The Lambertville record., 1911-09-22

THE LAST
MAN.
A Story Of British Co.
lumbia.
By CLAFuSSA MACKIE-
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.
BY CLARSSA MACKIE.

|
The manager of the Great Mines Out
fitting company of Victoria, British
Columbia, frowned us the door of his
private office was pushed softly open
and the chief clerk deferentially
| placed n card ON his desk
| Woolson scanned the card thought
fully, his frown growing blacker and
deep lines settling about his mouth.
At last he flung back his head and
shook his broad shoulders as il pre-
pairing himself for contest His face
became an urbane mask MS he turned
to the waiting clerk.
'Send him in," he said briefly.
Again the door opened and closed,
and short. stout man approached
the managers desk.
"Mr. Arthur St Claire Woolson?"
he asked suavely.
MY name is Woolson," replied the
manager curtly. The sound of his
several appelations savored too
strongly of that hateful period when
they had blazed in black type across
the front pages of English newspa-
| pers Now he glanced down ut tho
card before him and added. You are
Inspector Duffy of Scotland Yard. Sit
down, sir, and tell me what | can do
for you"
The inspector snt down and pulled
out large notebook from an inner
| pocket and consulted it nearsghtcdly.
n ha % \
ball." he snapped out suddenly. His
bulldog voice did not accord with his
feline appearance. The contrast was
| startling
Woolson stifIened in his chair. Il
| thought thnt matter was settled when
kimball was convicted and impris-
| oned," he said indifrercntly.
Inspector Duffy consulted his book
again. Laurence Kimball served one
| year OF his sentence and then escaped
from Dartmoor prison OH June 3 last.
| have traced him across the Atlantic,
through Canada and British Column
bia to Victoria"
You have caught him thenp There
was almost n sncer in Woolson's voice.
The other Redeemed to the roots of
his pale hair, aud his cntty smile wild
ened. His voice growled the deeper
when he replied:
| II lost the trail. | know he arrived
| In Victoria July 23 because he was
| recognized. Since then he has dropped
out of sight
| II Will instruct our superintendent to
aid you In every way. Here is n card
which Will admit you to every depart
ment of our company"
The inspector hesitated and shot
| furtive glance at the faco of the mun-
| ager. "Of course his mnjesty's war
rant opens all doors to my knock, but
| l always choose the other way when
1t Is possible"
That IL very considcrate of YOU,
inspector" said Wooson ironically,
| DO you know of any reason why l
should be unwilling for You to seek
| your escaped man." he challenged.
| Escaped convict" corrected Duffy,
with square look into Woolson's
stern eyes. II can think of no reason
except that he was your fricnd-and
| pardon me. sir. your testimony was
| given reluctantly hope you won't
take offcnse. but I've got to have your
best help, whether you are willing or
| not Besides accomplishing the ends
Of justice there's II big reward out for
| Kimhalrs capture, and want It," He
smiled grecdIly,
"A reward large enough to lure YOU
to the uttcrmost end of tho earth, l
fancy" observed Woolson carclcssly.
A rueful look oyerspread the ruddy
face of the inspector Hardly that"
he responded THE Yukon Is the
limit so far as I'm concerned. My
tines worth something at home"
Woolson touched bell "AIr Jane,
son will be Mt your service. inspector
and IL you decide to go TO the Yukon
one OF our steamers will sail at @ to-
morrow morning. Here Is a pass that
Will take you up the c0nst to your
destination. whatever II may be"
After the detective and jameson had
left the room the manager turned to
the window ana stared out at the
wharf. Ten. fifteen, twenty minutes
he stood there, motlonlcss. Then he
put on his hat and went out
The long stream of coolies wavered
back and forth across the gangplank.
The tallyman yelled Justify until Wool
sons drawing accents cut him short
"iIodgson. you may discharge the
man on the end Of the line. He's
clumsy beggar. Send him to the pay
master tonight"
Whenever the long line struggled to
Its final end the last man, tail and
gaunt Il ragged cloth tied about his
head and half conccalIng yellow
cOuntenance. would pause to stretch
his lean and shrunkcn arms bare to
the shoulder He walked with n stoop
from the whist. and the burdens that
he bore seemed all too heavy for the
waverlng gait with which he followed
his companions.
Always he was the last man to
reach the gangplank with his burden
for the steamers hold and. returning,
he was the last to leave the vessel.
The tallyman swore Mt him In various
languages, and his mates grinned
chlldishly at his meek acceptance OF
the insults that were heaped upon his
| bowed back.
Wnolson OhgprVipp MI thig olinchpi