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Show Marsh W COPYRIGHT A TAcPFNN PUfU-ISHING CO, 'yp'tr SERVICE response, "wlien u liiiln comes Ikiiiic with n comic music for a fare, Unit 1)0 Isn't Jusllllod In killing both 1i1m wife mill the i mi II she turns to. I'ut yourself In IiIh place, ('iiiiii'i'on. Even 1 1 io I'lillilren (in the streets must have mocked tit ill ii H lie pnsseil. Think of IIki lii'll In lived through llicn hIic, Ills refuge II iiI Ills nnelini' fulls him." Again ( 'iliiiernii fell Hull (lie mini championing tin; unknown Mrl loiiuld wiih milking the case Ills own. Tluit Guthrie wiih sensitive of Ills KCIIITell check lie already was aware mid It ' Irritated I ho older mini Into blurting outright: "Culhrle, don't take ol't'eiise ut w litt ( I'm going In say, lint It seems to me that .You must lie vain ns a girl tn Imvc Unit seiir always on your mind. Why, iiiiim, you're liiiiidsoine t I u to 'nrry n dozen scars, No-body No-body ever thinks of It, except to envy your war record." Guthrie's month curled slightly In answer: "Man, I've forgotten nil about that scar, hut I can't forget t lit! men wdio worn not so lucky." lint us ('iiincron'N linnil left the. shoulder of the factor of Klkwan, lie was sure that the furrow across the cheek of the younger man had played Its purl In a personal tragedy. As Guthrie left the trade house to seek his room at Cameron's hospitable quarters mid make himself presentable present-able for the supper on which Mrs. Cameron would spare no effort, he turned for a short stroll across the clearing. lie was approaching the mission when the fur-hooded llgurc of n woman passed him at n short distance on a parallel path. The face In the hood was turned from hint hut the swinging stride of the moeouslned feet aroused Ills curiosity. The white women residents of the post could tie J -fee", i. CHAPTER X 15 The Now Year's festivities and the trade were over at Klkwan. The dance lu the sloophouse, for which Ktleune, suited high on n sugar barrel, provided pro-vided the music from an ancient and scarred violin, had passed off without compelling the Interference of the factor as peacemaker. The cus-! cus-! tomary present of sugar and Hour, tea and pork, hud been given to each family fam-ily of hunters and the Crees had feasted and gossiped to their hearts' content, oblivious of bitter moons to come on far trap-lines when. If game were hard to find, their children would whimper with hunger. The last of the dog-teams had Jingled up the river trail or down the delta bound for Akimiski. Thanks to Souci, It had been an unheard-of trade which had come to the little post. Not only had he brought across the ice the Klkwan Owes but some from Kapiskau and Attawapiskat. as well. A good Joke on Graham ami Boucher. For n week Garth and Eticime were busy sorting and pressing the fur. which was to go by sled immediately to Albany. "Twenty-eight thousand dollars," said the factor as be finished checking his list. "Our little trips Inland after Soucl and over to the island were rather worth while, my friend." Etienne grinned. "No leetle post lak' dis evair mak' dat trade on di bay. Dey geeve you bigger place soon. You tak' Etienne Savanr.e wid you?" "Take you with me. you old villain? How could I get along without you? Y'ou're responsible for this catch of fur. and you know it." Savanne gravely shook Ills head. "Eet was you who tak" de chance on de riviere to fin' Solid. Wen we go to Albanee I tell dem peopP dat de new man at Elkwan ees hell on catch de fur."' Guthrie stopped to laugh at the serious se-rious half-breed. Of the loyalty of his head man, who had taught him practically all he knew about pelts, he had had ample proof. Down the coast over the sea-ice traveled the sled loaded with the Christmas trade. At Kapiskau. where the early January dusk overtook them, they turned up the delta to the post to pass the night with the surprised Boucher, whose Indians at Akimiski had left him to trade with McDonald. Starting the following morning under un-der the stars, before the light died, the sled from Elkwan sighted the buildings of Fort Albany. As Garth and Etienne entered the trade room, Cameron, curious of the result of their mission, called: "Well, well, what's the news from the island? Did you get across the ice?" , "Y"es, we got across a week before '' Christmas, but had a tough time," Guthrie dissembled gravely, nudging Etienne. "Didn't see how you could do any good going over there. Your man failed to hold any of the Elkwan people, peo-ple, then?" surmised the disappointed Cameron. "Same way with Attawapiskat Attawap-iskat and Kapiskau they lost most of their people went to the schooner. It sure grinds me to think of that McDonald Mc-Donald coming in here and taking all that fur." "Well, he outbids us for it, and it's only human in the Indians to let him have it. How much is the whole island trade worth in an average year, anyway?" suddenly asked Garth. "Let's see," said Cameron, scratching scratch-ing his grizzled head. "Um, I should say that it runs about two hundred fox skins, all kinds." "Well, Mr. Cameron," drawled the brought in inul the dogs fed, Guthrie told the story. "Do you realize, major, that this Is the largest Christinas trade ever made by a subsidiary post of Albany? Your scheme and your nerve In seeing It through make the rest up the coast look like pretty dead people. My heartiest congratulations!" The factor fac-tor of Albany grasped Guthrie's hand. "The men who turned this trick are Etienne and old Soucl," protested Garth. "I don't want you to forget them. I did little." Cameron slapped the proud half-brecd half-brecd on the back. "No fear of my forgetting Etienne Savanne. lie's worked with mo too many years. Now I wish you'd listen to what they write from Moose." The Albany factor went to his desk and, returning with a letter, read to Guthrie: "The Montreal office has got the Idea that this free-trader, McDonald, may be the man wanted in Nova Scotia for a murder committed about three years ago. A returned soldier struck and killed a man supposed to be his wife's lover, lie was traced to Newfoundland. According to Mc-Mann Mc-Mann nt Charlt.n Island, the description descrip-tion of the soldier tallies with the ni-pearance ni-pearance of this Laughing McDonald. I have written Montreal that the schooner is wintering on this coast. I expect the provincial police will show-up show-up here soon to Investigate." "Now. what d'you think of that?" demanded Cameron of the man whose thoughts were centered on the homecoming home-coming of a soldier with disfigured face a face repulsive, unbearable to the woman whose weakness had caused the murder. "There must be ten thousand men in Canada with scarred faces, Cameron. Came-ron. I'.ecause Laughing McDonald happens to have one doesn't make him the murderer." Cameron sensed that the reply had a personal tinge was In the narure of a defense of the maimed legions, and said quietly: "No. of course not, but this McDonald sailed out of St. Johns. Queer If he should be the bird they're after." "How many police will they send on this case?" "Ob, not more than two." "I'm sorry for them, then. They'd never come back. Do you think that two men can go to that schooner in Seal cove and get McDonald, If he's the guiky man? Me wouldn't be taken alive and I've a notion that life isn't worth much to McDonald Ha ! Ha !" "Why, you seem to sort of sympathize sympa-thize with this pirate who's stealing our trade," objected the other. The gray eyes of the factor of Elkwan Elk-wan held those of Cameron In a penetrating pene-trating look, as he said "I do." The brooding face of the man with the scarred cheek sought the window. The tragedy of the man at Seal cove, if he proved to be the Nova Scotian soldier wanted by the police, was, he realized, simply the story of Garth Guthrie in an exaggerated form. The wife he had come home to. like Ethel, had turned from the mutilated face lacked the womanhood to shield him with her heart from the mockery of an unfeeling orld. How many of the Canadian maimed, he wondered, the broken, the crippled, had walked in Gethsemane with Garth Guthrie and Laughing McDonald? How many had seen veiled horror in the eyes of those they loved? . "Well, I sympathize with any man whose wife goes wrong," the voice of Cameron went on, after a pause, "but that don't justify murder, Guthrie." "I'm not so sure." was the quiet you're here nt Albany, and I'm at Al bany, mid I hereby announce that I'rr going to Klay a day, or two, or thrno inul talk to you." "I'm Mire," nhe wild with II low bow, "tluit. you are most Ihitlerlng. Hut you forget that my employer, Mr. Swan, (Ioom not approve of you, nlr." "All the worse for Swan, then, for I'm going to see you tomorrow morning, morn-ing, al'leriiooii, mid evening, Swan or no Swan. I am a masterful mini and will have my way. What time tonight do I knock on the door of the Reverend Rev-erend Swan?" Willi all his eyes Garth was caressing the face which had come to I 1 1 i by the fin- In the snow, followed him over the tundra of Akb inlskl, companioned his drcaniH. The miracle of her being here to talk to look ut, when he had thought her soillh across the forests! And why had she stayed on. In the dreary north? "I think you could come up tonight." .loan's teeth Hashed In an alluring smile. "I'll try to reconcile Mr. Swan to the bitter dose of your presence. He needs me here, you know finds my experience valuable." Itemovlng his niltlen, wllh a quick movement Garth slipped oil' tin? mlt- J ten of the surprised girl and took her' hand. "I need you here," he said, "as well as Swan. Eight o'clock tonight!" And walked swlflly away, mad hopo In his brain, his emotions out of hand. Why bud she stayed? Why had she stayed? he kept asking himself as he hurried to Cameron's house. At supper at the Camerons' Guthrie said: "I met an old friend on the clearing tonight." The kindly eyes of the factor's wife grow quizzical as they met the glance of her guest. "She was here when Etlonno ciime to the kitchen and told us of your success. What did you do to that girl last September? She and I have talked a lot about you this winter." Guthrie's heart warmed to the Inference. Infer-ence. He felt the blood III his face, and strove to cover his embarrassment with the question: "How did she come to stay and help that effigy of a man, Swan?" Mis. Cameron smiled. "They were dreadfully In need of some one who bad training. IIlf the children had some ailment mid Swan and his wife were at their wits' end. I suppose Joan couldn't resist the call, as her brother was to return to the bay In the spring." "Did you meet him?" asked Garth. "iii, yes, they ate here several limes. Very important person the doctor !" "Ah-h!" This from Cameron. "What's tlie matter," laughed Garth. "Didn't you like him?" "Like him? It was all I could do lo keep my bands olT that rooster," growled the Mrd of Albany. "He made a formal protest In writing to the company to the effect that he h:;d been insulted by you and that you re-fiiM'd re-fiiM'd to get bis stuff on Akimiski, but I tobi them at Moose what I thought of lii.1i." Gr.nh was grateful to Cameron for his mission of other details of Quar-rii Quar-rii r'n charges, which he knew Joan Inn! scornfully demolished. "V.'ell. Miss Quarrier Is not responsible respon-sible for her brother. Could I bring her over from the Mission tonight? Swan almost kicked me out In September." Sep-tember." "Why, of course, Major Guthrie. 1 was going to ask you to," said Mrs. Cameron. "The poor child has a dreary enough time with the Swans. They've been worrying about her Soul, you know, because of her liberal views on religion." After supper Garth hurried over the trail to the mission. At Ids knock the door was opened by the missionary. If Garth Guthrie had been susceptible sus-ceptible to withering looks from a reverend gentleman whose meager frame stiffened uneasily In the black cloth and clerical collar affected by Mr. Swan, he would have been embarrassed em-barrassed at the chilly reception extended ex-tended to him when he said: "Good evening, Mr. Swan I I have come to take Miss Quarrier over to the Camerons' for the evening." "Y'ou, sir." indignantly replied the missionary, "have put yourself beyond the pale have no right to the society of pure women." Hands on hips, for a space Garth smiled good-naturedly down on the greatly excited Swan, struggling heroically he-roically with the part his conscience bride him play. Then he said quietly: "Swan, If you choose to believe the nonsense with which Qarrier has filled your peanut brain, there is no law to prevent It. Rut Miss Quarrier has had opportunity to judge and she doesn't believe it. She is also her own mistress and capable of determining her own actions. She Is going to the Camerons' with me now. Tell her I'm here !" The last was spoken with such cold vehemence that Reverend Swan Instinctively In-stinctively drew back, fearing bodily harm. But the little man was stubborn. stub-born. "Miss Quarrier was placed up-der up-der my protection by her brother. 1 have a duty" "Oh, is that you, Mr. Guthrie?" called a feminine voice from somewhere some-where in the building. "Just a minute! min-ute! I'm putting on my coat." "Miss Quarrier," announced the red-faced red-faced missionary, aware that the situation situ-ation was swiftly slipping from his control, "I forbid you walking to, the Camerons' with this man." "Oh, Mr. Swan ! You can't be really serious," said Joan, appearing in a doorway. "Mrs. Cameron expects me and I'm sure my reputation is good enough to survive the walk there with Mr. Guthrie." She was talking as one coaxes a child, and Guthrie bit h!' lips in an attempt to stifle a laugh. (T0 BE CONTINUED.) "It Sure Grinds Me to Think of That McDonald Coming in Here." counted on the fingers of a hand. It was a stranger a new missionary teacher at the orphan Indian school, doubtless. At the mission the paths met, and Guthrie turned with a "good evening," as the woman In the fur capote came abreast, to gasp, with a furiously pounding heart, as he looked Into the laughing eyes of Joan Quarrier. Quar-rier. "Y'ou! Here?" he exclaimed, gazing at the uptllted hood as if at a ghost. "Welcome to Albany, Mr. Exile," she cried, extending a mittened hand. "I've just left Mrs. Cameron, and knew of your arrival with that fabulous fabu-lous amount of fur. Congratulations on your defeat of Laughing McDonald." McDon-ald." "You wintering at Albany," he continued, 'and you never told me!" The color rose to the dark hair on her forehead. "I found a job. Y'ou see they needed a nurse terribly, at the school." Her eyes avoided his searching look now. "My brother returns re-turns in the spring, so I decided to wait for him here." "F.ut when I left, you were leaving in a day or two for Moose," he relentlessly relent-lessly persisted. "And you wrote my Christmas letter and never told me you were only ninety miles away," he added reproachfully. "I I couldn't interfere with the your fight for the fox trade," she replied re-plied weakly. "Well, the fact Is, Miss Joan Quarrier," Quar-rier," he said with a laugh, "mat factor of Elkwan. "I've got half of It out on the sled, then." "What?" Cameron stared stupidly into the twinkling eyes of the man before him. "Thought you said you didn't half of it? What d'yub mean, half of it? Half of what?" sputtered the puzzled trader. "Why, half of the Akimiski trade. We got a hundred skins." "You got a hundred ? Why, man, you said you didn't hold 'em your people. Are you crazy, Guthrie?" cried the excited Cameron. Unable to contain his mirth, Etienne exploded at the far end of the trade counter, as Garth replied: "You took it for granted that we failed. I didiw say we fell down." chaffed Guthrie. "For heaven's sake, man, stop your fooling and tell me the truth. Do you mean to say that you've got a hundred hun-dred fox from Akimiski on that sled out there?" demanded Cameron. "I do." "Well I'll be skinned alive!" And the dazed trader stood, fists on hips gaping at the grinning Garth and Etienne. "How In Jehoshaphat did you do It? You got 'em, after all, with Souci?" "Souci and Etienne, here, scared tnem to death." Then, when the fx- packs had been ! |