The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-28

N ~ LbkO. ga L y OclA Gel III Low
N son had been meteoric, to say
the least. She was the widow
Of a well-known mining engineer, and
why she, of all women, should have
come into the country was the great
Interrogation. But they were prac-
teal breed, the men of the Northland,
with wholesome disregard for theories
and firm grip on facts. And to not
a few of them Karen Sayther was
most essential fact. That she did not
regard the matter in this light is evil
denced by the neatness and celebrity
with which refusal and proposal tailed
off during her four weeks stay. And
with her vanished the fact, and only
the Interrogation remained.
To the solution chance vouchsafed
one clue. Her last victim, Jack Cough
ran, having fruitlessly laid at her feet
both his heart and a 50O-foot creek
claim on Bonanza, celebrated the mis-
fortune by walking all of a night with
the gods. In the midwatch of this night
he happened to rub shoulders with
Pierre Fountaine, none other than head
man of Karen Sayther's voyageurs.
This rubbing Of shoulders led to recog-
milton and drinks, and ultimately in
volVed both men in common muddle
of inebriety.
"Heh?" Pierre Fountaine later on
gurgled thickly. "Vot for Madame Say
Their max visitation to thees country?
More better you spik wit her. l know
no ting tall, only all de tam her ask
one mans name, Pierre her spik wit
me; Pierre, you moos' find thees MANS
crff
dollar you find thees man. Thees man?
All, oui. Thees mans name-vot you
call-Daveed Payne. All de tam her
spik das name. And all de tam I look
round vaire mooch, work lax hell, but
no can find das dam mans, and no get
one thousand dollar. tall. By DAM"
Out madame, thees is de place. One,
twos asree island below Stuart river
Thess is tree island
AS he spoke, Pierre Fountaine drove
his pole against the bank, and held the
stern of the boat against the current
This thrust the bow in, till a nimble
halfbreed climbed ashore with the
painter and made fast.
"Cne leel tam, madame, / go look
see."
appearance over the edge of the bank,
but a minute later he was back again.
"Oui, madame, thees is de cabin.
max investigation. No can find mans
at home. But him no go vaire far, vaire
long, or him no leave dogs. Him come
queek, you bet!"
Help me out, Pierre. I'm tired all
over from the boat. You might have
made it softer, you know"
From nest of furs amidships, Karen
Sayther rose to her full height of slen-
der fairness.
Still, for all the careless ease with
which she had made the landing, there
was a warmer color than usual to her
face and perceptibly extra beat to her
heart.
Look, see!'" Pierre pointed to the
scattered chips by the woodpile. Him
fresh-two, tree day, no more"
Mrs. .Sayther nodded. She tried to
peer through the small window, but it
was made of creased parchment, which
admitted light while 1t blocked vision.
Failing this, she went round to the
door, half lifted the rude latch to enter,
but changed her mind and let it fall
back into place. Then she suddenly
dropped on one knee and kissed the
rough hewn threshold. If Pierre Foun-
tame saw, he gave no sign, and the
memory in the time to come was never
shared. But the next instant one of
the boatmen, placidly lighting his pipe,
was startled by an unwonted harshness
in his captains voice.
Hey! You! LIE Goire! You maxim
soft more BETTER" Pierre commanded.
PLENTY bearskin; plenty blanket.
Daml"
But the nest was soon after dis
rupted and the major portion tossed up
to the crest of the shore, where Mrs.
Sayther lay down to wait in comfort.
"Ahi him come thees tam," he whis-
pered, after long silence, his gaze
bent up the river to the head of the
island.
A canoe, with paddle flashing on
either side, was slipping down the cur
rent. In the stern mans form and in
the bow a Woman'S swung rhythmically
to the work. Dipping long strokes and
strong, the girl, in concert with the
man, suddenly whirled the tiny craft
about against the current and brought
1t gently to the shore. Another instant
and she stood at the top of the bank
heaving up by rope, hand under hand,
quarter of fresh killed moose. Then
the man followed her, and together
with a swift rush, they drew up the
canoe. The dogs were in a whining
mass about them, and as the girl
stopped among them caressingly the
mans gaze fell upon Mrs. Sayther, who
had risen. He looked, brushed his ewes
NASOAi2OAOuS1y as bAOu64l Ills Sight were
deceiving him, and looked again.
Karen" he said simply, coming for
ward and extending his hand. 81
thought for the moment I was dream
ing. 1 went snow-blind for time this
spring, and since then my eyes have
been playing tricks with me-
"You know, Dave, threatened often
to come, and l would have, too, only
only
only I didn't give the word" David
Payne laughed and watched the Indian
girl disappearing into the cabin.
ooh, l understand, Dave, and had ]