The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-09-05
CHAPTER XIV.
Temptation.


 Temptation. T@HE dogs were sitting upon their
 Launches waiting when Jan
 and Kazan went back to them.
 AM Over a fire Jan hung his cof feepan and big chunk of frozen cari- boumeat and tossed frozen fish to the hungry dogs.
 Wlth his sickness, his deathly feel 1nsrof loneliness and heartache, there had entered into Jan now a strange sensaxdon that was almost excitement an eagerness to fasten the dogs in their traces, to hurry on in spite of his iexhaustion to that place which Thorn Con had told him of-Prince Albert and to free himself there for all time of the thing which had oppressed him hsfnce .thaB night many years ago when hethad staggered into Lac Bain to play his violin as Cummtns' wife died. He reached inside his skin coat, and there he felt papers which he had taken from the hole in the lob stick tree. They were safe. For twenty years he had guarded them. Tomorrow he would take them to the great company at Prince Albert. And after that-aft- CT he had done this thing, what would Shere remain in life for Jan Thoreau? Perhaps the company might take him, and ha would remain in civilization. That would be best-for him. He would fight against the call of his for ests as years and years ago he had fought against that call of the other world that had filled him with unrest for time He had killed that. If he did return to his forest hewould go far to the west or far to the. Cast. No one that had ever known him would hear again of Jan Thoreau.
 Kazan had crept to his blanket, dar- ing to encroach upon 1t inch by inch until his great wolf head lay upon Jan's arm 1t was ten years ago that Jan had taken Kazan, a little half blind puppy that he. and Melisse had chosen from litter of half a dozen stronger brothers and sisters. Kazan was all that was left to him now He loved the other dogs, but they were not like Kazan. He frightened his arm about the dogs head. Exhaustion and the warmth of the fire made him drowsy, and after a time he slept, with his head thrown back against the tree.
 Something awoke him hours after ward He opened his eyes and found that the fire was still burning bright ly. On the far side of it beyond the dog sat Thornton. A look at the sky, where the stars were dying, and Jan knew that it was just before the gray break of dawn He sat upright. Thornton laughed softly at him and puffed out clouds of smoke from his pipe.
 "Youwere freezing he said as Jan stared 14and sleeping like dead man. I waiteds for you back there and then hunted you up. You know,I thought He hesitated and knocked the ash from his pipe bowl. Then he looked frankly and squarely at Jan. ''See here, old man, if you're hard up-had trouble of any sort-bad luck-got no naoney-won't you let me help you outY' Thank you. sm'sieur; have money" said Jan. 'TSprefer to sleep outside with fhe dogs. I guess I would have been staff.&with 1.-the frost if you had not come You have been here all 1ight7"
 TMornton nodded.
 "Andrtt- is morningp' exclaimed Jan, rising and looking above the spruce tops. -t'Ycn are kind, m'sieur. wish might adoSas much for you.''
 You can.',z said Thornton quietly. ~'where are you going from hereY' ,- '-To the ,company's offices at Prince Af6srt. We will start within an hour.''
 ~W1n 'i you take me with youT' Hhorntcn asked.
 with pleasurev' cried Jan. "But it will be a. hard journey, m'sieur. I must hurry, and you may not be ac- c0stomed to running behind the dogs.''
 Thornton rose and stretched out hand.
 H,4 4o-v V41 said. '1 wish''-
 He stopped, and something in his low voice made Jan look straight into his eyes Then he turned to his pack upon the sledge.
 i've got meat and coffee and hard biscuits" he said. "Will you have breakfast with meP'
 It was early afternoon of the fourth day later when Jan and Thornton reached Prince Albert.
 we will go to the offices of the great company" said Jan "We will lose no time"
 It was Thornton now who guided him to the century old building at the west edge of the town. It was Thorn ton who led him into an office filled mostly with young women, who were Iaboring at clicking machines, and it was 1aOrnUOH WHO pEeS04teO d bit of white card to gray haired man at a desk, who, after reading it, rose from his chair, bowed and shook hands with him. And a few moments later door opened, and Jan Thoreau alone passed through it, his heart quivering, his breath choking him, his hand clutching at the papers in his breast pocket
 Outside Thornton waited. An hour nassed and still the door did not re
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