The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-06-29
CHAPTER Nv.
HowLAND's MIDNIGHT VISITOR.


HowLAND's MIDNIGHT VISITOR.
/ ROWLAND did. When they
IH went out to the sledge after
/ |6ay3S their breakfast he gave Jack
fD pine hearty grip of the
hand and the Cree's dark face lighted
up with something like pleasure when
he saw the enthusiasm in the young
engineers eyes. When the moment for
parting came Gregson pulled his COM
panion "a little TO one side. His eyes
shifted nervously ana Rowland saw
that he was making a strong effort to
assume an Indifference which was not
at all Gregson's natural SELF
"Just Xerd. Rowland" he said
you know Fsis IS a pretty rough coun-
try up here.3@some tough people in it.
who wouldn't mind cutting a mans
throat or sending bullet through him
for good team Of dogs and a rife.
I'm just telling you this so you'll be
on your guard. Have Jackpine watch
your camp nights"
| He spoke in low voice and cut him
f, self short when the Indian approached
Rowland seated himself in the middle
| of the six foot toboggan. waved his
hand to Gregson. then with wild
halloo and swapping Of his long carl
lou gut whip Jackpine started his dogs
on trot down the street, running
close beside the sledge.
Rowland was tired when night came.
He helped to build their balsam shell
ter for the night. ate huge supper of
moose meat. hot stone biscuits. beans
and coffee. and then. just as he had
stretched himself out in his furs for
the night. he remembered Gregson's
warning. He sat up and called to Jack
pine. who was putting fresh log on
the big fire in front of the shelter.
"Gregson told me to be sure and
have the camp guarded at night. Jack
pine. What do you think about it?''
"Gregson-heem YER much 'fraid."
he replied. mo bad man here-all
down there and in camp. We KEEP
watch evr' night. Heem 'fraid-I guess
so. mebby."
Afraid Of whatY"
Jackpine held out his left hand. with
the little finger doubled out of sight.
and pointed to it with his other hand.
"Mebby heem finger ax'dent-mebby
not" he said.
A dozen eager questions brought no
further suggestions from Jackpine. In
fact. no sooner had the words fallen
from the drivers lips than Rowland
saw that the Indian was sorry he had
spoken then. What he had said
strengthened the conviction which was
slowly growing within him. He had
wondered at Gregson's strange de-
meanor. his evident anxiety to get out
of the country. and lastly at his desire
not to return to the camp on the We
kusko with him. There was but one
solution that came to him. In some way
which he could not fathom Gregson was
associated with the mystery which en-
veloped him. and adding the senior
engineers nervousness to the signifi-
canoe Of Jackpine's woBds he was con-
fdent that the missing finger had be-
come a factor in the enigma. How
should he find Thorne? Surely he
would give him an explanation-if
there was any explanation to give. Or
was it possible that they would leave
him without warning to face stu
alton which was driving them back to
civilization?
He went to sleep. giving no further
thought to the guarding of the camp.
A piping hot breakfast was ready
when Jackpine awakened him. and
once more the exhilarating excitement
of their swift race through the forests
relieved him of the uncomfortable
mental tension under which he began
to find himself. During the whole Of
the day Jackpine urged the dogs al
most to the limit Of their endurance
and early in the afternoon assured his
companion that they would reach the
Wekusko by nightfall. 1t was already
dark when they came out of the forest
into broad stretch Of cutting. beyond
which Rowland caught the glimmer OF
scattered lights. At the farther edge
of the clearing the Cree brought his
dogs to a halt close to a large log
built cabin half sheltered among the
trees. It was situated several hun
,, dred yards from the nearest Of the
lights ahead. and the unbroken snow
about it showed that it had not been
used as q habitation for some time.
Jackpine drew key from his pocket
and without a word unlocked and
swung open the heavy door.
Damp. cold air swept into the faces
Of the two as they stood for moment
peering into the gloom. Rowland
could hear the Cree chuckling in his
inimitable way as he struck match,
and as a big hanging oil lamp fared
slowly into light he turned grinning
face to the engineer.
""Gregson UNI Thorne-heem max
thees cabin when first kan to camp,
he said softly. "No be near much
noise-fine place in woods where be