chin between his thumb and forefinger and shook It lovingly. One 'gee whiz" In the family Is COPYRI G MT, BELL S YN 0 CATE.(vV.N.U. SE.R.VICE-enough," said he. "I am glad you feel like one, however. You take me back am accountable for his death. What ever his present condition may be, I 25 years, my dear. Your mother used JEALOUSY am." responsible for It. Don't put all to say 'gee whiz' when she felt like It. It is, after all, a rather harmless way on that gypsy fortune-telleblame the October Oliver SYNOPSIS I should have realized the state of of exploding." Baxter, Jr., was born on a vile Presently he left tliem and Jane October day. mind he was in and I should have given His parents were In the world to help spoke softly. prominent In the commercial, else np everything social and spiritual life of the "Did you notice, Oliver, that he him weather the next year or so of town of Rumley. The night that spoke of mother a little while ago? It doubt and distress." Oliver October was born a gypsy was the first time In years. I wonder queen reads his father's fortune if I remind him of her In lots of and tells him what a wonderful came wore The winter away, spring future his son has before him, ways." the melted into and summer; never son quickly will but adds that his Oliver's thoughts leaped backward a first anniversary of the unexplained reach the age of thirty, that he will be hanged for a crime of of Oliver Baxter passed. score of years and more. "I used to disappearance which he is not guilty. Ten Three months remained of the last think she was the most wonderful perMrs. Baxter years elapse. son in all the world." he said. "I was year allotted to Oliver October by the died when Oliver was near-in- g very desperately In love with your seven. gypsy "queen" on that wild, shrieking Josephine Sage, wife of the minister, caused a "90. time this But in prac mother when I was six or seven, Jane." by night sensation when she goes on the He hesitated and then went on clumsiIn Itumley was counteverybody tically and Jane Her daughter stage. "1 am beginning ing the days and Jokingly reminding ly, almost fatuously: young Oliver become greatly atAfter tached to each other. Oliver that his chances got better every to think that you are like her In a low of ways." finishing college, young Oliver day ! accepts a position' In Chicago She gave him a quick, startled look. see this that the "I evening by paper with an engineering company. face was turned away, and so he His reHe goes to China. Upon his your Uncle Horace has announced did not see the tender, wistful little turn he enlists In the Canadian a candidate for state sen as himself army. The war over, Oliver reator," said Mr. Sage one evening as he smile that flickered on her lips, nor turns home. He hears Jane is In Desat enjoying his customary half hour was lie aware of the long, deep breath love with Doctor Lansing. she took. From that moment a queer, to Mr. on Sage's porch with Jane and Oliver, Baxters pleading spite Oliver to remain In Rumley. uneasy restraint fell upon them. There I know one vote he will not "Well. Oliver gets a job In Chicago. Mr. were long silences, dreamy on her part. Is If he "even said my Oliver, get," Oliver Baxter accompanies moody on his. He left shortly after to uncle." on a the way swamp through was strangely the Sage home. On the way they "I know of another," said the min- 10; his "good-night- " refusal to quarrel over Oliver's gruff and unnatural. ister dryly. Mr. fails In Baxter Rumley. stay He was Jealous. He knew It for a "Why, daddy, I am really beginning to return home. to take quite a fancy to you," cried fact, he confessed It to himself for the Jane delightedly. "Only last week you first time openly and unreservedly. He was Jealous of young Lansing. said be ought to be tarred and feathCHAPTER IV Continued ered for turning those two old Bannes-te- r There was no use trying to deny It. women out of their house over at He did not go so far as to think of No one could be found who saw him himself as being In lovewith Jane Pleasant Hldge." after he took leave of his son on the that would be ridiculous, after all the them said turn didn't "But he out," swamp road. Oliver oetooer reiateu Oliver quickly. "Somebody came along years they had known each othw all that transpired between them on last minute and lent them the but he bitterly resented the thought that moonlit byway. He did not spare at the to redeem their little house and that she might be In love with some money himself in the recital. No one blamed one else. Especially with the superior, farm." him, however. You don't really mean It, Oliver?" supercilious, cocksure Lansing! An Inspection of Mr. Baxter's closet Is good news the following morning led to a puz- cried Mr. Sage. "That CHAPTER V news." new-sui-t splendid A comparatively zling discovery. I hate that old Gooch man," cried of "dark gray material rather too Jane. An Amazing Cablegram heavy for summer wear was missing, "Jane, my dear, you really are he- while the wrinkled, If Jane were In love with garments "Why, a vixen, remonstrated quite reflected Oliver, "good Lord, that he wore daily at the store were coming Lansing." her father. found hanging in the closet. what a fool he had been to think it came to An a automobile sudden stop inThe excitement in Itumley was would make no difference to him ! It tense. The Baxter home became a in front of the house, nnd an agile would make a difference an appalling enman his leaped out, leaving difference. All nonsense to think she magnet that drew practically the en- young running. He came up the walk wouldn't go out of his life if she martire population of the town to that sec- gine with long strides. ried Lansing or anyone else. Of course tion, and there was not an hour of the Say, Oliver, you old skate, I've been she would. Strange, though, that he day that did not see scores of peotown over for you," shouted should be so consumed with ple trudging through the safer portions looking all Jealousy of the swamp or tramping along' the Sammy Parr. "This isn't your night to when he wasn't the least bit In love know on don't call that? Jane you It. with Jane himself. He had been In uplnnds that bordered Detectives from Chicago, hrought Good evening, Jane. Evening, Mr. love half a dozen times. He ought to all Bannesters told the nie down by Oliver October, agreed with Sage. Say, know what love was and certainly the young man that his father had about you, you blamed old skate 1 his feelings toward Jane were nothing "skipped out," to use the expression mean Ollle, not you. Mr.didSage. Gee like those he had experienced in bythrow the gone affairs of the henrt. (ice whiz! of Michael O'Kourke. It was Mr. whiz, Ollie you certainly O'Kourke who advanced the theory hooks into Uncle Horace this time, What had suddenly got Into him? that the old man had taken this nmaz-In- g didn't you? You certainly " The next morning lie was down at "Shut up!" growled Oliver, scowling the swamp bright means of forcing his son to remain and early, inspecting fiercely at the excited Sammy. in Itumley. the work of the ditchers and tile layon are "What earth you as the talking ers. The task of reclaiming the land "Why," said he, "it's ns plain -- nose on your face. He is dead set on about, Sammy?" cried Jane. had been under way for several months "Out with it. Sammy, out with it. and was slowly' nearing completion. having you stick to this town. Yon say 'nix.' Well, what's the smartest tiling counseled Mr. Sage, coming down the "I wish you'd change your mind he can do? The only way to make you steps. about not going out any farther. Olido Mr. what to leave It "Well, you think, Sage ver," said old John Phillips, who was stay In this town is for him what do you think? Why, this chump superintending the work. "We could He sneaks off without letting anybody know where he's going. Why does he here Is the guy that lent Mrs. Batines- - go out a quarter of a mile farther withdo that? If you or anybody else knew ter the money to redeem her house. out a bit of risk, and you'd add about "Oh, diver!" cried Jane. "Did you 20 acres of good land to " where he was you'd have him back I could squeeze you to here In no time, nnd all his trouble for really do It? "We'll have enough, John." Internothing. He thought It all out before death for It. And you never told me the young man. "We'll stick to rupted hand. Now he has his own way you never breathed a word " the original survey. Don't go a rod be"It was only about a thousand dol- yond the stakes I set up out yonder. It You've got to stay here until he gets lars," mumbled Oliver. good and ready to come back. Somemay be safe hut It isn't worth while." "Sure It was," agreed Sam cheerful body's got to be In charge of his af "Well, you're the boss." grumbled fairs. I here Is a chance, of course, ly. "But right there and then the old John, and added somewhat peevishthat he wandered out In the swamp, destiny of the great American nation ly: "But I can't help saying I think believe It. If you want us was shaped along new lines. The you're making a mistake. but I There's to go ahead and rake the country for words were no sooner out of the mouth some mighty good land there, 'spite of of old Mrs. Bannester when the boom thein mudholes a little farther out." him, we'll do It." "I want to find him," said Oliver. wns born ! Yes, sir, at that very mo "I'm not denying that," said Oliver ment" firmly. "You may be right In your surpatiently. "Hut we'll stop where the for the "Oh, lord's suke, Sammy stakes are. Just the same." mise I hope you are. But Just the same. I don't Intend to leave a stone stow down ! What the dickens are yoi A few minutes later old John conWhat driving at, anyhow? Boom? fided to one of the ditchers that young unturned, Mr. O'Kourke." But tli days ran into weeks and the boom ?" Baxter was considerable of a darned "Your boom, you Idiot! The boom's fool. Either that, or else he had ome weeks Into months, with the mystery been for as candidate for thundering good reason of his own for started no nearer solution than In the begin you ning no word, no sign from the old state senator against old man Gooch." not wanting to go out beyond the man who had vanished, no clue that "Why, you darned chump," ronrei stakes. Oliver, "I'm not going to run for state led to anything save disappointment. There was something grim, uncanny senator .or anything else. You must be crazy. I'll head it off tomorrow. I'll about the silence of old man Baxter Now they'll find O'd Aha! it was Indeed the silence of the dead. telephone " Oliver's body in the swamp! "Won't do you a darned bit of good "lie might a well lie dead." was n re The gypsy scores again. mark that became common in Huntley cried Sammy exult ingiy. "They'll nom Inate the you, anyhow. Why, you're whenever his case was discussed. ) (TO UK ONTIN!-R- I Strangely enough, no one now believed only man In this county that wouh him to be dead. Everybody agreed stand a ghost of a show, Ollle. And with the detective that the cantanker- the best of all popular nephew run Stair$' Death Toll ous old nian had "skipped out" with ning against Shyloi-- uncle! Gee whiz In the Manhattan section (,f New I'm Al down to see Wilson at the York there have been more than the sole Idea of frustrating bis son's going Despatch olllce. Put him wise and deaths In a single year due to f1(ls on plan to return to Chicago. Oliver October took charge of the warn him not lo let a word of It leak stairs. The total number of such fatalstore and, as self appointed manager. out In the paper till lie gets the word, ities In the United States is eliin. conducted the business to the best of Night, Mr. Sage so long, Jane. to he about H.WKl each year. The ma"Wnit a minute!" called out Oliver, jority of these falls are due either to his ability. There was nothing In the young man's manner to Indicate thnt springing to his feet as Sammy darted slipping or tripping, the former I'ein he rebelled against the turn In bis af down the walk. far more prevalent. Ahoin s."i pt-"Mil shouted Sammy over his cent of accident on stairs occur ibii-ifair. On the contrary, he took hold with an enthusiasm that left nothing shoulder. , December, January and The three of them watched him In This is due to snow, ice and poor to be desired by those who at first shook their heads dubiously over the silence as he leaped Into his oar and lighting. situation. began his swift, reckless turn In the narrow street "1 am lo lilame tor all this," he proWhen you feci like nnjr . II i "What are you going to do about another room where o,i uni t. tested firmly. "If my father Is dead, I OLIVER L OCTOBER GEORGE BARRMcCUTCHEON gray-haire- d ) r. well-wor- n !) i. |