The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-08-24
the factor, had good deal of extra l.

the factor, had a good deal of extra 1 time on his hands.
 Before the last of the snow was gone he and Jan began dragging in logs for an addition which they plan ned for the little cabin. Basking out l in the sun, with a huge bearskin for 1 floor, Melisse looked upon the new home building with wonderful demon strations of interest. Cummins' face glowed with pleasure as she kicked and scrambled on the bearskin and gave shri1l voiced approval of their efforts.
 Jan was the happiest youth in the world. It was certain that the little Melisse, nearly six months old, under stood what they were doing.
 As the weather grew warmer and i spring changed into summer Jan took Melisse upon short excursions with l him into the forests, and he picked 1 for her great armfuls of flowers l and arctic ferns. The grave was .nev- | CT without fresh offerings, and the cabin, with ibs new addition complete, was always filled with the beautiful l things that spring up out of the earth
 Jan and Melisse were happy, and in the joys of these two there was pleas ure for the others of the post, as there had been happiness in the presence of the woman. Only upon Cunmins had there settled a deep grief. The | changes of spring and summer, bring ing with them all that this desolate world held of warmth and beauty, fill ed him with the excruciating pain of his great grief, as if the woman had died but yesterday.
 At last, his gaunt frame thinned by sleepless nights and days of mental torture, he said that the company's business was calling him to Churchill. and early in August he left for the bay. He left Melisse in care of Jan. and the child seemed to recognize the guardianship.
 When Cummins came back from brought with him a pack full of things for Melisse, including new books and papers, for which he had spent share of his seasons earnings. As he was freeing these treasures from their wrapping of soft caribou skin, with Jan and Melisse both looking on, he stopped suddenly and glanced from his knees up at the boy.
 They're wondering over at Church i'll what became of the missionary who left with the mail, Jan They say he was last seen at the Etawney."
 "And not here?' replied Jan quickly. l ho& 0@V Cr,w,o mins, still keeping his eyes on the boy. "The man who drove him never got back to Churchill. They're won dering where the driver went too. A company officer has gone up to the Etawney, and it is possible he may come over to Lac Bain. don't believe he'll find the missionary"
 Neither do I,' said Jan quite coolly. "He is probably dead, and the wolves and foxes have eaten him before this or mebby ze feeshv'
 Cummins resumed his task of un- packing, and among the books which he brought forth there were two which he gave to Jan.
 "The supply ship from London came in while was at Churchill, and those came with it." he explained. They're schoolbooks. There's going to be a school at Churchill next winter, and the winter after that it will be at York factory, down on the Hayes He set tied back on his heels and looked at Jan. "It's the first school that has ever come nearer than 400 miles of us That's at Prince Albert"
 For many succeeding days Jan took long walks alone in the forest trails and silently thrashed out the two prob lens which Cummins had brought back from Churchill for him. Should he warn Jean de Gravois that a company officer was Investigating the disappear. ance of the missionary?
 At first his impulse was to go at once into Jeans haunts beyond Fond du Lac and give him the news, but even if the officer did come to Post Lac Bain how would he know that the missionary was at the bottom of the lake and that Jean de Grayois was accountable fo1 it? So in the end Jan decided that if would be folly to stir up the little hunt er's fears, and he thought no more of the company's investigator who had goHe up to the Etawney.
 CHAPTER VI.