Show J e 4 Vanished 1 I and 0 Penn Ca By Br GEORGE MARSH V TILE iE STORY SO FAR Bound for the theISM C ISM gold Eold country six men lost their r uses lives on the river Red of or Malone lalone i nC Garrett Finlay Finlay- brother of one the Ule six and liaise halfbreed half breed guide arrive at al NO posing as sune surveyors ors Ill bet his liquor comes in by air air said Red Ex Exactly So he tried to wipe you out out tried tried to stop a government survey survey survey sur sur- vey party Now I wonder just why What's back of it all Of co course they must have decided de de- decided d that we were only prospectors posing as surveyors Shooting prospectors is not so dangerous as firing on government men but brit its it's still murder aint it snorted McNab True laughed Finlay trading winks with Red behind the back of the outraged McNab The traders trader's hatred of Isadore would be useful He knew much about Waswanipi which they would learn for the evening evening eve eve- ning would be long If It youve you've heard he flies fifes stuff in from somewhere somewhere somewhere some some- where south in the Province possibly possibly bly youve you've heard about the August plane from the thc Bay suggested Garry From the Bay demurred McI Mc Mc- I Nab Now what In der thunder would he be Wait be-Wait Wait a minute The trader scratched his jaw as his shut half eyes squinted at a rack gun in a seeming effort to recapture a vague memory Ive got it he ed North at Rupert House two summers back they were talking about a strange schooner some traveling traveling traveling trav trav- eling Crees had told of seeing off the mouth of the The Indians Indians In In- Indians said a sea plane was lying in inthe inthe inthe the lee of an anchored ship Later the plane headed south and disappeared 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 fall taU they saw it McNab nursed his chin Why lets let's see I was at Rupert in early September It must have been in inthe inthe inthe the summer Finlay's face brightened with sat sat- McNab that plane was bound for Waswanipi Every August Au- Au i gust Sf l a plane from the North stops there then heads south Waswanipi blurted the puzzled trader the reason for it 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 Malone and I would like to know After Alter a up clean-up and shave Finlay and Red joined the 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 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 Gentlemen my daughter Thistle The quick violet eyes of the girl swept Finlay's erect figure and cut clean features with a passing glance of ot approval But it was to Reds Red's freckled ed face with its in infectious infectious infectious in- in grin which bared his 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 checks What a pair thought Garry If I I know the signs she's fallen for tor the devil already Far into the night three men satin sat 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 3 chance But if it you do hang on until that plane shows up from the Bay how are you going to learn if it she carries gold south with that Indian Indian In In- dian dial mob of Isadore's watching her Man its it's ridiculous Malone laughed Youve never neverseen neverseen neverseen seen Sergeant Finlay operate McNab said Finlay quietly if were we're there when that plane arrives arrives arrives ar ar- 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 of them all Youve You've got the nerve all right But have you ever seen what whiskey will do do to bush Indians Tete Blanche Tete-Blanche Blanche and that wipe you out then hide up in the Bitter BitterWater 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 you to go back until you have help The gray irises of ot Finlay's eyes were rings of ot steel circling the pu pils our hard luck then 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 he head d. d I know Sergeant I 1 know But think of the odds man Its It's fifty to one up there now with the Indians against you Red grinned at the grave face of his 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 t iob of of drunks and took his mah man man- Mr McNab I INSTALLMENT TWELVE Suspicion prevails that Isadore rich fur furman furman furman man has made a gol gold strike and alms to keep prospectors out of the country at any cost En route roule to the Hudsons Hudson's lay Bay a post they visit Isadore In his palatial home meet his wife and Lise X- X McNab's face lit with admiration What do you know about this Tete-Blanche Tete ever seen him I saw him once at the steeL He looked uglier than a starved wolf Never saw such a face They say Isadore brought him here from the West Vest up Gods God's Lake way He was probably wanted there and had to lea leave ve Two years ago after those four men were reported drowned he went up river to and hung around making a lot of veiled threats He had everybody uneasy The people know Isadore is rich and think he has government pull of some kind They'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 carried car car- ried in hi his wallet to the trader McLeod McLeod Mc Me Leod did more than talk He wrote McNab returned the letter what they all think up there Pretty state of affairs in a free country snorted Red About Blanche Tete-Blanche Finlay's dark face was bitter Is he half hall 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 the speaker You know mow I believe he is I I J t r I ire J 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 Indians In In- are afraid of ot him They think hes he's got some mysterious power power- talks with the spirits But its it's this medicine-man medicine that he works through whiskey and medicine making have turned the young bucks against us said Finlay 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 Hes He's got gota a partner in Montreal Blondell who flies 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 besides be be- sides handle the fur And they cant can't find out No Its It's a mystery How about placer gold asked Red what they've suspected Flake gold and nuggets would be easy to transport secretly in a plane He may have struck some rich sandbars sandbars sand sand- bars in hi the upper Waswanipi That may be the answer But Sergeant the trader rested his hand on Finlay's Finlay's Fin Fin- lays lay's shoulder as they parted forthe for forthe forthe the night I 1 wish you'd have that police plane sent here and wait wail 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 Waswanipi Was Was- With the Indians loose and Isadore not knowing youre you're police 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 Asyet Asyet As Asyet yet Ive I've nothing tangible on Isadore except this liquor business with the Indians Before Im I'm through Ill I'll have something hell he'll swing for Im I'm not sending for help McNab Tomorrow Tomorrow Tomorrow To To- morrow we ve start back CHAPTER R XIII I 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 sober face face Ive guessed what you arc you are you two she said her her- chestnut brows meeting as as she searched his candid eyes eves in an effort to read what lay Isadore's stepdaughter Answering a an e appeal from Lise Finlay Is ambushed but escapes It develops that they are arc Mounted Police officers They continue on to the Post and discuss the Uie situation with McNab a trader 7 oJ in his heart Its the way you Mounties carry yourselves yourselves some some something thing so cool and masterful about you jou You cant can't fool me Mr Man I know youre you're police Tears sud denly blurred her eyes as she drew drewa a quick breath And I know from the way father acted this morning that he never expects to see you again Oh Red she flung out desperately desperately des des- I want to see you again I want you to come back Nell Neil Neill Red had the girls girl's trembling hands in his Im coming back Thistle he said and his voice was hoarse with feeling Im coming back straight to Mataga to Matagami-to to to you kid Then with a shrug of of his heavy shoulders he swallowed hard and the dancing lights returned to his eyes Now flash those white dazzlers of yours in one of those smiles that makes my heart go pat pitty-pat or Ill I'll rumple that gold stuff you call hair right before your mother who's watching us through the window A smile broke through the girls girl's clouded face at the sally of the irresistible Ir Irresistible ir- ir resistible Red Over a at t the trade house Finlay and McNab were saying good good y My men should reach the steel with your report in hi thirteen days but I wish you'd change your mind Sergeant Ask for immediate help and wait here for It Finlay's thoughts were with the girl who waited for his message at Waswanipi His mouth curled at a corner corner In his eyes was the glint of ot sun on young joung ice McNab the Mounted Police never send for immediate immediate immediate im im- mediate help I know I know knowl McNab wagged his head resignedly as he gripped Finlay's hard hand But I like you two boys Its It's a shame shame shame-a a rotten roUen The trade-room trade door swung wide and Blaise rushed inCano inCano in inCano Cano com comin in from de easl easI David David Da Da- David Da- Da vid look in hi glass and say it come from Isadore I hid cano cano and shut up Flame Tell Red I want him quick Malone burst into the room Put your glasses on that canoe Garry Red cried Mine are packed Something's Something's Something's Some Some- things thing's up Are they near enough to see us No they're miles away What I Iare are the orders Finlay took his binoculars from his duffle bag If I they stop here Red he said well hole up in hi the loft fur and listen while McNab draws them out It may prove able They've decided we passed them that night and are out to overtake overtake over over- take us on the river Red shrugged his wide shoulders Overtake you and Blaise and me in strong water Swell chance But we dont don't happen to be running No we dont don't happen to be running running running run run- ning Far to the thc east on the wind rippled surface of Matagami moved a black speck Finlay focused his glasses It was a big Peterboro driven byan by byan byan an outboard motor with a crew of four menDo men menDo Do you recognize any of them he asked McNab Not yet But its it's from Hes He's got the only outboard motor in inthis inthis inthis this country The two returned to the trade- trade room while Finlay made his plans Whoever It is McNab get them inhere in inhere inhere here and pump them dry Well We'll lie up there in hi the loft fur and hear It all 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 Isadore Isa Isa- dore when we show up at nip Correct Ill I'll handle those In In- Make them talk even if you have to feed them some of that scotch of ot yours It will be legal for fer its it's an order from the police The two men grinned Leave it to me Sergeant Red and Blaise appeared with their Lee Dont think you'll need them Red 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 thc floor of ot hand hand- hewn spruce planks near the open ing Finlay outlined his conversation conversation conversa tion with McNab Suppose Blanche Tete-Blanche is in hi that canoe queried Red Our job is Isadore cautioned Finlay What we want today Is s information A fight here will spoil it all Red chuckled I wasn't serious chief I was only worrying about abou Blaise Well We'll have to lie on him to keep him from rom jumping through that hatch Brassards Brassard's slit eyes glittered Inthe in inthe inthe the light half as he grunted I can wait But dis big fallar Callar wid red redhead redhead head we have tough time to keep his mout shut R Red shook Blaise's calloused paw Now were we're square you old wolverine wolverine wol verine Shut Shut up up snapped Finlay coining corning TO rO HE RE CONTINUED J |