The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-07-07
CHAPTER vi.
Philip Follow. a Pretty Face.

TT was late in the afternoon when
Philips Instructions came from
l. the Inspector. They were tersely
official in form, gave him all necessary
authority. and ordered him to leave for
lie Pas that night Pinned to the order
was a small slip of paper. and on this
MacGregor had repeated in writing ms
words of a few hours before: What
ever happens, bring back your pris-
oner."
There was no signature to this slip,
and the first two words were heavily
underscored. What did this double
caution mean? Coming from a man
like MacGregor. who was as choice as
a king of his advice, Philip knew that
it was of unusual significance. II IT
was intended as a warning, why had
not the inspector given him more de-
tail: During the hour in which he was
preparing for his journey he racked his
brain for some clew 10 the situation.
The task which he was about to per-
form seemed simple enough. A man
named Thorpe had attempted murder
at -Wekusko. He was already pris-
oner, and he was TO bring him down.
The biggest coward in Saskatchewan.
or a man from a hospital bed, could do
this much, and yet
He read the inspectors words over
and over again. Whatever happens 7"
In spite of himself little stir of ex-
element crept into his blood. Since
that thrilling hour in which he had seen
Bucky Nome desert from the service
he had not felt himself moved as now,
and in a moment of mental excitement
he found himself asking a question
which few minutes before he would
have regarded as a mark of insanity.
Was it possible that in the whole OF
the Northland there could be another
woman as beautiful as Col. 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
between these two women-between this
wife OF an attempted murderer and
Mrs Becker there was some connecting
link--sonie association
He cut his thoughts short with low
exclamation of disgust The absurdity
of the questions he had asked himself
brought a flush into his face. But he
could not destroy the undercurrent of
emotions they had aroused. Anyway,
something was going to happen. He
was sure of that. The inspectors ae-
tons, his words, his mysterious ner-
vousness, the strange catch in his voice
as they parted, all assured him that
there was good reason for the repeat
ed warning. And whatever did happen
was to be brought about by the woman
whose girlish beauty he had looked upon
in the picture. That MaeGregor was
aware of the nature of his peril, if he
was to run into danger at all, he was
sure, and he was equally certain that
some strong motive restrained the in
spector from saying more than he had
Already he began to scent in the ad-
venture ahead of him those elements
of mystery, of excitement, even of TO
nance, the craving for which was an
inherited part of his being. And with
these things there came another sensa-
ton, one that surprised and dfsquieted
him. A few days before his one de-
sire had been to get out of the north
country. to place as much distance as
possible between himself and Lac Balm.
And now he found himself visibly af-
fected by the thought that his duty was
Ito take him once more in the direction
}pf 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 it was this that
quickened his pulse.
He was ten minutes carly for his J