The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-10-24

o crawled from his bed and
|S61Sa1aI bathed his head in cold wa,
ts9J ter. After that he felt better.
dressed himself and went below.
1t was rather with a sense of disap-
pointment than pleasure that he learn
ed the work train was to leave for lie
Pas late that night instead of the next
day. After quiet hours rest in his
room. however, his old enthusiasm re-
turned to him. He found himself fe-
verishly anxious to reach lie Pas and
the big camp on the WekuskO Crois-
sets warning for him to turn back into
the south instead of deterring him
urged him on. He was born a fighter.
1t was by fighting that he had forced
his way round by round mp the ladder
OF success. And now the fact that his
life was in danger, that some mysteri-
Gus peril awaited him in the depths Of
the wilderness. but added new and
thrilling fascination to the tremendous
task which was ahead of him He won.
dered IL this same peril had beset
Gregson and Thorne and if it was the
cause Of their failure. Of their anxiety
to return to civilization He assured
himself that he would know when he
met them at LIE Pas He would dis
cover more when be became ii part Of
the camp on the WeknskO-that is. if
the half breeds warning held any sig
nificance at all. and he believed that it
did. Anyway. he would prepare for
developments. So he went to gun
shop. bought long barreled six shoot.
er and holster and added to it hunt
ing knife like that he had seen carried
by Croisset
It was near midnight when he board
ed the work train. and dawn was Just
beginning to break over the wilderness
when it stopped at Etomami. from
which point he was to travel by hand.
car over the sixty miles of rcw road
that had been constructed as far north
as LIE Pas For three days the car had
been waiting for the new chief of 'tc
road. but neither Gregson nor Thorne
was with it.
"Mr Gregson is waiting for you 6,
LIE Pas" said one Of the men who had
come with it. ''rhorne is at Wekusto '
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 in this north coun-
try are called mountains. were cover
ed with four feet Of snow. and on it
the sun shone with dazzling brilliancy.
The short northern day was nearing
an end when once more they sew the
broad Saskatchewan twisting through
a plain below them, and on its south
ern shore the few log buildings Of lie
Pas hemmed in Oh 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 8
hundred PAGES from squat log built
structure. which was more brilliantly
illuminated than any Of the others.
''rhat's the hotel" said one Of the
men. "Gregson's there"
A tall. fur clad figure buried forth
to meet Rowland as he walked brisk
" across the Open 1t 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
| f1ce-round faced. full of life. as active
| as cricket
"Never so glad to see any one i'll my
| life, Howlandr he cried. shaking the
others hand again and again. IAN
other month and I'd be dead. ISM
this b. Of country?'
"I'm falling more in love with 1t al
every breath. Gregson: What's the
matter? Have you been sick:"
| "Sick? Yes. sick of the " Ii tht
old man hadn't sent us relief Thornt
and l would have thrown up the
whole thing in another four weeks
Til warrant you'll get your everlasting
| fill of log shanties and half breeds
/ and moose meat and this inferna
snow and ice before spring comes
But don't want to discourage you.
Cant discourage me-" laughed
Rowland cheerfully You know
/ never cared much for theaters ant
girls" he added slyly. giving Gregso'
q good natured nudge. How abou
'em up here?"
"Nothing-not cursed thing" Sud
denly his eyes lighted up. "Ry GEORGE
Rowland. but did see the prettles
girl ever laid my eyes on today
I'd give box OF pure Havanas-an'
we haven't had one for month-if
/ could know who she isl"
"a tall girl. with fur hat aa'
muif?' queried Rowland eagerly
Nothing Of the sort She was
/ typical northerner If there ever va
one-straight as birch. dressed In fu