The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-10-24
"Mebby heem finger ak ax'dent-mehhy


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 Howland
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 ou'
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
cance of !ackDines words he was con
f1dent that the missing finger had be-
come 4 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 a 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 large loc
built cabin half sheltered among the
trees 1t was situated several hun
! dred yards from the nearest Of the
lights ahead. and the unbroken snow
| about it showed that it had not beer
used as a habitation for some time
| Jackpine drew key from his pocket
and without 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. Howland
| could hear the Cree chuck!ing in his
| inimitable way as he struck match,
| and as hig hanging oil lamp Jared
slowly into light he turned grinninr
face to the engineer
"Gregson um Thorne-heem max
thees cabin when first kan to camp
he said softly "No be near much
uoise-fine place in woods where he
quiet nights Live here time. then
Gregson um Thorne go live in camp
Say too far way from man. But thai
not so. Thorne 'fraid: Gregson 'fraid. :
He hunched his shoulders again az
he opened the foor Of the big boz
stove which stood In the room.
Rowland asked no questions. bu
stared about him Eyerywhere he say
evidences of the taste and orc tim
tenancies Of the two senior en~innars
Afraid eh? And am to stay here:
"Gregscn nm Tharnc say yes"
well. Jackpine. you lust hustle ovc
10 the camp and tell Thorne I'm here
will you?''
For moment the Indian hesitate"
then went out and closed fhe do"
after him.
Rowland lighted small lamp ar
opened the door leading into the otho
room II was. as he had surmised. IT.
s,eeping chamber The bed. sing
chair and mirror and stand We're It
sole furnishing.
Returning to the larger room. r
threw OF. his coat and hat and seate
himself comfortably before tho g..
Ten minutes later the door oHor"
again and Jackpine entered. He wa
supporting another figure by the arm
and as Rowland stared into the blood
less face of the man who came Will
him he could not repress the eNclama
ton Of astonshment which rose to hi
lips Three months hcfnre he had las
seen Thorne in Chicago. a man in th
prime of life, powerfully built. a
straight rs tree the most efficien
and highest paid man in the company
employ How often had he envie
Thorne! For years he had been hi
ideal of great engineer. And now
, He stood sneechless Slowly. as !
the movement gave him pain. Thorn
slipped off the great fur coat fror
. about his shoulders. One Of his arm
was suspended in sling. His hug
:. shoulders were bent. his eyes wild an
8 haggard The smile that came to hi
= lips as he held out a hand to IIowlan
J. gave to his death white face an al
e pearance even more CHASTITY.
Hello. Jack" he greeted what
the matter. man? Do | look like
l. ghost2''
l. What is the matter. ThorEe?
e found Gregson half dying at lie Pa
$ and now You
d Its a wonder you're not readin
J. my name on little board slab instea
= of seeing yours truly in flesh an
9 blood. Jack" laughed Thorne nervou
ly "A ton of rock. man Il ton {
]. rock, and J was under itr'
l. Over Thorne's shoulder the your
Il engineer caught a glimpse Of the Cree
~ face A dark fash had shot into h
d eyes His teeth cleaned for an i
,r stant between his tense lips In som
81 thing that might have been sneer.
+ Thorne sat down. rubbing his hant
| Iafouo tbn Grn