The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-10-19
(Continued.)

mebby not" he said.
A dozen eager questions brought
no further suggestions from Jack
pine. In fact, no sooner had the
words fallen from his drivers lips
than Rowland saw that the Indian
was sorry he had spoken them.
What he had said strengthened the
conviction which was slowly grow
ing within him. He had wondered
at GregsOn's strange demeanor, his
evident anxiety to get out of the
country, and lastly at his desire not
to return to the camp on the We
kusko with him. There was but
one solution that came to him. In
some way he could not fathom
Gregson was associated with the
mystery which enveloped him, and
adding the senior engineers ner-
vousness to the significance OF
Jackpine's words he was confident
that the missing finger had become
factor in the enigma. How should
he find Thorne? Surely he would
s
an explanation to give. Or was it
Possible that they would leave him
without warning to face a situation
which was driving them back to
civilization?
He went to sleep, giving no fur
Their thought to the guarding Of the
camp. A piping hot breakfast was
ready when Jackpine awakened
him, and once more the exhilarat
ing excitement of their swift race
through the forests relieved him OF
the uncomfortable mental tension
under which he began to find him
self. During the whole of the day
Jackpine urged the dogs almost to
the limit of their endurance, and
early in the afternoon assured his
companion that they would reach
the Wekusko by nightfall. 1t was
already dark when they came out
of the forest into a broad stretch
of cutting beyond which Rowland
caught the glimmer of scattered
lights. At the farther edge of the
clearing the Cree brought his dogs
to halt close to large log-built
cabin half sheltered among the
trees. 1t was situated several hun.
dred yards from the nearest of the
lights ahead, and the unbroken
snow about it showed that 1t had
not been used as a habitation for
some time. Jackpine drew key
from his pocket and without word
unlocked and swung open the
heavy door.
Damp, cold air swept the faces OF
the two as they stood for moment
peering into the gloom. Rowland
could hear the Cree chuckling in
his inimitable way as he struck a
match, and as a big hanging oil
lamp flared slowly into light he
turned a grinning face to the en-
gineer.
"Gregson UNI Thorne-heem
max thees cabin when first kan tc
camp" he said softly. mo be near
much noise-fine place in woods
where be quiet nights. Live here
time-then Gregson UNI Thorne &C
live in camp. Say too far way
from man. But that not so. Thorne
'fraid-Gregson 'fraid-"
| He hunched his shoulders again
as he opened the door Of the big
box stove which stood in the room
Rowland asked no questions, but
stared about him. Everywhere he
saw evidences of the taste and one.
time tenancies of the two senior
engineers. Heavy bear rugs lay
on the board floor; the log walls,
hewn almost to polished smooth.
ness, were hung with half a dozen
pictures: in one corner was book
case still filled with books, in an
other a lounge covered with furs
and in this side of the room was a
door which Rowland supposed
must open into the sleeping apart
ment. A fire was roaring in the
big stove before he finished his in
spection and as he squared his
shivering back to the heat he
pulled out his pipe and smiled
cheerfully at Jackpine.
Afraid, Ell? And am l to stay
here?"
'Gregson UNI Thorne say yes"
We'll, Jackpine, you just hustle
over to the camp and tell Thorne
I'm here, will you?"
For a moment the Indian hest
tated, then went out and closed the
door after him.
Afraid" exclaimed Rowland,
when he had gone Now what the
devil are they afraid Of? It's
deuced queer. Gregson-and ditto,