The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-03-13

M. Secotn: You win please sign both
these estimates, return one TO your folks.
and leave one with US. You will also
find herewith the certified check OF John
Jones payable on demand by Oscar
Sterner. room u. Superior building. Du-
luth. and money enough to pay your fare
from Beltrami to Duluth. A word to
the wise. and % forth. Zalmeier.
The check was for $1,000, and was
accompanied by a worn $40 bill. The
young cruiser sat choking With
wrath, Jet not daring to act upon i'm
pulse. The thief might be watching.
and must be led to think that the
large bait he had flung was taken.
Secoin had no doubt that the check
would be made good upon his signing
and returning a false estimate--an
underestimate. which would easily
discourage his employers from fur
ther venture; the thieves would re-
tain the duplicate estimate. bearing
his signature, as warranty that he
would fulfill his part of the fraud.
They could well afford to pay q con-
siderable sum for the certainty of
cleaning fortune out Of this remote
wilderness.
The cruiser carefully bestowed the
envelope in an inside pocket, and
calmly set about getting his supper.
He was not surprised to discover that
all his supplies of food, except bare
" enough to last four or five days,
had been stolen.
After ,hc had eaten, he rolled HIM
sell in his blanket, not to sleep, but
to think.
East of him, as he knew from his
cruisers map. lay the Chippewa res
ervation of Moose lake, and he deter
mined to reach the agency there at
the earliest possible moment.
He lay in perfect quiet until the last
ember of his little fire had fickercd
out. Then, putting his hand-ax in ita
sheath, he crawled cautiously .or 100
yards OF more in the direction In
which he wished to 60. Then he rose,
and with trained instinct for points
of the compass set out upon his night
journey.
For several miles he hurried among
the great trunks Of white and Norway
pines. then across rolling jack-pine
lands, until he reached the Moose
lake levels. Then he became en-.
tanged in tamarack swamp; he
could see no stars, and his sense of
direction availed little He lay N the
damp bog until daylight, and then
cut his way out. He reached Moose
lake agency at II o'clock in the morn
ing. The agent was in his office, but
had little patience for Secoin's story
and appeal for assistance.
II can't help you." he said. II can't
let an employe or an Indian leave
the reservation upon your company'a
errands."
Weary and somewhat discouraged.
the cruiser set out to seek informa-
tion from some one among the ma
tives, and at the very least TO secure
gun and ammunition; but tho In.
dians and half-breeds scattered about
in cabins and bark lodges regarded
with suspicion all his efforts TO inter.
est them.
After a vain attempt 10 exchange
his ready money and his az for an
effective breech-loadsr, he met on the
agency road young man Of about his
own age. carrying . medicine case.
This was the agency physician, q new
attashe at Moose lake. Secoin intro
duced himself. and tho young doctor.
glad to sec stranger, invited him
into his Office.
There Secoin again told his story
and his necessities, setting forth his
plan of action should he be able to
secure Q messenger and . good gun
for himself.
49," said the doctor, his face
auched with excitement, you propose
to tackle those fellows, II necessary
in that way!" His eyes shone with
admiration for the cruisers pluck.
"I wish could 60 with you, but my
hands are tied here. You may take
my express rife and oil my shells,
some Of 'em explosive bullets. and
pay" You're welcome. man. Now
just write what you wsut y ~ -
your company, and I'll find man to
get IL to them. Sit down at my desk" !"
When the letter was ready. the doc
tor opened his medicine case and
handed the tired cruiser Q small tab
let. "swallow that" he said, "and go
into the back room and fail on my
couch. IN wake you in time"
The cruiser laughed and obeyed.
Three hours later, much refreshed
and equipped for his perilous under
taking, he bade his new friend good
by, and again struck into the wilder
ness.
He Travelled due northwest until
midnight, slept upon bed Of pine
and "a hours later stood up
on bluff, looking down upon the low.
Or reaches OF Big Fork.
He had timed the loggers' progress,
steered his own course and reckoned
that Of the river with tolerable accur-
acy. Not far below he presently saw
two or three drivers Mt work. Dodg-
ing these men and making detour of