The Detroit times., 1912-07-23
PHIuPSTEELE
MISUNDERSTANDING
kLANES Oliver CURw0oD
AutLS Of IheDansr Tua. Ihelba-ofs rbs Sasus6e.
~ cspyrish. iSii Tie Boss. AsrriIlc.-tAaN

as now, anu IN moment OF Lnonloh
excitement he found himself asking a
question which few minutes before
he would have regarded az mark
or insanity. Was II possible that in
the whole OF the northland there
could be another woman as beautiful
as Colonel Becker's wife-a woman
so beautiful that she had turned even
Inspector MacGregor's head, as Mrs.
Becker had turned Bucky Nome's-
and his? Was IT possible that be-
tween these two women-between
THIS wife OF an attempted murderer
and Mrs. Becker there was some con-
Meeting link-some association
He cut his thoughts short with a
10" exclamation OF disgust. The abb
surdity OF the questions he had asked
himself brought flush into his face.
But he could not destroy the under
current of emotions they had aroused.
Anyway, something was going TO hap
pen. He was sure or that. The in
| spector's actions, his words. his mys-
f, FERROUS nervousness, the strange catch
/ In his voice as they parted, all as,
sured him that there was good rea.
son for the repeated warning. And
whatever did happen was to be
brought about by the woman whose
girlish beauty he had looked upon In
the picture. That MacGregor was
aware OF the nature OF his peril,
II he was 10 run into danger at
all, he was sure. and he was equally
certain that some strong motive re-
strained the Inspector from saying
more than he had. Already he began
TO scent In the adventure ahead OF
him those elements OF mystery. Of
excitement, even OF romance, the
craving for which was an inherited
part OF his being. And with these
things there came another sensation,
one that surprised and disquieted him
A few days before his one desire had
been 10 get out OF the north country.
TO place as much distance as possible
between himself and Lac Balm And
now he found himself vislbly affected
by the thought that his duty was to
take him once more in the direction
OF the woman whose sweet face had
become an indissoluble part OF his ex-
istence. He would not see her Even
at Wekusko he would be many days
Journey from Lac Balm But she would
be nearer TO him. and 1t was this that
quickened his pulse.
He was ten minutes early for his
train, and employed that interval In
mingling among the people at the sta
ton MacGregor had as much as told
MIN that whatever unusual thing
might develop depended entirely upon
the appearance Of the woman and he
began TO look for her. She was not
at the station. Twice he walked
through the coaches OF his train with
out discovering face that resembled
that in the photograph.
II was late when he arrived at EFT.
omami. where the sixty mile line of
the Hudson's Bay Railroad branches
on to the north. AT dawn he entered
the ca0oose OF the work train, which
was TO take him up through the will
derness TO Les Pas. He was the only
passenger.
, There Amt even a hand-car gone
, up ahead OF u.s." informed the brake
man In response TO his inquiry This
is the only train In five days"
After all, IL was to be a tame affair.
In spite OF the inspectors uneasIness
and warnings, thought Philip. The
; woman was not ahead OF him. Two
days before she had been in MacGre.
gors ONCE, and under the circum.
: stances II was impossible for her 10
: be at Les Pas or at Wekusko, unless
she had travelled steadily on dog
: sledge. Philip swore softly to him.
self in his disappointment. ate break.
r fast with the train gang. went to sleep
and awoke when they plowed their
way into the snow-smothered outpost
. on the Saskatchewan.
; The brakeman handed him letter.
This came on the lie Pas mail" he
, explained II kept IL out for you in
stead OF sending II to the Office"
Thank YOU" said Philip. "A spe.
, cial-from headquarters Why in
thunder didn't they send me a mes.
senger instead OF letter, Braky,
, They could have caught me on the
: train"
He tore open the departmental en-.
velope as he spoke and drew forth a
bit OF folded paper. II was not the OF.
fetal letter-head. but at glance
Philip recognized the Inspector
scrawling writing and his signature
II was one Of MacGregors quiet
boasts that the man did not live who
could forge his name.
An astonished whistle broke from
his lips as he read these few lines :
Follow your conscience, whatever
: you do. Both God and man will re.
ward you In the end.
FELIX MacGREGOR.
~.