The Detroit times., 1912-08-07
CHAPTER XIII.
The Great Love Experiment.

The Great Love Experiment.
For a full minute after the others
words Philip stared In astonishment.
Then, with a joyful shout, he suddeH
ly reached out his hand across the
stove.
by thunder" he cried, you're from
home"
"Home." exclaimed the other.
There was startled note In his
voice. "You're-youre Chicago
man." he asked. staring strangely at
Philip and gripping his hand at the
same time.
Ever hear OF stsele-Phnip Eg-
bert Steele? I'm his SON."
Good Heavens!" drawled the doc
tor, gazing still harder at him and
pinching the Ice from his beard,
what are you doing up here?"
"Prodigal son. grinned Philip.
Waiting for the calf to get good and
fat What are you doing?"
Making a fool OF myself" replied
the doctor, looking at the top OF the
stove and rubbing his hands until hfs
fingers snapped.
AT the North Pole, IL they had met
there, Philip would have known him
for professional man. His heavy
woolen suit was tailor-made. He wore
collar and a fashionable tie A
lodge signet dangled at his watca
chain. He was clean-shaven and his
blond Van Dyke beard was immacu-
lately trimmed. Everything about him
from the top OF his head to the bot
tom OF his laced boots, shouted pro-
fession even in the Arctic snow he
might have gone farther and guessed
that he was a physician--a surgeon
perhaps-from his hands, and from
the supple manner in which he swist.
ed his long white fingers about one
another over the stove. He was a
man OF about forty, with thin sen.
sitive face, strong rather than hand,
some, and remarkable eyes. They
were not large. nor far apart, but
were like twin dynamos, rejecting
the life Of the man within. They were
the sort of eyes which Philip had al.
ways associated with great mental
power.
The doctor had now finished rub
bing his hands, and, unbuttoning his
under coat. he wrew a small silver
cigarette case from his waistcoat
pocket.
They're not poison" he smiled.
opening II and Offering the cigarettes
10 Philip. Il have them made espe-
cially for myself" A sound outside
the door made MIN pause with light,
ed match between his fingers. How
about dogs and Indian?" he asked
May they come in?" a
Philip began hobbling toward the
door.
So exciting TO meet q man from
home that forgot all about EN-" he
exclaimed
With three or four quick steps the
doctor overlook him and caught him
by the arm.
Just a moment" he said quickly.
How far is Fort Smith from here?"
About sixty miles"
do you suppose | could get there
without-his assistance?"
IF you willing TO bunk here FOR
few days-yes," said Philip. 'T'h GO
ing on to Fort Smith myself as soon
as | am able to walk"
An expression OF deep relief came
into the doctors eyes.
That's just what | want Steele"
he exclaimed, unfeignedly delighted
at Philips suggestion, I'm not well,
and | require little rcst. Call him
in"
No sooner had the Indian entered
than to Philips astonishment the lit.
tie DOCTOR began talking rapidly 10
him in Cree The guides eyes light.
ed up intelligently, and at the end he
replied with single word, nodded.
and grinned. Philip noticed that as
he talked a slight flush gathered in
the doctors smooth cheeks, and that
not only by his voice but by the use
OF his hands as well he seemed anxi- |
Gus TO impress upon his listener the
importance of what he was saying.
He'll start back for Chippewayan
this afternoon" he explained TO Philip |
moment later. The dogs and
sledge are mine, and he says that he |
can make II easily on snow-shoes,"
Then he lighted his cigarette and add
ed suggestively, He can't understand |
English" (Contlnuedl.