The San Francisco call., 1905-03-17

4
aastlsr's ''as ss's'"s sssss. sss hands ssnas ass
strated LIE Page bluntly.
It's putting our hands
upon shoulders that are bending over
our own cache retorted the factor
angrily. Our company came into
this country first and ranged it from
the divide to the snow line unmolest-
ed, and now these interlopers sneak
in and appropriate the best trapping
valley in the whole section. They
must be driven out, LIE Pag., and you
must do it,
Well thoughtfully, II suppose l
could do 1t. But from the divide to
the snow line is a big territory for
one company to claim. factor; and 1
don't think any of our men have been
into that particular valley for more
than two years. 1t is fifty miles away,
and off our regular line of work. I
generally scatter my men along the
river country on account of the ami
mails coming to drink and the easier
transportation. That family could re-
main in the valley lifetime and not
really hurt u.s. You know that, fac
tor Besides, they have just as much
right here as we have. And there is
another thing, coolly, and ignoring
the wrath that was flaming to the
factors face, ever since 1 heard how
they went to the valley last winter.
just d young man and his wife, across
300 miles OF as bleak country as even
a trapper ever turned his back to.
have wished that | could meet them
and shake hands"
You seem TO know all about them,
sneered the factor.
Not word more than you,. An
tome was up that way trapping, and
told you what he told the rest of us.
He met the man himself and heard
him say that he had not been mar
ried long, and that the two had reach
ed the valley in good condition. That
Is all only you and l look at things
differently"
The factors wrath could not con-
tain itself longer.
Perhaps so,'' he stormed, but
You're under contract to the COM
pany."
For five years." calmly, ito hunt,
trap and do the work according to my
ability. / am satisfied
Well" menacingly, you will take'
four men and go to this valley and
clear it of it's vermin.
How"
Amy way you like, so long as it's
done thoroughly snapped the factor.
You never asked a question like that
before. You must be losing nerve.
Shoot them, burn them, drown them:
there are ways enough. Or no"-cony
trolling himself with an effort-"per-
haps you'd better not do that. Stories
get out and prejudice the country
against us. Frighten them off. A
good way is to destroy their camp
and provisions and take away all their
weapons, then give them so many
hours to leave the country. They'll
go all right. / followed that method
until l was given charge of a post.
And, lie Pager?
Yes, factor
You will discontinue having your
way of looking at things. You belong
| to the company and l voice the COM
pany's orders. Understand? Any
] failure on your part, or leaving the
service, means losing everything COM
ling to you. That's the contract
1T have read it, smilingly, "and
my way of looking at things has never
interfered with my work SO far. You
know that
Yes, the factor knew it. But still
his eyes followed the strong figure as
it strode away with anything but
friendly looks. There was bad blood
between the two, and but for the fact
that LIE Page was worth any three
men at the post and could control the
/ others as no one else had ever done,
and seemed to have an instructive
knowledge of where to obtain the best
and the most pelts, he would long ago
! have found means of getting rid OF
him. Moreover, he had an uneasy
/ feeling that the company valued LIE
Pages services almost as much as it
/ did his own.
Inside OF half an hour lie Page had
selected ammunition and provisions
and picked out the four men who were
/ to accompany him-the best at the
trading post, he believed, and men
! after his own heart; strong, wiry, in
! defatigabfe. who would fight or work
so long as strength lasted. and on
whom he could depend. The work was
not such as he would like, but that did
not matter; it was the company's, and
| he was in the company'S service.
The second day they reached the
! head OF the valley, entering it by way
of ravine through which plunged an
icy stream. This they waded. Be-
yond, the ground sloped rapidly and
was thickly wooded. They could
! overlook most Of the valley.
Now, men," said LIE Page, suppose
we scatter and work gradually down
! the valley, examine the woods
| thoroughly. They have likely built a
cabin somewhere, and II they see us
first and suspect our errand, they may
| try to keep out of sight,
Wait moment, exclaimed one of
] the men: isn't that smoke half mile
or so down yonder, over those pine
! tops" And he pointed with his finger.
LIE Page shaded his eyes.
Yes, that's smoke" he said, after
| a sharp scrutiny, and it seems near
the stream. They've built there on
account of the wafer We'll wa'II fr,J