The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-06-29


by Croisset
1t was near midnight when be board
ed the work train. and dawn was just
beginning to- break over the wildernnSe
when it stopped at Etomami. from
, which point he was to travel by hand.
car over the sixty miles of new road
that had been constructed as far north
as lie Pas. For three days the ear had
been waiting for the new chief of the
road but neither Gregson nor Thorne
was with ii.
MIR. Gregson is waiting for you at
LIE Pas" said one Of the men who had
come with IT, .Tho-na is IF Wekusko y
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 i, this north coun-
try are called mour."ins. we're cover
ed with four feet &c snow. and on ii
the sun shone with -zling brilliancy.
The short northern day was nearing
an end when once more they saw the
broad Saskatchewan twisting through
q plain below them, and on its south
ern shore the few log buildings Of LIE
Pas bemmed 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 halt half q
b hundred PAGES from a squat. log built
structure. which was more brilliantly
illuminated than any Of the others.
That's the hotel" said one Of the
men. "Gregson's there"
A tall. fur clad figure hurried forth
to meet Rowland as he walked brisk
" across the open. It was Gregson.
As the two men gripped hands the
young engineer stared at the other in
establishment. This was not the Greg
son he had known in the Chicago Of
fce-round faced. full Of life. as active
as a cricket.
"Never so glad to see any one in my
life. Howlandw he cried. shaking the
others hand again and again. IAN
other month and I'd be dead. Isn't
this b. of country"
I'm falling more in love with it 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 would have thrown up the
whole thing in another four weeks.
I'll warrant you'll get your everlasting
fill Of log shanties and half breeds
and moose meat and this internal
snow and ice before spring comes.
But don't want to discourage you"
Cant discourage me- laughed
Rowland cheerfully. You know l
never cared much for theaters and
girls" he added slyly. giving Gregson
a good natured nudge. "How about
'em up here?"
''Nothing-not cursed thing" Sud
denly his eyes lighted up. by George.
Rowland. but l did see the prettiest
girl l ever laid my eyes on today!
I'd give a box Of pure Havanas-and
we haven't had one for month"; ]
could know who she is"
"a tall girl. with fur hat and
muffy queried Rowland eagerly.
Nothing of the sort. She was a
typical noftherner II there ever was
one-straight as birch. dressed in fur
cap and coat. short caribou skin skirt
and moccasins. and with a braid hang
ing down her back as long as my arm.
Lord, but she was pretty"
"1sn't there girl somewhere up
around our camp named Meleese"
asked Rowland casually.
"Never heard Of her." said Gregson.
"Or a man named Croisset?"
'Never heard Of him."
1.-THE deuce. but you're interesting"
laughed the young engineer. shifting at
the odors of cooking supper. I'm as
hungry as bear"
From outside there came the sharp
cracking Of a sledge drivers whip and
Gregson 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
glimpse Of her"
He flung the door open. and How
land hurried to his side. There came
another crack Of the whip. loud
shout, and 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 as he had
seen it 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 a moment after the swift pass
ing Of the sledge it was on Howland's
lips to shout Croisset's name. AS he
thrust Gregson aside and leaped out
into the night he was impelled with
desire to give chase. 1t was Gregson
who recalled him to his senses.
II 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. eh?"
Rowland interrupted him sharply.
did you ever see either of them
before, GregsonY'