The Detroit times., 1912-08-07

You're a good one. you are" he
said TO himself. limping back and
forth across the narrow space OF the
cabin. You've got them all beaten
TO a rag when II comes 10 playing the
chump, Phil Steele Here you 10 up
10 Big Chief MacGregor. throw out
your chest. and say TO him, L can get
that man. and when the big chief
says YOU can't. you call him a four
ply ignoramus In your mind. and get
permission TO go after him anyway
Just because you're In love. You fol.
low your man up here-four hundred
miles or so--and what's the conse-
quence2 You lose all hope OF finding
her. and your man does just what
the big chief said he would do, and
lays you out-though II wasn't your
fault after all Then you take pos
session of another mans shack when
he isn't at home. eat his grub, nurse
a broken head. and wonder why the
devil you ever Joined the glorious
Royal Mounted when you've got
money 20 burn. You're wise one.
YOU are. Phil Steele-but you've
learned something new. You've
learned there's never man so good
but there's a better one somewhere
even il he is man-killer like Mr..
William DeBar"
He lighted his pipe and went 10
the door. For the first time In days
the sun was shining in cold blaze
OF fire over the southeastern edge OF
the barrens which swept away in
limitless waste of snow-dune and
rock and stunted scrub among which
occasional Indian and half-breed trap.
pers set their dead.falls and poison
bats for the northern fox. Sixt,
miles 10 the west was Fort Smith. A
hundred miles TO the south lay the
Hudson's Bay Companys post at
Chippewayan: a hundred and fifty
miles 10 the south and east was the
post at Fond du Lac. and 10 the north
nothing. A thousand miles or so
up tEere one would have struck the
po,ar sea and the Eskimo. and il was
with this thought OF the ifelessness
and mystery OF dead and empty
world that Philip turned his eyes
from the sun into the gray uesola-
tlcn that reached from Pierre Tho
reaus door TO the end OF the earth.
rar OF 10 the north he saw a black
speck moving in the chaos OF white.
IL might nave been a fox coming over
a snow-dune a rifie-shot away, for
distances are elusive where tine sky
and the earth seem TO meet in cold
gray rim about one. or IL might have
Deen musk-ox, or a caribou at a
greater distance, but the longer he
lOnEad \.
that il was none Of these-but a man.
IL moved slowly. disappeared for a
Few minutes In one of the dips OF the
plain, and came into view again much
nearer This time he made out a
man. and behind, sledge and ,ogs.
It's Pierre" he shivered, closing
the door and coming back TO the
stove. i wonder Whist the deuce the
breed Will say when he finds a
stranger here and his grub half gone. .
After little he heard the shrill
creaking OF sledge on the crust out
side and then mans voice. The
sounds stopped close to the cabin and
were followed by knock at the door.
Come in. cried Philip: all in the
same breath IL flashed upon him that
1t could not be the breed. and tha.
II must be mighty particular and
unusual parsonage 10 knock az all
The door opened and a man came
In. lie was a little man and was
bundled in a great beaver overcoat
and "a huge beaver cap that conceal
ed all Of his face but his eyes. the
tip OF his nose. and the frozen end
or beard which stuck out between
the laps OF his turned-up collar like a
horn. For all the world he looked
like diminutive drum-major, and
Philip rose speechless, his pipe still
In his mouth. as his strange visitor
closed the door behind him and ap.
preached.
Beg pardon" aid the stranger In
smothered voice, walking "a though
he were ice TO the marrow and afraid
or breaking himself Its so beastly
cold that | have taken the liberty OF
dropping In TO get warm"
at is cold-beastly cold" replied
Philip. emphasizing the word. 1T
was down 10 sixty last night. Take
off your things
Devil OF a country-this." shivered
the man, unbuttoning his coat. "Pd
rather roast of the fever than freeze
TO death" Philip limped forward TO
assist him, and the stranger eyed
him sharply for moment.
Limp not natural" he said quick
ly, his voice freeing itself at last
from the depths OF his coat collar.