The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-10-19
THE DANGER TRAIL
JAMES OLIVER CURWOOD
Copyright 1910, The Bobbs-Merrill Company.


won't leave me in the dark to face
something from which you are run
ming away"
He lighted small lamp and
opened the door leading into the
other room. 1t was. as he had sur
missed, the sleeping chamber. The
bed, single chair and a mirror
and stand were it's sole furnishing
Returning to the larger room, he
threw off his coat and hat and
seated himself comfortably bfeore
the fire. Ten minutes later the
| door opened again and Jackpine en-
tered. He was supporting another
figure by the arm. and as Rowland
stared into the bloodless face Of
the man who came with him, he
gould not regress the exclamation
of establishment which rose to his
lips. Three months before he had
last seen Thorne in Chicago; man
/, In the prime of life, powerfully
| built, as straight as tree, the
most efficient and highest paid
man in the company's employ. How
often had he envied Thorne! For
years he had been his ideal of a
| great engineer. And now
He stood speechless. Slowly. as
If the movement gave him pain,
Thorne slipped off the great fur
coat from about his shoulders.
| One Of his arms was Suspended in
a sling. His huge shoulders were
bent, his eyes wild and haggard.
The smile that came to his lips as
he held out hand to Rowland
gave to his death-white face an
appearance even more CHASTITY.
Hello, jack" he greeted.
whats the matter, man? Do
look like a ghost?"
What is the matter, Thorne? I
found Gregson half dying at LIE
Pas, and now you-"
Its a wnoder you're not read
ing my name on a little board slab
instead of seeing yours truly in
flesh and blood. Jack" laughed
Thorne nervously "A ton of rock,
mana ton of rock, and l was I'M
der it,"
Over Thorne's shoulder the
young engineer caught glimpse
of the Cree's face. A dark flash
had shot into his eyes. His teeth
cleaned for an instant between his
tense lips in something that might
have been a sneer.
Thorne sat down, rubbing his
hands before the fire.
we've been unfortunate, Jack"
he said slowly. "Gregson and l
have had the worst kind of luck
since the day we struck this camp,
and we're no longer fit for the job.
1t will take us six months to get
| on our feet again. You'll find
everything here in good condition.
The line Is blazed straight to the
bay; we've got three hundred good
men, plenty of supplies, and SO far
as l know you'll not find a disaf-
fected hand on the Wekusl1o. Prob
ably Gregson and l will take hold
of the LIE Pas end Of the line in
the spring. It's certainly up to you
to build the roadway to the bay"
I'm sorry things have gone
badly" replied Rowland. He leaned
forward until his face was close to
his companions. "Thorne, Is there
man up here named Croisset-or
a girl called Meleese?"
He watched the senior engineer
closely. Nothing to confirm his
suspicious came into Thorne's face.
Thorne looked up, a little sur
prised at the tone of the others
voice.
mot that / know Of, Jack. There
may be man named Croisset
among our three hundred workers
you can tell by looking at the
payroll. There are Is or 20 mar
ried men among us and they have
families. Gregson knows more
about the girls than !. Anything
particular
Just word I've got for them
If they're here" replied Rowland
carelessly. Are these my quar-
ters?"
"If you like them. When I got
hurt we moved up among the men.
Brought us into closer touch with
the working end. you know"