Show r F-r 0 Vanished Men v c cp t p Penn Publishing Cd Co C B By GEORGE MARSH Service o INSTALLMENT TWELVE TilE THE STORY SO FAR FAit Bound for the Suspicion prevails that Isadore rich fur furman Isadore's stepdaughter Answering an anI anI gold country six men lost man has bas made a gold strike and alms aims appeal from Lise Finlay Is ambushed I their lives on the river Red to o keep prospectors out ont of the country but escapes It develops that they are Malone Garrett Finlay brother of or one at any cost En route to the Hudsons Hudson's Mounted Police PoUce officers They continue of the six and half breed guide flay Day post they visit Isadore in his on to the Post and discuss the situation e arrive at posing as surveyors palatial home borne meet his wife and LIse with McNab a trader Y i I bet his liquor comes in by air said Red n. n Exactly So he tried to wipe you tried out out tried to stop a government survey survey survey sur- sur vey party Now I wonder just why What's back of it all L Of course th they y must have decided dep de- de p that we were only prospectors posing as surveyors Shooting prospectors is not so dangerous as firing on government a men but its it's still murder aint it snorted McNab True laughed Finlay trading I winks with Red Rd behind the back of n nn 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 evening eve- eve ning would be long If youve you've heard he flies stuff in from somewhere somewhere some- some t where south in the Province possibly possibly possibly bly youve you've heard about the August plane from the Bay suggested Garry From the Bay demurred Mc- Mc Nab Now what in thunder would I he be be Wait Wait a minute The trader scratched his jaw as his shut half-shut eyes squinted at a rack gun-rack in a ai i seeming effort to recapture a vague memory Ive urve got it he ed North at Rupert House two summers back they were talking about a strange schooner some traveling traveling trav tray eling cling Crees had told of seeing off the mouth of the The Indians Indians Indians In In- said a sea plane was lying in 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 Vas it spring summer or fall faU they saw it McNab nursed his chin Why I Ilet's lets let's see I was at Rupert in early I September It must have been inthe in inthe inthe the summer Finlay's face brightened with sat sat- McNab that plane was bound for Waswanipi Every August August August Au 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 Malone and I would like to know S S S S S After 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 al alife alife l life e of isolation and worry and an excited girl with an unruly red-gold red bob and the height and vitality of her father welcomed them Mary this is Mr Finlay and Mr Malone said the trader Gentlemen Gentlemen Gentlemen Gen my daughter Thistle The quick violet eyes of the girl swept Finlay's erect figure and cut clean 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 regu regu- lar teeth that the girls girl's dancing eyes eyes clung As she laughed at Malones Malone's sallies dimples dented her brown cheeks What a pair pairl thought Garry If 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 if you jOU do hang on until that plane shows up from the i iBay Bay how are you going to learn if she carries gold south with that Indian Indian In In- InI I dian mob of Isadore's watching her I Man its it's ridiculous l Malone laughed Youve never neverseen seen Sergeant TL Finlay operate n n said saiu quietly if were we're there when that plane arrives arrives arrives ar ar- ar- ar rives were we're going to learn what all aU 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 the got nerve all right But have you ever seen what whiskey will do to bush Indians Tete-Blanche Tete 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 to go back until you have help The gray irises of Finlay's eyes were rings of steel circling the pu pu- pu- 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 nL L U wagged his sandy head I know Sergeant I 1 know I But think of the odds man Its It's fifty to one up there now with the Indians against you youl Red grinned at the grave face of his chief U At At Fort McLeod it was wasa a hundred miners to one Mountie eh Sergeant What happened asked McNab Sergeant Finlay elbowed his way t into that mob of drunks and took his man Mr McNab I 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 I They say Isadore brought him here from the West up Gods God's Lake way He was probably wanted there and had to leave 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 Tb T l T. T s. s 1 T. T l 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 car car- ried ned in his wallet to the trader McLeod McLeod Mc 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 l snorted Red U About Tete-Blanche Tete Finlay's dark face was bitter Is he half crazy The night they trussed me up upI I had a good look at athis his eyes The pupils dilated like those of an Eskimo Eskimo Eskimo Eski Eski- mo gone McNab squinted hard at the speaker You know I believe he is I 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 him They think hes he's got some mysterious power power- talks wit with the spirits But its it's this I medicine-man medicine k that he works through whiskey and medicine-making medicine have turned the young bucks against us said Fin- Fin lay lave w By By the way McNab why did Isadore build such an elaborate outfit 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 ies 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 sandbars sand sand- bars in the upper Waswanipi That may be the answer But Sergeant the trader rested his hand on Finlay's Finlay's Finlay's 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 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 beside be be- side the thundering Waswanipi U As 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 start back CHAPTER 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 face Ive ulve guessed what you are you are you two she said her chestnut brows meeting as she searched his candid eyes in an effort to read what lay Jay in his heart Its the way you Mounties carry yourselves yourselves some some something thing so cool and masterful about you You cant can't fool me Mr Man I know youre you're police Tears suddenly suddenly suddenly sud 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 desperately des des- I want to ro see you again I want you to come back 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 Matagami to to you kid Then with a shrug 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 pitty-pat pitty or Ill I'll rumple that gold stuff you call can 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 irresistible irresistible ir ir- ir- ir resistible Red o Over at the trade-house trade Finlay and McNab were saying good My men should reach the steel with your report in thirteen days but I wish you'd change your mind Sergeant Ask for immediate help and wait here for it FiMlay's thoughts were with the girl Sirl who waited for hi his hb mp at Waswanipi His His mouth o th curled at ata t- t a corner In his eyes was the glint of sun on young ice McNab the Mounted Police never send for immediate immediate immediate im im- im- im mediate help I know I know 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 rotten- The trade-room trade door swung wide and Blaise rushed inCano inCano inCano in Cano comin from de David David David Da Da- Da- Da vid look in glass and say it come from Isadore I hid 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 I 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 orders Finlay took his binoculars from his duffle bag If they stop here Red 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 out to overtake overtake overtake over over- take us on the river D. D L L u 1 u n LU IllS nis 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 1 Far to the east on the wind-rippled wind surface of Matagami moved a black speck Finlay focused his glasses It was a big Peterboro driven by byan byan byan an outboard motor with a crew of lour tour menDo menDo menDo men Do you recognize any of them he asked McNab Not yet But its it's from Hes He's got the only outboard motor inthis in inthis inthis this coun country try 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 he heup up there in the loft fur-loft and hear it all Tell Ten 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 sho show v up at Correct Ill I'll handle those Indi In In- di ans Make them talk even if you have to feed them some of that scotch f rf T Ti T. 11 11 t. t 1 t. t wi v. A AI WILl WU u uc ut Id legal lor lur 11 ILSan ns ILS S San an order from the police The two men grinned Leave it to me Sergeant Red and Blaise appeared with their Lee Lec Dont think you'll need them Red said Finlay Now well we'll hit that 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 ing Finlay outlined his conversation conversation conversa tion with McNab Suppose Tete-Blanche Tete is in that canoe queried Red Our job is Isadore cautioned Finlay What we want today is information A fight here will vill spoil it all Red chuckled I wasn't serious chief I was only worrying about Blaise Well We'll have to lie on him to keep him from jumping through that hatch Brassards Brassard's slit silt eyes glittered inthe in inthe inthe the light half-light as he grunted I can wait But dis big fallar wid vid red redhead redhead redhead head we have tough time to keep his mout shut Red shook Blaise's calloused paw Now were we're square you old wolverine wolverine wol wol- verine Shut up snapped I coming TO BE UE CONTINUED |