The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-10-17
(Continued.)

"And. the eyes!" added Gregson,
his own cleaning with enthusiasm.
"She looked at me squarely this
afternoon when she and that dark
fellow passed, and l swear they're
the most beautiful eyes l ever saw.
And her hair"
do you think that she knew
you?" asked Rowland quietly.
Gregson hunched his shoulders.
How the deuce could she know
me?"
Then why did she look at you
SO 'squarely'? Trying to flirt, do
you suppose?"
Surprise shot into Gregson's face.
by thunder, no, she wasn't
flirting!" he exclaimed. I'D stake
my life on that. A man never got
a clearer, more sinless look than
she gave me, and yet Why,
deuce take it, she stared at me!
l didn't see her again after that,
but the dark fellow was in here
half of the afternoon, and now that
/ think of it he did show some in
terest in me. Why do you ask"
Just curiosity" replied How
land. 81 don't like flirts."
Neither do l." said Gregson
musingly. Their supper came on
and they conversed but little until
it's end Rowland had watched his
companion closely and was salts
fled that he knew nothing of Crois-
set or the girl. The fact puzzled
him more than ever. How Gregson
and Thorne, two of the best engin-
GERS in the country, could volun-
tarily surrender task like the
building of the Hudson Bay rail-
road simply because they were
tired of the country" was more
than he could understand.
1t was not until they were about
to leave the table that Howland's
eyes accidentally fell on GregsOn's
left hand. He gave an exclamation
of establishment when he saw that
the little finger was missing. Greg
son jerked the hand to his side.
"A little accident" he explained.
you'll meet 'ein up here, How
land"
Before he could move, the young
engineer had caught his arm and
was looking closely at the hand.
"a curious wound" he remarked,
without looking up. Funny |
didn't notice it before. Your fin
ger was cut off lengthwise, and
here's the scar running half way
to your wrist. How did you do it?'
He dropped the hand in time to
see a nervous flush in the others
face
"Why-er-fact is, Rowland, 1t
was shot off several months ago
in an accident, of course" He hur-
ried through the door, continuing
to speak over his shoulder as he
went, "Now for those after-supper
cigars and our investigation"
AS they passed from the dining
room into that part of the inn
which was half bar and half louLg-
ing room, already filled with smoke
and a dozen or so picturesque citi-
zens of lie Pas, the rough jowled
proprietor Of the place motioned
to Rowland and held out letter.
This came while you was at
supper. Mr.. Rowland" he ex-
planned.
The engineer gave an inward
start when he saw the writing on
the envelope, and as he tore 1t
open he turned so that Gregson
could see neither his face nor the
slip of paper which he drew forth.
There was no name at the bottom
of what he read. 1t was not neces-
sary. for o. glance had told him that
the writing was that of the girl
whose face he had seen again that
night; and her words to him this
time, despite his caution, drew
low whistle from his lips.
Forgive me for what ! have
done" the note ran. Believe me
now. Your life is In danger and
YOU must go back to Etomamia to-
morrow. If you go to the Wekusko
camp you will not live to come
sllach."
ss1Yho, dayilfs" iies osoiaiinpsll