Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-03-04
BY James Oliver Curwood

1t was, as he had surmised, the Sleep
ing chamber. The bed. a single chair
and a mirror and stand were it's sole
furnishing.
Returning TO the larger room. he
threw off his coat and hat and
seated himself comfortably before the
fire. Ten minutes later the IGOR
opened again and Jackpine entered. He
was supporting another figure by the
arm, and as Rowland stared into the
bloodless face of the man who came
with him, he could not repress the ex-
clamation of establishment which rose
to his lips. Three months before he
had last seen Thorne in Chicago; a
man in the prime OF life, powerfully
built, as straight as a tree, the most
efficient and highest paid man in the
compaly's employ. How often had ne
envied Thornel For years he had been
his ideal of a great engineer. And
now
He stood speeches.. Slowly, as II the
movement gave him pain, Thorne
slipped off the great fur coat from
about his shoulders. One of his arms
was suspended in a sling. His huge
shoulders were bent. his eyes wild
and haggard. The smile hat came tc
his lips as he held out a hand to How
land gave TO his death-like face an ap
pearance even more CHASTITY.
Hello, jack" he greeted. Whats
the matter, man.? Do / look like a
ghost?"
What is the matter, Thorne? |
found Gregson half dying at lie Pas,
and now you
TITS a wonder you're not reading my
name on a little board slab instead
of seeing yours truly in flesh and blood,
Jack" laughed Thorne nervously. "A
ton of rock, ton of rock. and ]
was under it,"
Over Thorne's shoulder the young
engineer caught a glimpse of the Cree's
face. A dark flash had shot into his
eyes. His teeth cleaned for an in
slant between his tense lips in some
thing that might have been a sneer.
Thorne sat down, rubbing his hands
before the fire.
We've been unfortunate. Jack" he
said slowly. "Gregson and / have had
the worst kind of luck since the day
We struck this camp, and we're nc
longer fit for the job. 1t will take us slx
months to get on u feet again You'll
find everything in good condition. The
line is blazed straight to the
bay; we've got three hundred
good men, plenty of supplies, and
so far as L know you'll not find a dis.
affected hand on the Wekusko. Prob
ably Gregson and I will take hold OF
the LIE Pas end of the line in the
spring. It's certainly up to you tc
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 a man UT
here named Croisset-or a girl called
Meleese?"
He watched the senior enginee,
closely. Nothing TO confirm his sus-
picions came into Thorne's face
Thorne looked UP a little surprised a,
the tone of the others voice.
Not that I know of. Jack. There
may be a a named Croisset among
our three hundred workers-you car
tell by looking at the payroll. There
are fifteen OF twenty married mer
among us, and they have families
Gregson knows more about the girls
than I. Anything particular"
Just a word I've got for them-ii
they're here replied Rowland care.
lessly. Are these my quarters?"
IF you like them. When 1 got hurI
we moved up among the men. Brought
US in closer touch with the working
end. you know
you and Gregson must have beer
laid up at about the same time said
the young engineer. THAT was a pain
full wound of Gregson's. / wonder who
the deuce It was who shot him? Funny
that a man like Gregson should have
an enemyl"
Thorne sat up with a jerk. There
came the rattle of a pan from the
stove, and Rowland turned his head In
time to see Jackpine staring at him a:
though he had exploded a mine undel
his feet.
who shot him." gasped the senior
engineer.
"why-er-didn't Gregson tell yor
that 1t was an accident"
"Why should he lie. Thorne?"
A faint flush swept into the others
pallid face. For a moment there wa:
a penetrating glare in his eyes as he
looked at Rowland. Jackpine still
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
turning to the Indian as though tbs
matter was OF no Importance. "Ah
Jackpine, Tn glad to see the coffee
pot on. I've got a box of the blackesf
and mildest Porto Ricans you ever lai;
eyes on In my kit, Thorne, and wei