The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-05-17
CHAPTER olxTEEN.
CONTINUED,

why aren't you asleep, Benny
he asked in q whisper 90 as not to
disturb the others.
Il have been sleeping" the boy
answered, but | walked up and got
lonely, and / couldn't wake my pop.
Couldn't wake your father? That's
odd; he usually rouses at the slightest
sound"
Il know; but he didn't tonight, and
l got scared
A horrible doubt flashed through
Stephens mind. Here" he said
see IL he's ell right" And he made
his way to the Californians side. but
the latter's regular breathing instant
ly dispelled hts fears. He returned
to Benny. What did you do: did you
call him." he asked.
Yes, and l put my hand on his face
as l always do when | want him to
wake up"
"Oh. well. he's very tired. that's
ALL"
Have they gone away, Mr.. Land
ray" the boy asked.
Are you afraid. Benny"
"No"-slowly and uncertainly-"at
least | reckon not SO very afraid.
Are they still there?'
II expect they are"
The child waA silent. Stephen
stood learning on his rife loolslng
down at him with wistful pity i'll
his eyes. He had scarcely noticed
him before, he was 80 silent, % little
In the way; and now for the first time.
he was seeing how small and weak he
was. Why had Rogers brought him
with them; why had he not left him
behind with some woman who would
have cared for him? HIS sudden
sense of pity made him bitterly re-
sentful Of what he considered the
mans ignorant unimaginative devo-
ton. for sof course he knew that the
boy was all In all to the Californian;
but why since he loved him. had he
brought him out into the wilderness.
to face hardship and possible death!
II was bad enough for men, but this
child--he sickened at the thought.
Then he recalled with no little salts
faction that even Basil had shown
more than passing interest In the
boy; brutal and hard as he was, with
every living thing, the child had yet
found q way into his surly, grudging
regard, and this In spite Of the open
breach that, from the first, had ex-
listed between Rogers and himself
Remembering this, he could not be-
lieve that the fur trader would allow
any harm that II was in his power
to avert, to come to him. Then he
thought again Of the packet of papers
in his pocket; why not give them to
Benny to keep?
See here. Benny. do you think you
could take care OF some papers for
me tomorrow"
The child nodded interestedly.
What are they" he asked.
Stephen took the packet from the
pocket of his flannel hunting shirt
Il am going to give you these papers
to take care OF for me. Benny ne
said. Now, you are to remember, II
anything should happen TO me. they
are TO go back TO Benson" He paused
hopelessly; could the child under
stand?
Yes. sir. they are to go back to
Benson
Now think, Benny. how would you
send them there?"
, I'D give them to Mr. Bushrod, or
to my pop. or Mr. Walsh"
Good, so you, would, Benny; they
would know perfectly what to do; but
II anything should happen to them,
you are to keep In mind just two
things, the name Of Benson. and the
name OF Landray. Do you think you
can remember
The child laughed softly. Why.
Of course can. Mr. Landray can
remember you. and Benson,s the
name of the place where my pop was
IA little boy.
Yes, but do you know where Ber-
son is?"
The child's face fell for an instant,
then II lighted up with sudden intelli-
gence. he turned quickly and pointed
TO the East. ITS there. That's Ben
h. 1T