Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-11-01
A soft voice from the rear of tn,

| A soft voice from the rear of the
room halted the advancing Indian.
Constantine" 1t said.
The travellers whirled to see. stand
ing out In relief against the darkness
Of the passage whence the Indian haG
just come a few seconds before. the
golden haired girl Of the storm to
whom they had been indebted for their
rescue She advanced. smiling plea,
antly.
"These lnen no stop herer' cried Con
stantine violently.
"l-I-beg pardon" began Emerson.
I'VE didn't intend to take forcible pcs
session. but we're played out-we've
been denied shelter every where-we
felt desIerate"-
She addressed the Indian girl In
Aleut aud signulad to Constantine. at
which the two natives retired.
Were glad Of an opportunity to
thank you for your timely service this
afternoon" said Emerson.
"Oh. that was nothing. I've been ex.
pecting you hourly. You see. Constan
tines little brother has the measles.
and had to get to him before the ia
tives could give the poor little fellow
y Russian bath and then stand him out
In the snow. They have only one
treatment for all diseases"
III your-er-father"- The girl
shook her head
'Then your huSband-I should've to
arrange with him to hire lodgings for
q few days. The matter of money"-
Again she came to his rescue.
II am the man of the house. I'm
boss here. You are quite welcome to
stay as long as you wish. Constantine
objects to my hospitality and treats all
strangers alike. fearing they may be
company men,"
I'VE throwed 4 Swede out on his
neck" declared Fraser. swelling with
conscious Importance. land ! guess
he's Grabbed US with the other square
heads"
"Oh. no! They have instructions not
to harbor any travellers It's as much
as his job is worth for any of them to
entertain you. Now. won't you make
yourselves at home while Constantine
attends to your dogs? Dinner will
soon be ready"
He murmured "Gladly" and then
lost himself in wonder at this we'll
gowned girl living amid such surround
ings. Undeniably pretty. graceful in
her movements. bearing herself with
certainty and poise. who was she?
Where did she come from? And what
in the world was she doing here? .
He became aware that "Fingerless"
Fraser was making the introductions.
"This Is Mr.. Emerson. My name is
French. I'm one Of the Virginia
Trenches. you know. Perhaps you
have heard Of them. No? Well. they're
the real thing"
Emerson forestalled her acknowl-
edgement by breaking in roughly:
His name isn't French at all.
madam: it's Fraser-.Fingerless' Fra
ser. He's an utterly worthless rogue
and absolutely unreliable. so far as I
can learn. picked him up on the Ice
in Norton sound with marshal at his
heels"
THAT marshal wasn't after me-"
stoutly denied Fraser. quite unabash-
ed. "Why, he's a friend Of mine
we're regular chums. Everybody
knows that He wanted to give me
some papers to take outside. that's
ALL"
Boyd shrugged his shoulders indif-
ferently:
"Warrants"
Their hostess. greatly amused. pre-
vented any further argument by say.
ing:
Il suppose you are bound for the
States"
Eyes. We intend to catch the mail
boat at Katmai. am taking Fraser
along for company. It's hard travel
ing alone in a strange country. He's
q nuisance. but he's rather amusing at
times"
II certainly am" agreed that cheer
full person. now fully at bis ease.
BY and by the girl rose. and after
them to room she excused
herself on the score Of having to see
to the dinner. When she had with
1ra wn "Fingerless" Fraser pursed his
thin lips into a noiseless whistle, then
observed: