Putnam patriot., 1911-09-08
hg knife like that be had seen carried

when lt Stoppeu at Et0momi. rom which point he was 10 travel by hand car over the sixty miles of new road that had been constructed as far north as Le Pas For three days the car had been waiting for the new chief of the load. but neither Gregson nor Thorne was with 1t.
 MT Gregson is waiting for you at I.e Pas" said one of the men who had Some with It. ''Thorne is at wekusko." For the first time in his life How land now plunged into the heart of the wilderness. Everywhere lay white winter. The rocks, the trees and the great ridges. which in this north eoun- try are called mountains. were cover ed with four feet of snow, and on 1t the sun shone with dazzling brilliancy.
 The short northern day was nearing an end when once more they saw the broad Saskatchewan twisting through a plain below them. and on its south ern shore the few log buildings of Le Pas hemmed in on three sides by the black forests of balsam and spruce Lights were burning in the cabins and in the Hudson Bay posts store when the car was brought to a halt half hundred paces from a squat. log built structure. which was more brilliantly illuminated than any of the others.
 'sFhat's the hotel" said one of the men. "Gregsons there
 A tall, fur clad figure hurried forth to meet Rowland as he walked brisk ly across the open. It was Gregson. As the two men gripped hands the young engineer stared at the other in astonishment. This was not the Greg son he had known in the Chicago of. fice-round faced. full of life, as active IS a cricket.
 Never so glad to see any one in my life. Howlandr' he cried. shaking the others hand again and again. An. other month and Ed be dead. Isn't this a h. of countryT'
 I'm falling more in love with 1t at every breath. Gregson. What's the matter? Have you been sick?"
 sick? Yes. sick of the job! If the old man hadn't sent us relief Thorne and I would have thrown up the whole thing in another four weeks. Ii warrant you'H get your everlasting fill of log shanties and half breeds and moose meat and this internal snow and ice before spring comes But I don't want to discourage you
 Can't discourage me- laughed Rowland cheerfully. You know l never cared much for theaters and girls" he added slyly, giving Gregson good natured nudge. How about 'em up here?'
 "Nothing-not a cursed thing Sud denly his eyes lighted up. By George Rowland. but I did see the prettiest girl I ever laid my eyes on today! I'd give box of pure Hayanas-and we haven't had one for month-n could know who she is!'
 "A tall girl. with a fur hat and muir" queried Rowland eagerly.
 Nothing of the sort. She was typical northerner if there ever was one-straight as n birch, dressed in fur cap and coat, short caribou skin skirt and moecasins. and with a braid hang ing down her back as long as my arm. Lord, but she was pretty!
 Isn't there girl somewhere up around our camp named MeleeseF asked Rowland casually.
 "Never heard of her" said Gregson.
 'Or q man named CroissetF "Never heard of him"
 "The deuce. but you're interesting, arte erfn Gniffip4r Dt the odors of cooking supper. I'm as hungry as a beare'
 From outside there came the sharp cracking of Il sledge drivers whip and Gregsou went to one of the small win dows looking out upon the clearing. In another instant he sprang toward the door. crying out to Rowland. By the god of love, there she Is, old man! Quick. if you want to get q glimpse of herr
 He flung the door open. and How land hurried to his side. There came another crack of the whip, a loud shout. and d sledge drawn by six dogs sped past them into the gathering gloom of the early night From Howland's lips. too. there fell A sudden cry. for one of the two faces that were turned toward him for an instant was that of Croisset, and the other-white and staring us he had seen 1t that first night in Prince AL bert--was the face of the beautiful girl who had lured him into the ambush on the Great North trail,
 For q moment after the swift pass ing of the sledge ii was on Howland lips to shout Croisset's name. As he thrust Gregson aside and leaped out into the night he was impelied with desire 10 give chase It was Gregson who recalled him to his senses T thought you didn't care for thea ters-and girls. Howlandr' he exclaim ed banteringly. "A pretty face affects you a little differently up here, ehf' Rowland interrupted him sharply. "Did you ever see either of them before, GregsonY'
 Never until today. But there's hope, old man. Surely we can find some one in the place who knows them. Would not it be jolly good fun if Jack How land. Esq. who has never been in- terested in theaters and girls. should come up into these God forsaken re gions and develop a case of love at first sight? If I had only seen her sooner"-
 shut up." growled Rowland. Let's go in to supper.
 Good. And I move that we inves- tigate these people while we are smok- ing our after supper cigars. It will