Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1906-12-12
CHAPTER /.

SF1AF EN- u
ASK Mr.. Hume to come here for
C. moment, Gosse. said Field, the
chief factor, as he turned from the
frosty window of his office at Fort
Provid ence, one of the Hudson Bay
company's posts The servant, or
more properly Orderly Sergeant
Gosse, late of the Scots Guards, de-
parted on his errand, glancing curl
ously at his masters face as he did
80. The chief factor. as he turned
round, unclasped his hands from be-
hind him, took few steps forward,
then standing still in the center of
the room read carefully through
letter which he had held in the
fingers of his right hand for the last
ten minutes as he scanned the wastes
of snow that stretched away beyond
Great Slave lake to the Arctic circle
and the Barren Grounds. He medi-
tated a moment, went back to the
window, looked out again, shook his
head negatively and with sigh
walked over to the huge fireplace.
He stood thoughtfully considering the
floor until the door opened and Sub
factor Jaspar Hume entered. The fac
tor looked up and said:
Hume, I've something here that's
been worrying me a bit. This letter
came in the monthly batch this
morning. 1t is from a woman. The
company sends another commencing
the cause of the woman and urging us
to do all that is possible to meet her
wishes. 1t seems that her husband is
a civil engineer of considerable fame.
He had a commission to explore the
Copper Mine region and portion of
the Barren Grounds. He was to be
gone six months He has been gone
year He left Fort Good Hope,
slirted Great Bear Lake, and reached
the Copper Mine river. Then he sent
back all of the Indians who accom-
panied him but two, they bearing the
message that he would make the
Great Fish river and come down by
Great Slave lake to Fort Providence.
That was nine months ago. He has
not come here, nor to any other of
the forts, nor has any word been re-
ceiyed from him. His wife, backed
by the H. Is. c., urges that relief
party be sent to look for him. They
and she forget that this is the Arctic
region, and that the task is we'll
nigh hopeless one. He ought to have
been here six months ago. Now, how
can we do anything? Our fort is
small, and there is always danger of
nunit
force men to join relief party like
this, and who will volunteer? VINO
would lead such party and who will
make up the party to be led?"
The brown face of Jaspar Hume
was not mobile. 1t changed in OK
but seldom; it preserved
steady and satisfying character of in
and force. Tho eyes, how
ever, were of an inquiring, debating
kind that moved from one thing to
another as if to got sense Of balance
before opinion or judgment was ex-
pressed. The face had remained i'm
passive, but the eyes had kindled a
little as the factor talked. To the
factors despairing question there was
not an immediate reply, The eyes
were debating. But they suddenly
steadied and Jaspar Hume said sen
tentiously, IN relief party should
COZ
Yes, yes; but who is to lead
them?"
Again the eyes debated,
,..Pead her letter." said the factor,
handing him 1t.
Jaspar Hume took it and mechan-
fcally scanned it.
The factor had moved toward the
table for his pipe. or he would have
seen the other start, and his nostrils
sv.n htly CULVER as his eyes grew CON
ecious OF what they were looking at.
Turning quickly, Jaspar Hume walked
toward the window as If for more
light, and with his back to his SUI
perior, he read the letter. Then he
turned and said. Il think this thing
should be done"
y The factor shrugged his shoulders
slightly: We'll. as to that, think SO,
too, but thinking and doing arc two
'dfferent things, Hume"
~ 'SWili you leave the matter in my
bands until the morning?"
Yves. OF course, and glad to do so,
You are the only man who can ar
range the affair. II 1t is to be done at
iall But l tell you, as you know,
that everything win depend upon
leader. even n you Secure the men.
rb.l So You had better keep the let
Ger for tonight It may help you to
got tho men together A wohap'a
hAniNfltlns will do more than O
'sina0p word any tlm9,Podl
Jasper Hnme'e eyeR had been look
lag A ae'fadlor 'bot .hey were