Putnam patriot., 1911-09-15

Its a wonder you're not reading my name on little board slab instead of seeing yours truly in flesh and blood. Jack laughed Thorne nervous y. "A ton ef rock. mana ton of rock. and was under itr'
 Oyer Thorues shoulder the young engineer caught glimpse of the Cree's face. A dark flash had shot into his eyes. His teeth gleamed for an in stant between his tense lips in some thing that might have been a sheer.
 Thorne sat down. rubbing his hands before the fire.
 "We've been unfortunate, Jack" he said slowly. "Gregson and I have had the worst kind of luck since the day we struck this camp. and we're no longer fit for the job. It will take us six months to get on our feet again. You'll find everything here in good condition. The line is blazed straight to the bay. We've got 800 good men, plenty of supplies, and so far as I know you'll not find a disatfected hand on the WekuSko. Probably Grecson and l will take hold of the Le Pas era of the line in the spring. Its cer- tainly ID to you to build the roadway to the bay"
 "I'm sorry things have gone badly" replied Rowland. He leaned forward until his face was close to his com panion's "Thorne. is there man up here named Croisset or a girl called Meleesef"
 He watched the senior engineer closely Nothing to confirm his suspi- eions came into Thorne's face. Thorne looked up. a little surprised at the tone of the others voice.
 'sNot that I know of, Jack. Anything particularE"
 Just a word I've got for them-if they're here" replied Rowland care lessly. Are these my quarters?'
 If you like them When I 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 about the same time" said the young engineer. That was a painful wound of Gregson's I wonder who the deuce it was who shot him? Funny that a man like Gregson should have an enemyt'
 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-dhin't Gregson tell you that it was an accident?"
 ''Why should he lie, Thorne?"
 A faint flush swept into the others pa1Tid face. For moment there was q penetrating glare in his. eyes as he looked at Rowland Jackpine stir stood silent and motionless beside the stove.
 He told me that it was an accident" said Thorne at last
 Funny was all that Rowland said.
 For the first time Rowland noticed .hat the thin muslin curtain. which he thought had screened a window. con >ealed. in place of window, a care fully fitted barricade of plank. A sud den thrill shot through him as he rose to examine it. With his back toward Thorne he said. half laughing. Per haps Gregson was afraid that the fei- low who clipped off his finger would get him through the window, eh?'
 It was 10 o'clock when Thorpe and Jaekpine left the cabin. No sooner had they zone than Rowland closed and barred the door. lighted another -igar and began pacing rapidly up and town the room. Already there were revelopments. Gregson had lied to him about hls finger. Thorne had lied to him about his own injuries. what ever they were. He was certain of these two things-and of more. The