The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-07-19
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JAMES OLIVER CURwOOD
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OF himself and Nome would be cover
ed Through the thickening gloom the
two or three lights In the factors
home cleaned like distant stars. one
OF them was brighter than the others,
and he knew that II came from rooms
which Breed had fitted up for the
colonel and his wife. AS Philip halted
for a moment, his eyes drawn by a
haunting fascination TO that window,
the light grew clearer and brighter,
and he fancied that he saw a face
looking out into the night-toward
his cabin. A moment later he knew
that il was the womans face. Then
door opened. and figure hurried
across the open. He stepped back
into the gloom OF his own cabin and
waited IL was the colonel. Three
times he knocked loudly at the cabin
door.
I'D like TO go out and shake his
hand" muttered Steele I'D like TO
tell him that he isn't the only man
who'd had an idol broken, and that
Mrs. BIS little Irritation isn't circum-
stance-to what might have hap
pened'
Instead, he moved silently away.
and turned his face into the thin
trail that buried itself in the black
forests Of the West.
CHAPTER w.
The Siiken Scarf.
A loneliness deeper than he had ever
known a yearning that was almost
pain, oppressed Philip as he left Lac
Balm behind him. Half mile from
the post he stopped under a shelter OF
dense spruce, and stood listening as
there came TO him family the distant
bowling OF a dog. After all, had he
done right? He laughed harshly and
his hands clenehed as he thought Of
Bucky Nome. He had done right by
him. But the skulI-Mrs. Becker
was that right? Like a fash there
came 10 him out OF the darkness u
picture of the scene beside the fire
Of Mrs. Becker and the colonel, OF
the woman's golden head resting on
her husbands shoulder. her sweet
blue eyes filled with all the truth and
glory OF womanhood as she had look
ed up into his grizzled face. And then
there took its place the scene beside
the nre In the factors room. He saw
the woman's flushed cheeks as she
listened to the low voice OF Bucky
Nome, he saw again what looked like
yielding softness in her eyes-the
grayish pallor in the colonels face as
he had looked upon the Irritation.
Yes, he had done right. She had re-
covered herself In time, but she had
taken a little bit OF life from the
colonel. and from him She had brok-
en- his ideal-the ideal he had always
hoped for, and had sought for, but
had never found, and he told him
self that now she was no better than
the girl OF the hyancinth letter, whose
golden beauty and eyes as clear as an
angels had concealed this same deceit
that wrecked mems lives. M'sieur
Janette's clean, white skull and the
story OF how and why M'sieur jan
cite had died would hot be too great
a punishment for her.
He resumed his journey. striving to
his mind on other things.
west was the cabin OF Jacques Pier
rot, a half-breed, who had a sledge
and dogs. He would hire Jacques TO
him on his patrol in place
OF Bucky Nome. Then he would re-
turn to Nelson House and send in his
report OF Bucky Nome's desertion,'
since he knew well enough after the
final remarks OF that gentleman that
he did not intend to sever his con-
nection with the Northwest Mounted
In the regular way. After that. He
shrugged his shoulders as he thought
Of the fourteen months of service still
ahead OF him. Until now his adven-
ture as member Of the Royal
had not grown monotonous
for an hour. Excitement, action, fight
Ing against odds, had been the spice
Of life to him, and he struggled to
throw of the change that had taken |
hold OF him the moment he had open !
ed the hyacinth-scented letter OF