Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-03
BigSnOWs
Author Of 1.-The
Danger 1TraSl''

Inc next uOTnlus SuiAAHS
in the door and said:
How warm the sun Isl The snow
and Ice are going. Jan. It's spring.
Wen house the sledges today and
begin feeding the dogs on fish,"
Each day thereafter the sun rose
earlier, the day was longer and the air
was warmer. and with the warmth
there now came the sweet scents Of |
the budding earth and the myriad /
sounds Of the deep. unseen life OF the
forest awakening from its long slum-
Der in its bed OF snow.
The post fell back into its old ways
Now and then q visitor came In from |
out OF the forest but be remained for
only a day or two. taking back into
the solitude with him a few OF the
necessaries of life. Williams was busy
preparing his books for the coming of
the company's chief agent from Lon
don. and Cummins. who was helping
the factor. had a good deal Of extra
time on his hands.
Before the last OF the snow was
gone he and Jan began dragging In
logs for an addition which they plan
ned for the little cabin. Basking out
in the sun. with huge bearskin for a
floor. Melissa looked upon the new
home building with wonderful demon
STATIONS of interest Cummins face
glowed with pleasure as she kicked
and scrambled on the bearskin and
gave shriL voiced approval Of their
efforts.
Jan was the happIest youth in the
world. 1t was certain that the little
Melissa. nearly six months old. under
stood what they were doing.
AS the weather grew warmer and
spring changed into summer Jan took
Melissa upon short excursions with
him into the forests. and he picked
for her great armfus OF flowers
and arctic ferns. The grave was new
er without fresh offerings. and the
! cabin. with its new addition complete,
/ was always filled with the beautiful
/ things that spring up out of the earth.
! Jan and Melissa were happy, and in
/ the Joys of these two there was pleas
ure for the others of the post, as there
had been happiness in the presence of
! the woman Only upon Cummins had
there settled deep grief. The
changes of spring and summer. bring
ing with them all that this desolate
| world held of warmth and beauty, fill
ed him with the excruCiating pain Of
his great grief. as if the woman had
/ died but yesterday.
At last, his gaunt frame thinned by
sleepless nights and days of mental
torture, he said that the company's
business was calling him to Churchill,
and early in August he left for the
bay. He left Melissa in care of Jan.
and the child seemed to recognize the
guardianship.
When Cummins came back from
Fort Churchill in the autumn he
brought with him pack full of things
for Melissa. including new books and
papers. for which he had spent a share
of his seasons earnings. AS ne was
freeing these treasures from their
wrapping of soft caribou skin, with
Jan and Melissa both looking on, he
stopped suddenly and glanced from his
knees up at the boy.
IN what became of the missionary who
left with the mail. Jan. They say he
was last seen at the Etawney."
And not here?" replied Jan quickly
Not that they know Of" said Cum
minis. still keeping his eyes on the
boy The man who drove him never
! got back to Churchill They're won
deriug where the driver went too. A
. company officer has gone up to the
; Etawney. and it is possible he may
I come over 10 Lac Balm. | don't believe
: he'll find the missionary"
, Neither do L. said Jan quite coolly
: He is probably dead. and the wolves
and foxes have eaten him before this
= or mebby ze feesh"'
2 Cummins resumed his task Of IN
g packing. and among the books which
D he brought forth there were two which
e he gave TO Jan.
S The supply ship from London came
: in while / was at Churchill, and thos,
b came with it." be explained. ''Theyr,
] schoolbooks. There's going to be 1
= school at Churchill next winter. anC
the winter after that II will be at Yorl
: factory. down on the Hayes" He set
+ tied back on his heels and looked a
i Jan. ITS the first school that has eve
: come nearer than 400 miles Of US
n That's at Prince Albert"
t For many succeeding days Jan tool
d long walks alone In the forest trail
! and silently thrashed ont the two prob
u lens which Cummins had brought bacl
/ from Churchill for him. Should b.
n warn Jean de Gravois that a compan.
= officer was Investigating the disappear
n ance OF the missionary
Y At first bis impulse was TO 90 at ono
into Jeans haunts beyond Fond du La
e and give him the news. but even If tn
officer did come TO Post Lac Balm hoy
L would be know that the misslonar
e was at the bottom Of the lake and tina
, Jean de Gravois was accountable 70
O it, So in the end Jan decided that
y would be folly to stir up the little hunt
er's fears. and he thought no more O
u the company's investigator who ha
S gone up TO the Etawney.
: Ito be Conttnued.D
SNordsmanshin Aazipst THAR