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Show TJIK SALT LAKE THI1IUNE, SUNDAY MQRNIXtV FEIiHUAUV tainsin the Snow Story of Murder in the Great Snow Wastes of the Northwest, and of JA - Sergeant Brinklow', Who Set Out with Young McNah to .Track the Criminal to Earth. word was brought Into heaa- on tlreat lak" that Kakisa Indian bad been mur away up on Ton rlw, ther eould bo no question of sending anythe body but Sertoli! Brtnklow to prov crime and bring In the murderer: Brinklow choao Dan McNab for bl to that young fellow deep and Joy. Tho Journey deserves a atory to Itself. It cannot bt gon Into bora, Fourtoea day W! loir after tearing headquarters, during tho last tin of which they had aeco no no of Uolr do you value tt at? Canny trading look veiled St," Paul's yea. " A few year ago." he amid smoothly; "a fin black fox would sell for fifteen hundred dollars In the eitlee, but now it is ' worth less because men are raising sliver foies on farms, and sometimes' they get " ' one all btark In a litter ..Tou don't need to itlain your prices." ,. Brtnklow Interrupted dryly. '"'What' did you give for this ne? " "The worth or five hundred dollars In trade." aaid " Have you credited ICtxooah with that " Ther sum now had fallen atoce- - th which he spread aa the sight of the table. lth trembling bands. Th fine black traavdy. the evergreen trass atood drooping baire were revealed Inside. Brlnklow Oew under tt Ilk flgurea of woe. , It was fairly hie microscope from hts pocket and pulling , open amongst tho tree. 1b about quarter asms similar hairs from the black for skin of a mils they came to the plaoa where the them whlleall watched stream tumbled down from the hills, bat compared tensely. McNah awaited the result with lbs k anneal the waters were stilled now. They might " anxiety. easily hav mlaaed the exact spot of ."Tea. these are the hairs of the black camp, for the weight of snow had fox." said Brlnklow gravely. broken down- - hla flimsy shelter, hut Brink-towMcNah axpenrm-ea revulsion of feeling. sharp eyo detected th slight uneven-nes- s Such a likely looking, 14. It was too bad: tt mad tn Hi universal white blanket.' " Let Tatateechs tell ms what he did after Using one of hla snowshoea for a shovel. that." said Iftinklnw. Brinklow threw oh the snow and raised th " Tatalrha say." St. Paul repeated, amount?" . roof uf spruce boughs. Hnnesub, they saw " No." aaid L Paul, pruriently. "that Is all he gut to tell. When he find "If the bright drops of Mahchoogah's Uf bloM Ahkanetah stole this skin he had no right the hairs In th trap he know for sure that frozen to the houghs en which ha had is I am i to EtuMn to giv waiting to find ' Ahkanetah kill Mahchoogah, so ho go no iln front of his shelter they kvtated the site ' out how the trial decides," Me come back to the tepees and further of his campflre. More than a foot of enow Brtnklow tknixl at the hand.wme. tm tell Men go and bring In the body." now lay on the chaired embers, and this v Where was Ahkanetah then? pesnlve young rednk In sltUng by the door. gave them the measure of what had fallen " "Is Ahkanetah charged with theft or Tatateechs go help sy 'Ahkanetah since the fatal night " he asked. nrtng body. Say Ahkanetah make Ilk he HHnklow now made McNah wait a little I Fie make dead. "Both," said Su Paul, apologetically. surprised Mahchoogah to one side while, with a sort of broom that Tataleecha took the oath. Owing to his his face to lie." he faehloned out of spruce boughs, he swept " Ask Tatateecha to describe exactlv how age he was permitted to sit while testifyth fresh snow from the site.:-- U was a he found the body." ing. I. Ike the gentleman he waa. he told lengthy proceeding, for he stopped often to hla at i tv In a courteou and conciliatory ' MTta.techa nay. Mahchoogah lyin' on his measure the snow and to examine it manner. With qualm and graphic gexticula-tiobark under the slanting roof of spruce boughs, Finally he called McNab and showed him and a set smile He seemed to have no There Is not much snow on him He wrapped some pink stains tn. the old snow. in hts blanket, but the top part far i him,. particular feeling one way or the nrher. and " What do you make of that? " asked the this mad hla fldenc very damaging to th There Is pieces Ice on his eyes. iiiMt in chin. man. younger accused. His gun is beside him under the bUukeC" " I take It some bloody article waa washed by the fire that night" said Brinklow, "and the water thrown on the snow." Further sweeping presently laid bar on the other side of the fire wide crimson splotches trosen deep Into the snow. "tood find.'" exclaimed McNab. "thla doesn t bear out Tatateecha' theory of the crime." - Not that you'd notice." said , Brtnklow dryly. " Mahchoogah was mundered and hi bodv afterward laid under th shelter." Around the crimson stains the old snow sppeared to he packed down Harder than elsewhere, and by using a little branch with the most delicate care, and blowing th lighter snow sway. Brlnklow nnwlly revealed before McNab's astonished eyea the plain print of a human body lying full . length in the old snow. Further excavations showed how It had been picked up under the arms, turned around and dragged towards the shelter. The murderer hsd evidently worn snowshoea. The fragmentary track they uncovered were useless as eviof dfrty rotten, "That' Look y - I K- mur--der- . -- . n vv 7?U'- 1 out-slil- - . dence, ' !! I ft (he mmn'i cVreawf sfifl sfc (h eeinerecf arrow. "Whr Is th accused man?" asked "Tatateecha say he la friend or Dave Brlnklow. - He I entitled to hear the eviTorrena," St, Paul began. " Kay he knew dence against him." white men' ways. Say he got much lov for white men." has been sent for," said St. Paul. Brlnklow bowed In acknowledgement of tha with quiet tm press! veness, KU Paul's big. compliment, and Tata tee tcha bowed again. strange eye gleamed behind his glasses. "Tatateecha aay ha old now," St, Paul Clearly he loved all shows and ceremonies, went on. "Soon die. aad loved to enact a part tn them. It was Say got no sons. Say Mahchoogah who is dead Is his brothwonderful to watch him ha appeared so er's son. Mahchoogah "like son to him. humble and so proud. H always took car Tatateecha tell the old men to make Mahto stand a little la th rear of Brlnklow choogah head man when he die. All Is chair, and to lower hla head when ho translated for him. agreed. Tatateecha aay Ahkanetah Is hi son. sister' Say Ahkanetah got had .Presently a great Jabbering was heard thoughts against Mahchoogah. Ahkanetah amougst tho Kakisa outside the cabin It fca was. ... want be head man when old ma appeared they could be animated enough "Ton mad good Urn, said St. Paul "I Brlnklow held up his hand. " Try to make when not under the paralysing eye of a him understand," hs said. " without hurtwasn't lookln for you for two week yet, white man; the door opened, and a man ' and I thought It was likely they might wait ducked hla head under the lintel and ing his feelings, that he must stick to what until spring before sendln' In." he saw with his own eyes. Tell him It Is straightened up Inside. " W'r late enough If there's any police our way at a trial." "Ahkanetah," announced 8t Paul with a : work to he done," grumbled Brtnklow, ' wave of the hand. being repeated to the old man. h ' " O. this Is no myatarv murder." aaid stt bowed politely and resumed, 6l Paul InterHa was very tail for a Kakisa, tall aa a Paul. white man. MeNab took to htm like a shot. preting: " Tatateecha tay the young men Won Is comin' in for big Christmas dance. th two talked together, McNab He He was the kind of aavag that a hoy imagtried to aixe up their strange host. A watch for Mahchoogah. Mahchoogah no ines but rarely meets In after life. St. exercise! Paul said the' ordinary come. All come but no Mahchoogah. TataHla Brat glance was for the glrL They thing la the ordinary way. but the alien teecha say In the night a voice that do not xchanted v poignant look that gav th BlotJa was Ilk a wall cutting off any real Itto thore who claim th redskins are Inspeak, the voice that- comes to the old say to him: Something is wrong! Something Understanding. capable of a romantic passion. She lowered He had been educated tn th mission la wrong! C!o find Mahchoogah!" her head, and UcNab could see the tear ' school Great Swaa at The old man watched SL Paul's lips lake, and hla English drops twinkle in tha candlelight a they fell was as good as the policemen's own a litla her lap. sharply while be interpreted-hiword, as If tle better, perhaps, for he was more puctHI-us- . he hoped to surprise the secret of the The young Kakisa was plainly Intimidated Hs never presumed oa his paternity, strange Knglisb sou.kJs with his e.vs. As by the presence of white men, nevertheless but always bore himself with a subtle- deferoon aa St. Paul stopped he began again. he kept his head up. Advancing to the ence towards tho white. All In all, thought St. Paulj;repeatedt .." Tatateecha aay. in table, h gravely offered hi hand first to McNab, a pretty decent head for a breed. the morning he wake his little hoy. his Brtnklow and then to MeNab, saying: hul llM-- t niittart "How!" the only English word he knew. daughter's son. Make hitch the dogs and iaa. 81 Paul waa full of the crime, aad wanted . St, Paul, scandalized, made as If to push drive to Mahchoogah' camp beside the rails to pour It an out on the spot, but DHnklow of him back from the table, but Brtnklow lleart river. Tatateecha sit on sled; boy ahut him oS with a wag of his big hand. stretched out his left hand to restrain him, guide." "Tea didn't see ' the murder yourself." he "How far waa and unhesitatingly grasped Ahkanetah In Camp?" aaid. . his right. McNab followed suit: Brink'ow. Interrupted " No," said 8t. Paul. " .far.-Not For St. Paul' Half, hour." benertt, Brlnklow said. "Then don't till me what somebody else " (io on." ' man as Innocent until "W look upon told you. 11 me get It first head an near The man o!d he's proved cullty." scted out the next scene aa I can. Have you buried the corpsi:?" with eloquent facial play and explicit gesticFrom somewhere In the background St - "No," said St Paul. "I'm saving It for ulation. The white men could almost see Paul how brought forward a gleaming black you In a tepee." what he was saying. 'v .pelt that he handled with respect. "Tills "Where th accused man?" la the black fox that started all the trouSt. Paul repeated: "Tatateecha say he St Paul hrugged. "Tending hit trap come to Mahchoogah's camp. All la very ble." he aaid th same as usual I couldn't lock him up still. The snow lie smooth all around. The McNab looked at It with strong curiosity. and feed him for nothing;. Anyhow, there fir branches, are heavy with snow. Thia freak of nature was the rarest and MahIsn't any place for him to run to." greatest prise of the north. Many trapper choogah's fir is out and the snow lie deep " W ate "Quit right" said Brlnklow. on the sshea. Beside his fir Mahchoogah live their whole lives through without seen'y aa hour ago," he went on. " and there's got little windbreak of spruce branches to ing one. In the lustrous Jetty expanse of use waatin' time, H there waa not a white hair to be seen go view the lie In. Tatateecha look under there. Wah! corpse, and then hear the witnesses. If except th tip of the beautiful brush, which Mahchoogah la lyln" dead snd froxe with we have luck well clean thla matter up was snowy. Ahkanetah arrow stickin' in his heart!" before dark, and start back with our pris " Who brought it to you? " ssked Brlnklow. St. Paul brought this out with good effect. ner tomorrow." " Euooah." said Bl Paul, with a nod to Ther was a silence In the cabin. Tha old The last tepee was at a considerable dis rarda th girl's father. man'a head was shaking out of sheer weaktanc from the ether. St " Then-- let Btsooah give, evfclencej.. .. lifted ih ness: the polite smile etched on his lips. flap, and the two whit men ducked through The little Hakim cam forward masking Gosh! thought McNab, how horrible to (ret th opening. Within, th body lay en a so old you can't feel anything any more! his fright with a sullen hangdog air like a rough platform elevated on four polea Brinktows face was that of the Judite. schoolboy, and laid his hand upon the Kible MoNab beheld man in hi middle twen It appeared from his answers to Brink betraying nothing. " How do you know it's ehori of etatur like all the Kaktsaa. ties, low's questions as translated hy St. Taul. Ahkanetah g srrow? " he asked. hut strongly built, with a cheat that swelled that h knew th nature of an o.ith. Ho "Got eagle feathers In the shaft." St like a. 'barrel. He was dre.-.eJuki a he told hts Paul repeated after Tatateecha. "Only Ah tory. and St. Paul standing a had been found. In th Inevitable capote or littl behind Brlnklow' chair, repeated it In kaneta got eagle feathers. Only Ahkanetah blanket overcoat, bound round th middle his agreeable voice. can kill with h!s arrowa. Kill moose, kill with a gay worried auh. " Euooah say." he begin, "three days . lear with arrows." In th dead man breast sun stuck the " Tou tay 'there waa fresh snow lying all befor btg Christniss dance Ahkanetah com feathered arrow, burlid to almost half lt back from his traps at niKhL Iting black around" mid Brlnklow. "When had it length, and Immovable In the stony flesh, fox. II make give bUck fox to h'txooah fallen?" a messenger of death made visible. for to marry Marys. But tlt.iKwh say he The s'Hsxver name bark: "Three nishts "It was a powerful arm that pulled th not take black fox right away Got think before." bow," said Brlnklow " Was that tvfore or after Ahkanetah it oter. Etxooah say he ant give his girl "Ther Isn't but on arm In the trif to Mahchoogah for to marry, because brouKht the black fox home" powerful enough." said Sl be head man when qM Tutateechs "Snow fall when Ahkanetah rome." ' Brlnklow, sinking his human personalis die. .80 he think much. " Lig.ht snow or heavy snow?" He think. v.ell, s nder the keen, grave maul nf tht sleuth, h'.d tpx Is a black fox. Mnhchougith never "Light miow Tall all night." made a naJntlakmr uiminntun th. K ie in j black fox.' And anyhow, Mary "vVhem was Ahkanctnhs fur camp" Mc body with quick, assured movements lik Ahkanetah better than Marhoosah So "Half He pass Mahchoo day noiith Nab watched him closely, but could not i:uoo.-igo to- - Ahkanetah. Say all right. , gih's camp coining home." guess' what conclusions he reached Tak :ack fox. It Is fix for Ahkanetah and "What did you rto after you found the The sergeant Anally turned away, saying Marya marry when the Ice go out. and body? " a.xked Brlnklow I cant tell anything about It when he's people pitch down river." "Tatateecha say." - repeated 8L Pan! In this state. We must build a fire In the , "All right." sald Brmklow, " MahchiNjpah has told him where he set the black 'tepee, and keep It up until he thaws out- -' ' ' csiauusncu list is sil I want. start to make a rounj with Ktzooah now." The little man sat down the boy. He come to the flrs-- t trap iinler -TnsM the eabin Sergeant Rrinklow, grim " me get thbi stralEUt." the ergeant a broken pine hexMe Heart river The trap n scarlet tunic and brans an.i soldierly " Chen did Rtxooab on to St Paul Is shut and there is tilack hairs' stickin In ' buttons, tax st a little oih'H with. Mi .K'ab bring the fur to you? He got Usem to. show the teeth ou", " side to make notes ;o th evulence. et The same night he got IL That u three 1 I'rom Mime 'hiding placi- - under the apoie ' One entire end of "the iLack sS rilled with " li before "ChnstiiuA." .! nljhti d" .i.I" e the 6T TiTttirTofSeJ-a proiIOci in "It he was lying on his back wrapped In his blanket snd with the roof of spruce him." suggested Brinklow, boughs "how could the arrow have been shot straight into hi breast as we find it now? " When thla waa made clear to the old man h illustrated with speaking gesticulation. Through St. Paul the answer came: " Tatateecha say Ahkanetah come by MahchooFind Machoogah eleepin'. camp. gah' Ahkanetah kneel down other aide fire, pull bow ready, yell to Mahchoogah. Mahchoogah start up, look, and Ahkanetah let the arrow fly: ping! Mahchoogah fall down on back with blanket half off." It had a very' convincing ring. Ignorant savage though he might be, Tatateecha. was die" . no fool. " Let us hear what Ahkanetah has got to say for himself," said Brinklow. At the sound of his name, the young man leaped UP as If he were en a sprins:. Lsy-In- g a hand upon the Bible, he swore to He spoke so fast in his tell the truth. strange, clicking tongue St Paul had to stop him to get it straight. He was excited, but 'he nature of his emotion was use-lee- a . obscure. "Ahkanetah s s ; . Lr Pi. ' . tt li J-- "' say," repeated St. Paul, deprecatlngly. " he catch the black fox In his trap under big rock beside Island where canoe trees grow. He say you won't find any hlack hairs in his- - trap because he clnan-t- t when he set It again. He say he step by Mahchoogah's camp when he come home. They talk. Say he got no bad feelings Mahchoogah. Keel good because" he catch black fox. Coin' give black fox 'to Ktxooah for Marya. Ahkanetah say he don' want be head man of Kaklsas. Only want marry Marya." " Ahkanetah say he not show Mahchoogah black fox. Hide It in his pack. Say he talk friends to Mahchoogah. Shake hands. He say Mahchoogah In not when he leave him Ahkanetah say that is his arrow atlekin' in Mahchoogah's body, but he not fire it Ahkanetah say that arrow Is stole from hun." McNab listened to Oils with a cynical feeling. It occurred to him that the excuses of an accused red man bore a suspicious resemblance to those of a white man in a similar case. Human nature was much the same everywhere. Brinklow, It seemed, felt the same, because he made no attempt to cross examine Ahkanetah. All he said was: " Tel) Ahkanetah to give me his knire." The young man drew the hunting knife " from the sheath hanging at his belt and handed It over. His face was unreadable. Had he any other knife. Brlnklow asked. No. Brtnklow subjected the blsde to a careful scrutiny under the microscope while everybody watched. He then handed it back without comment. ( After dinner Brlnklow and McNnb set off on snowshoes to take a look at the scene of the crime. It was their first opportunity to talk to gether without hearers. "Brink," said the younger man. "don't It strike you there something shifty about St. Paul? It's true he looks straight at you, but you can't see Into his eyea" "Sure." said Brinklow, calmly, "crooked as a ram's horn. Those educated l.rreds are the worst." "But "gosb!" tatd McNab. much disturbed Kvery word cf the evidence r.a to Ufte,niftcHt thrnush him " got to "There's a certain danger." said Hnnklow serenely, "but it's not as gfiit a you m:t,'ht th'.nk. It takee swift thmkins on the imr! of an interpreter to falsify testimony :s it r nsnt there connthrough him. W nr-- s of check up on the look and ti.e vi:nesses. sf'T s necessary f.ir pituse. " li hiav not have u-St Paul to a'.icr aiivihu.i: " ' gem-rall- t- L;e.-- " ' hat do you rnvaft o McNah, with a look uf .ttrit' '" 'c t. me veL " he sa:d OVn.'vs 70 the 'i. r.:.s- - "!: .i lerr " Thrcnvi i'it ' .In-.ir- 'ttiM-- .irr.".-.-' 1. .t:t - . a.fTan-""o- . - Are "Red corpuscles," he said. "I knew you, had washed It but you couldn't wash th hidden part" A cry of animal rage broke from St. PauL Snatching the glasses frbm his eyes, he sent them spinning across the roonv His face was transfigured with savagery. There the real man appeared at last McNab snatched the flashlight from bin pocket Its sphere of white light caught St Taul fumbling at- ths door. In a twinkling Brlnklow was upon him and had him down on th floor. "Mac." he snid. coolly, "fetch the two pairs of handcuffs from my bag." ... - The policemen allowed St Paul to lie on own oea, out saw no reason wny no should enjoy the Are also. Pulling the bedstead to the other end of the cabin, they prepared to camp before the fire. Brinklow rolled up In bis blanket while McNab. who waa to stand the first watch, sat up nursing his knees. The sergeant was Indulging himself with a last puff or two. " Brink," said the younger man, "what in th world first put you on to 8t Paul?" '" Well." said Brinklow, "I took a liking to that young fella, that Ahkanetah, or whatever his ungodly name Is." " So did i," put In McNab. ' "And so I cast round In my mind to see If somebody els couldnt have dene tt I savs to myself, suppose there's om other fella who has a hankering after the beau-t:fMarya. and took this means of gettln' rid of both his rivals. Well, at the hearin'. when we was llstenin' to all that cut and dried evidence, I kept my eyes open, and-seen that St Paul never looked at Marya. In fact. It was remarkable the way be avoided lookln' at ber. "That gave me my cue. That and the fact that It snowed the night Ahkanetah brought the black fox In.. I believe It was the snow which put the whole scheme Into St. I"aul t head. How easy for him, after Euooah had brought him th fox. to stroll out to Mahchoogah's camp for a chin. Very likely he popped in at the tepees 03 th tiny and stole the arrow. Mahchoogah would be delighted to see him. One sta snd the trick was done. You have seen how quick be can work- - Then to plant a few hairs In Mshchoogah's nearest trap and go home, safe In the knowledge that all tracks would he covered by morning." " Hrink. you're a wonder! " said McNah. ns - ul 0. yes. I'm satisfied." said Brlnklow. McNab pulled up a box, and effaced him wy side of the shack. He self, on knew of ld experience that whenever Brlnklow affected this careless lazy manner there was something brewing. " St Paul, you're a queer fellow." drawled . Brinklow. The half breed smiled with gratified vanity. "Don't you ever do any hunting or out here ? Tou must have plenty of time do your hands." " O. have plenty of time." said St. Paul " I could (o. s',1 my trading In an hour a a week. But I prefer to rUy. or one p:ift my time In reading and Improving n.y mind " s Brinkiow ennour "Well, thir's flne."-sul- d hnni.on an Intelligent ir'nelv. " MuT n n liVe vf'ur?1f u- le "exj"hvl among these , Kitki:-.!- . m!v month n, - It s hel'tefi '.' laid St Paul wHh an air "Yon riftn't know hnur I aiitirt-iisihavins trap-pin- 1 iy ' - fr r M.eN-sr"- like r. nir-- t . i mirV 'is et) : tSTV. f 1 "C" a..--' wliM-ir.-- it.irt 11, fj 1 1;i:ix-cu- . . you'" " p to ; . ' . kept burning in the tepee all day, and the frozeki flesh bad yielded to Its warmth. Brinklow was now able to more the Imbedded arrow freely. Closing his eyes, snd guiding himself solely by the sense of touch, he moved It delicately In the wound as a, surgeon uses a probe. Having satisfied himself of what he wished to know, he set about removing the Arrow. He could not pull the barb out without making fresh lacerations so. first taking care to notch the shaft to show the depth of the wound, he thrust It through the body, cut off, the head and pulled out the shaft. The arrow head was a cleverly fashioned hnme-- . made steel, an inch and a quarter - wide from barb to barb. "Just as I thought," said Brinklow. "He was H wss not killed by this arrow. stabbed first and the arrow afterwards thrust into the wound. Look!" McNab could see for a fact that the wound In the man's breast was over two Inches wide. " But nobody haa a knife with a blade as wide as that." he objected. "Sure, they haven't," said Brinklow, "but a knife thr-is- t from a stabbing arm never a cergoes In perfectly straight There' tain downward play that widens the wound It may have been done by a of entrance. knife with quite a narrow blade. Moreover, one of hjs ribs Is broken." Be went on, feeling of the man's breast "Must have been a terrific blow, that Drove the knife up to the hilt of course. The arrow waa not thrust quite: all the way to the bottom of the original wound as I found when I probed It I am therefore able to establish the depth of the wound. It was made by a knife with a blade six inches long." "That' odd." said McNab. "the sheath knives carried by all these fellows are a good eight Inches long." " Sure."saii BKnklow. " and they are . always furnished with a guard at the hilt Now the knife that killed thla poor fellow had no guard. Tou might say It was damned odd without exaggerating." '"By gad!" said McNab suddenly. knife waa at least eight Inches long, snd that had a guard on It! " In the cabin St Paul Torrens was sitting at his little table reading the Bible by- th light of two candles. As the two white men entered be closed the book with his His glasses had a deprecating smile. friendly beiurj ia the candle light " Well, what did you And out? " he asked In his pleasant voice. Brinklow flung hla long body on the bed. and pulled out his pipe. "Nothing conclusive." he said laxily. " But you're satisfied who did it ain't W'Vv a i . " Well, neither do I," said Brlnklow dryly. AAer supping In the cabin, the two policemen went down to Inspect the body., It had been dark for a couple of hours, but they A good fire had been had their flashlights. over - f " The body lay quiet." said Brinklow musingly. "There was no struggle. Well, Mahchoogah wouldn't have lain down In the snow of his own accord since his shelter was right here. He must have fallen at full length. Therefore, he was struck down standing." " But the shooting of a bow Isn't lnstam taneous," objected' McNah: Jf be was wide awake and standing up, I don't see bow at sutld enousb ." said Brinklow. only a cover for their deviltry. that tallow Ahkanetah. Th davtt-tr- y weak people la worse than a atrotul of a People." " You're dead right there," said Brinklow. " That's what makes me wonder when I look around here and see you living amongst kind of a weapon to prothem without tect yourself." a j "I rule them, by morel force,? said SU Paul grandly. The oon versa tlon appeared to languish. Presently Brlnklow arose, a li ho was bored with a recumbent position. He yawned and stretched himself ostentatiously, snd. picking up one of the candles, took a step ' or two toward the end of the shark, and held tt over his head. "This Is a quaint little dump." he said, looking over Ft Paul's stock. " I suppose this I th smallest trading post In the country." Kt Paul rocked en. the back legs nf hla chair. " These people don't want much hot flour." he aid. " A pair of blankets wheat inrt a young fellow becomes a hunter, or marries: a Utile ammunition when times are good: some stuff to make clothe out of; that' all." " But I see you keep some luxuries." ssJd Brlnklow. stopping at the little showcase and peering Into It "O. sure." said St. Paul. "If any hunter has a run of luck, you got to hav mm thing In stock to absorb It It's the first of trading always to keep them a ' little tn your debL" " Sure." mid Brinklow, dryly. " I bet you charge them fancy prices for this stuff. St Paul." " Naturally," said St. Paul, grinning. "They wouldn't valus it If didn't." " I see you've got some watches." eaid Brlnklow. "some glass beads for the girls, eome cigaret lighters- - good God: think of a Kakisa with a cigaret lighter: There s enterprise for you! And some Swedish clasp knives. Now, what on earth 'could a redskin do with a clasp knif? He has to open Il'befcre he can use It and at that It's th Wrong shape for his work." "That's th veiy point" said St. Paut " Kver man in the tribe has his heart set on one of those knives' Just because it's useless to him. They want to carry them round their sweks on a string." "Have any ft the men won these yet?" asked Brinklow. " No." said St Paul. " but Kuooah has spoken for one when he gets credit for the' olack fox.". "Well, human nature's a' funny tiling." I ve taken a mid Brinklow.. fancy to these knives myself. I'll take all three of them. . St Paul, Just for souvenirs." The front legs of St Paul's chair came to the floor with a little thump. "But I . couldn't let you have them, sergeant" he protested. " Those are for trade." " I'll give you an order on headquarter for the price." " Money Is no good to me up here." whined St. PauL " I must have fur." "Then I'll commandeer them." said Brlnklow. coolly. " and you can send a bill to the force for damages." Brinklow threw the knives on the tab! snd. opening one of them, measured the blade with a little pocket rule that he carried. "Six Inches," he murmured, as If speaking to himself. UcNab stood up also. His heart began to heat with slow, hard thumps. Hs was comparatively new at this police business. Brinklow Inserted the blade of bis own itrong knife in the slot that received the blade of the clasp knife and, with a dexterous twist of his wrist, split the two halves uf the clasp knife apart snd released th Hade. Holding the blade c'.iese to the candle fame, be Inspected It with his microscope and tossed It aside. " That one's clean," be said. St. Paul was staring st him through his glasses with a kind of Innocent amazement that was very well done, indeed. Brlnklow treated the- second knife In the same manner. The Inspection of this blad McNab held his breath. tcok longer. Brinklow suddenly raised his bead, and his Hue eyes flxsd the breed with a terrible. Icy . una - By Hulbert Footner A 4 J& . kind althar whit or rod. they blow into Fort Pwsevorene In whirl of anow. tho Frank hut poat W thla part of tho world Comyns. th trader, whooo communications wer entirely em off for oil month of tho year, waa almost en nerved with Joy at this visitation of whit men la February. "Tho nearest point oo (ho liver waa a bun dnd and tan ail lea north oer open eo'in- Vo .try. Tho river waa (till Bnexplored whit man had been out there sine ih death year before of eld Have Torrene tho free trader, who had (Ives the atreun hi COrayne aent fit. Paul Nowaday Torrent, Dave's half breed eon, out to the Kakisa every winter with an outfit to trad lor their fur. It was St Paul Torrena who had reponec tho murder. Her was the story in a nut- shell. Ahkanetah and Mahchoogah I" Good Cod! what tMunea to eommlt to memory!" BToanea cruiniowj were in two most prom Ulnf young men of th tribe. Both were tho nephew of Tatateecha (Say It ax, is 5 the head man. and both aspired to (unwed aim. Mahchoogah waa the old man's favorite, and popular with th people. It was . aid. BotB young men courted Marya, th ltu daughter of Etsooah. Tbua far th tlon was classic. Thar was also something to do with a black fox skin, tho grand prtue ... f th north; but this part was not clear In th first reports. At any rate, Mahchoe- ah. th popular favorlt. had been' found lying dead and frown Uff In hla aolltary fur camp, with on of his rival' arrows ticking la hi heart. On the morning of the fourth day there after they paused at the edge of the teat declivity for a brief urvey of their del I na- tion. On a terrace to th right crouched a log cabin half burled In the snow, with two aruokod littlo windows like a pair of eye squinting at tho scene, 8L Taul Torrens was waiting for them at the door of th cabin. A atrance flgur to nun i a iwa a piace; iui swssr oiaca cam noe and horn rimmed glass mad him took Uk a parson: his elaborate courtesy gar him the air of quit a personage, dark skinned though s "What Thea Be Paul s store of flour Is same the trading counter with the opened goods in bags and boss standing about, and a tiny showcase of luxuries, and finally, against th other end wall., St. Paul's bed. This left S fro spar so small none hul the principals In the case could be admitted. Tatateecha. th chief of the tribe, entered. stick lie . was supporting Himself with His face waa srlraordinarily very eld. wrinkled, hi eyes fading in color though they mlaaed nothing hts back bowed. Toung MeNab opened hi ys wide al the eight of the woman In the case She cam tn with Etsooah. her father. Kixooab was the typical little Ksklsa. who enmwnled hie emharrajwnent under a sullen wailed mk. but Marjre was unique Noihlt.s he had seen al th doors of the tepees heloe gave him any reason to ope thia In th romantic tashkia of a young man. McNab termed her to himself, the last perfect blossom of dying people. She woald hsv been beautiful" among th women of any race anywhere Her black eyes had the piteous softness of a fawn's. Imrk though her kin waa. ir ahowed wan with weeuing. like any woman 'a. Those three persons sat down on the floor alongstrt St. Paul'a bed. Whites would naturally have sat upon the bed Itself, but to th Kaklsas the Idea of a raised seat was , anihought oL . 17. lfrjfl. . g mjieoioiy. " Spo. kid." said Brinklow, knocking out the dottle of hts pipe. "It was as eay ss Mifllh: off a log But." he added, with s eye. "yon needn't let on I toid A t man ha. Mm so to cullitffite bis ' ktaft " iCuaxng.t" i 1 asp . ; hj Uursert ri:ser. j j |