Putnam patriot., 1911-09-15

l the big fire in front of the shelter. 'GregSon told me to he sure and
 have the camp guarded at night. Jack
 pine. What do you think about it?e
 "Gregson-heem yer much 'fraid. 1 he replied Nc bad man here-all
 down there and in camp. We kep,
 watch evr' night. Heem fraid-I guess
 so. mebby"
 Afraid of whatY'
 Jaekpine held out his left hand. with
 the little fng.r 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 Gregsons strange de meanor, his evident anxiety to get out
 of the country, and lastly at his desire not 10 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 fathnm GreCson was associated with the mystery which en- veloped him. and adding the senior engineers nervousness to the signifi- canoe of Jackpine's words he was con tident 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 a sftu- ation 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. It was already dark when they came out of the forest into n 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 q 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 a kSbitation for some time. Jackpine drew a key from his pocket and without word unlocked and swung open the heavy door.
 Damn. cold air swept into the faces of the two as they stood for moment neering into the gloom. Howlano conld hear the Cree chuckling in his ,nimitable way as he struck match.
 and as a hie hanging oil lamp hareu slowly into light he turned grinning face to the engineer "Crerson um Thorne-heem max thees cabin when first kam 10 camp he said softly "No be near much noise-fne place in woods where De
 oriat nights. Live here time. then l Crerson nm Thorpe go live Tn camp cav foo far way from man. But that rot SO Thorne 'fraid: Gregson frald.
 ua hurched his shoulders again as
 ho onened the door of the big ooN stove which stood in the room Howland asked no questions put
 storod about him. Everywhere he saw
 a,.idanees of the ta~e and one tline
 tonancies of the two senior engineers.
 "A fraid. eh? And amI to stay hereF ! "croqson nm Thorne say yes. .even. Jaekpine, you just hustle over to the camp and tell Thorne I'm here' will you?' .o.oa
 For a moment the indian hesitafed,
 .,,n wont ont and closed the door ! after him
 uowIand lighted small lamp ana l ona,ed the door leading into the other
 roo7, If was. as he had surmised. the l .,oors,q chamber. The bed. a sineie
 9hoir and q mirror and stand were its | sole furnishing.
 Returning to the larger room ne
 threw off his coat and hat ana sea.e'i
 hin,self comfortably before the hre Ton minutes later the door openeu
 oooin and yaekpine entered He was
 ~'7nnortinr another figure by the arm 1 aa os Howand stared into the bloou-
 '1.- ''- fo.a of the man who came wiin
 ,';n, ho could not repress the exciania- | +ion of astonishment which rose !" nl.
 fi,s Three mouths before ne hau iaS' l aaan Thorne in Chicago, man III 'He
 se gsa,o of life. powerfully built as
 pAIsh as tree. the most emclen'
 sad 6iqbest paid man in the company
 dnu a,ar HOW often had be envleo
 rhorne, For years he had peeh N''
 ,daal of a great engineer. Ana now |.
 % aa stood speeches.. Slowly, as l
 ovament gave him pain, nofhe
 t,,-od - off the great fur coat Iron
 snpp ,,. h,s shoulders. One of his arms
 vas suspended fin sing is ,, ad
 shon,ders were bent, his eyes "iiu anu
 ord The smile that came 'o ni,
 nas nae as be held out hand to ho"iano
 lips a a to his death white face an ap
 saorance even more ghastly. .,,
 pee. Hello Jackr' he greeted na' a,,er man? Do I look hKe l ghostl" , Thorre? l
 found Gregson half dying al Ae
 ] and now you