The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-06-22

until was given charge Of post.
And, lie Pager
Yes, factor"
"You will discontinue having your
way OF looking at things. You belong
TO the company, and voice the com.
pany's orders. Understand? Any fail.
ure on your part, or leaving the serv.
ice, means losing everything coming
to you. That's the contract"
II have read IT," smlingly. land my
way OF looking at things has never In.
terfered with my work so far. You
know that"
Yes. the factor knew It. But still his
eyes followed the strong figure as II
strobe away with anything but friend.
ly 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 most
pelts, he would long ago have found
means of getting rid of him. More
over, he had an uneasy feeling that the
company valued lie Pages services al.
most US much as 1t did his own.
Inside Of half an hour lie Page had
selected ammunition ami provisions
and picked out the four men who were
to accompany him-the best Mt the
trading post, he believed and men after
his own heart; strong, why, lndefati.
gable, who would fight or work so long
90 lasted and on whom he
40, i. TIC work was not such
a.. vJaii Ike. but that did not mat
to-. +; '.E the company's and he was
in t,.e c1"tpany'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. Beyond,
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, examining the woods thor.
oughly. They have likely built n cabin
somewhere, and If they see us first and
suspect our crrand they may try to
keep out of sight"
walt moment" exclaimed one of
the men. isn't that smoke half II mile
or so down yonder, over those pine
topsT And he pointed with his fin
ger.
lie Page shaded his eyes.
Yes, that's smoke" he said after a
sharp scrutiny, land 1t seems near the
stream. They've built there on ac-
count of the water. Well, we'll fol-
low right down the bank and settle
things at once. But mind, men. no
fighting unless there's need. Wen try
to persuade them to leave peaceably.
II they refuse to go, we'll use force.
l think we can get back to the post by
tomorrow night"
There was little need OF caution, for
the ground along the bank was COW
cred with pine needles and gave no
sound of their footsteps, and the trees
were so thick as to conceal everything
q few rods away. 1t was only when
they had approached to within thirty
yards that they saw the cabin.
But before they reached 1t woman
came hurrying out wringing her hands.
"Oh, mon Dieu, mon Dieuw she cried
wildly. 'My husband has been hurt
by a falling tree and must have
doctor. 1t is sixty miles, and l have
n little baby and cannot leave 1t and
my husband. Oh, messleurs, messieurs,
do not let him dle!"
lie Page was man of quick thought
and prompt action and of sympathetic
heart. Whrllng to his men, he said
bluntly:
you will return at once to the
factor. Tell him the expedition Is a
failure. Wait, will send him note"
He scrubbed a few lines on the back
Of an envelope and gave 1t to one of
the men. Now co." he ordered. The
note read
Factor-I did not have the nerve after
all. am going to the River des Ounce
post after doctor for the man. who Is
hurt. can go quicker than any one else.
or course / shall lose the 600 due me,
since leave the company's service.
LIE PAGE.
But ne did not lose the money.
Three months afterward letter reach
ed him through an Indian runner. 1t
was from the company's office in Lon
don and ran:
By advice OF our correspondent at Que
bee we have decided 10 appoint you to the
factorship OF the trading post which con-
trolls your section, Your predecessor we
have transferred to another post. Yours
respectfully, T. PAYNE, Secretary.
=. S.-Any arrears Of salary due you
will be sent from the Quebec office.
beginning of the Trouble.
NVno uaiI nrao1arn tN,bn