Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-07-04
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| SHsMo ;sSsSS 8RblyEn,
CHAPTER Nv.
aowLAND's MIDNIGHT VISITOR.

|
hand and the Cree's dark face ighte
up with something like pleasure whe
he saw the enthusiasm in the youn
engineers eyes. When the moment 70
parting came Gregson pulled his com
panion a little to one side. His eye
shifted nervously and Rowland say
that he was making strong effort t
assume an Indifference which was no
at all Gregson's natural self.
"Just a word, Rowland" he said
"You know this is a pretty rough coun
try up here-some tough people in II
who wouldn't mind cutting a man
throat or sending bullet through hin
for a good team Of dogs and a rifle
I'm just telling you this 80 you'll b.
on your guard. Have Jackpine watcl
your camp nights"
self short when the Indian approached
Rowland seated himself in the middle
of the six foot toboggan. waved hi
hand to Gregson. then with o wilt
halloo and a swapping Of his long carl
bou gut whip Jackpine started his dog
on a trot down the street, running
close beside the sledge.
Rowland was tired when night came
He helped to build their balsam shel
ter for the night, ate huge supper O.
moose meat, hot stone biscuits, bean
and coffee. and then. just as he hat
stretched himself out in his furs TO
the night. he remembered Gregson'
warning. He sat up and called to Jack
pine. who was putting fresh log OF
the big fire in front Of the shelter.
"Gregson told me to be sure ant
have the camp guarded at night, Jack
pine. What do you think about it?'
"Gregson-heem ver' much 'fraid,
he replied. "No bad man here-al
down there and in camp. We KEEP
watch evr' night. Heem 'fraid-I guess
so, mebby."
afraid Of whatT
Jackpine held out his left hand, with
the little finger doubled out Of sight
and pointed to 1t with his other hand
"Mebby heem finger ax'dent-mebby
not" he said.
A dozen eager questions brought nc
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 saic
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 signif.
canoe of Jackpine's words he was con.
fident 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 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. It 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 1t showed that 1t had not been
used as a 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 Us 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 srinning
face to the engineer.
"Gregson um Thorne-heem max
thees cabin when first kan to camp"
he said softly. "No be near much
noise-fine place in woods where be
quiet nights. Live here time. then
Gregson um Thorne 60 live in camp.
Say too far way from man. But that
not so. Thorne 'fraid: Gregson 'fraid"
He hunched his shoulders again as
he opened the door Of the big box
stove which stood in the room.
Howland asked no questions, but
stared about him. Everywhere he saw
evidences Of the taste and one time
tenancies of the two senior engineers.
"Afraid, eh? And am to stay hereT'
"Gregson um Thorne say yes"
"Well, Jackpine, you just hustle over
to the camp and tell Thorne I'm here
will you?"
For a moment the Indian hesitated,
then went out and closed the door
after him.
Rowland lighted small lamp and
opened the door leading into the other
room. It was. as he had surmised. the
sleeping chamber. The bed. single
chair and a mirror and stand were its
sole furnishing.
Returning to the larger room. he
threw Of his coat and hat and seated
himself comfortably before the fire.
Ten minutes later the door opened
| again and Jackpine entered. He was
supporting another figure by the arm
and as Rowland stared into the blood.
less face Of the man who came with
him he could not repress the exclama'
| tion of astonishment which rose to his
lips. Three months before he had last
seen Thorne in Chicago. man in the