The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-10-14

at the payroll. There are fifteen
or twenty married 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 How
land carelessly. "Are these my
quarters?"
IF you like them. When
got hurt we moved up among the
men. Brought us into closer
touch with the working end. you
know"
"You and Gregson must have
been laid up at about the same
time," said the young engineer.
That was painful wound OF
Gregson's. l wonder who the
deuce it was who shot himG
Funny that man like Gregson
should have an enemy!"
Thorne sat up with jerk
There came the rattle of a pan
from the stove, and Rowland
turned his head in time to see
Jackpine staring at him as though
he had exploded a mine under his
feet.
who shot him " gasped the
senior engineer. "Why-er-
didn't Gregson tell you that ii
was an accident?"
why should he lie," Thorne?"
A faint flush swept into the
others pallid face. For mo-
ment there was penetrating
glare in his eyes as he looked at
Rowland. Jackpine still stood si-
lent and motionless beside the
stove.
"He told me that it was an &C
cident," said Thorne at last.
Funny" was all that How
land said, turning to the Indian
as though the matter was of no
Importance. "Ah, Jackpine, I'm
glad to see the coffee-pot on. I've
got box of the blacklist and mild
est Porto Ricans you ever laid
eyes on in my kit, Thorne, and
Wen open 'em up for a good
smoke after supper. Hello, why
have you got boards nailed over
that Window"
For the first time Rowland
noticed that the thin muslin cur
tain, which he thought had screen
ed a window, concealed, in place
OF window, carefully fitted bar.
ricade of plank. A sudden thrill
shot through him as he rose to ex-
anime it. With his back toward
Thorne he said, half laughing,
Perhaps Gregson was afraid that
the fellow who clipped off his fin
ger would get him through the
window, eh?"
He pretended not to perceive
the effect of his words on the
senior engineer. The two sat
down to supper and for an hour
after they had finished they
smoked and talked on the bust
ness of the camp. 1t was ten
O'Clock when Thorne and Jackpine
left the cabin.
No sooner had they gone than
Rowland closed and barred the
door, lighted another cigar, and
began pacing rapidly up and
down the room. Already there
were developments. Gregson had
lied to him about his finger.
Thorne had lied to him about his
own injuries, whatever they were
He was certain of these two things
and of more. The two senior
engineers were not leaving the
Wekusko because of mere dissatis-
faction with the work and coun-
try. They were fleeing. And for
some reason they were keeping
from him the real motive for their
flight. Was it possible that
they were deliberately sacrificing
him in order to save themselves?
He could not bring himself to be-
lieve this, Notwithstanding the
evidence against them. Both were
men of irreproachable honor
Thorne, especially, was man of
indomitable nerve-a man who
would be the last in the world
to prove treacherous to BUST
ness associate or friend. He
was sure that neither of them
knew of Croisset or of the beau
tfful girl whom he had met at
Prince Albert, which led him to
believe that there were other
characters in the strange plot in
which he had become involved be-
sides those whom he had encoun-
tered on the Great North Trail.
Again he examined the barricad-
ed window and he was more than
ever convinced that his chance hit
at Thorne had struck true.
He was tired from his long
days travel, but little inclination
TO sleep came to him, and stretch
Ing himself out on the lounge
with his head and shoulders boil
stored up with furs, he continued
to smoke and think. He was sur
prised when a little clock tinkled
the hour of eleven. He had not
seen the clock before. Now he
listened to the faint monotonous
ticking 1t made close to his head
until he felt an impelling drow-
siness creeping over him and he
closed his eyes. He was almost
asleep when 1t struck again
softly, and yet with sufficient
ioudness to arouse him. 1t had
struck twelve.
With an effort Rowland over
came his drowsiness and dragged
himself to sitting posture.
knowing that he should undress
and go to bed. The lamp was
still burning brightly and he
arose to turn down the wick. Sud-
denly he stopped. To his dulled
senses there came distinctly the
sound of a knock at the door. For
a few moments he waited, silent
and motionless. 1t came again.
louder than before, and yet in II
there was something of caution.
1t was not the heavy tattoo OF
one who had come to awaken him
on matter of hucfnaro