Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-12-10
PHIuPSTEELE
Sf'aeRUaLNORnwESThOU
1 JAMES OLIVER CURWOOD
Auth@ Of danger Trail Thelonor Of theBlG Snowsec.
Copyright 1911, The Bobbs- Merrill Company.

| he could get permission from Mac
Gregor to go after DeBar his own
difficulty would be settled in the
easiest possible way. The assign
ment would take him for long and
I indefinite time into the north. 1t
would take him back to Isobel
Becker.
He went Immediately to his room
upon reaching the barracks, and
wrote out his request to MacGregor
! He sent it over to headquarters by a
rookie. After that he waited.
Not until the following morning
did Moody bring him summons to
appear in MacGregor's office. Five
minutes later the inspector greeted
him with outstretched hand, gave him
a grip that made his fingers snap, and
locked the office door. He was hold
ing Philips communication when the
young man entered.
81 don't know what to say to this,
Steele" he began. seating himself at
his desk and motioning Philip to a
chair ITO be frank with you, this
proposition of yours is entirely
against my best judgment"
"In other words, you haven't suffi-
cient confidence in me-" added Philip.
mo, don't mean that. There
isn't man on the force in whom I
have greater confidence than you.
But, II was to gamble, I'd wager
ten to one that you'd lose out II I
sent you UP to take this man DeBar."
"I'll accept that wager-only re-
verse the odds" said Philip daringly.
The inspector twisted one Of his
long red mustaches and smiled lit
tie grimly at the other.
"If were to follow my own judg-
ment I'd not send one man, but two"
he went on. 81 don't mean to under
estimate the value of my men when
say that our friend DeBar. who has
evaded us for years, is equal to any
two men I've got. I wouldn't care to
go after him myself-alone. I'd want
another hand with me, and mighty
good one-a man who was COOL eau
tious, and who knew all of the ins
|
self And here" He interrupted
himself, and chuckled audibly here
you are asking permission to go after
him alone! Why. man, it's the very
next thing to inviting yourself to
commit suicide! Now, If were to
send you ard along with you a good.
level-headed man like Moody"
81 have had enough of double-har-
ness work, unless | am commended
to go, Mr.. MacGregor," interrupted
Philip. II realize that DeBar is a
dangerous man. but | believe that /
can bring him down. Will you give
me the opportunity"
MacGregor laid his cigar on the
edge of the desk and leaned across
toward his companion, the long white
fingers of his big hands clasped in
front of him. He always took this
position, with a cigar smoldering be-
side him. when about to say those
things which he wished to be indeli-
bly, impressed on the memory of his
listener
Yes, I'm going to give you the op-
portunity," he said slowly, "and am
also going to give you permission to
change your mind after I have told
you something about DeBar, whom
we know as the Seventh Brother.
repeat that IL you go alone, it's just
ten to one that you don't get him.
Since '99 four men have gone out
a hno hoa IL
There was Forbes, who went in that
year; Bannock, who took up the trail
in 1902; Fleisham in 1904, and Gresh-
am in 1907 Since the time of Gresh-
ans disappearance we have lost sight
of DeBar, and only recently. as you
know, have we got trace of him again
He is somewhere up on the edge OF
the Barren Lands. | have private in,
formation which leads me to believe
that the factor at Fond du Lac can
take you directly to him."
MacGregor unclasped his hands to
pile on the desk
"He is the last of seven brothers.
he added "His father was hanged"
"A good beginning" interjected
Philip.
There's Just the trouble" said the
inspector quickly. "Tt wasn't good
beginning. This is one of those pc
cul!ar cases OF outlawry for which
the law itself is largely responsible
and | don't know of any one I woult
say this to but you. The father was
hanged, as have said. Six months
later 1t was discovered. beyond &
doubt. that the law had taken the
life Of an innocent man. and that De
Bar had been sent to the gallows b.
combination of evidence fabricated
entirely by the perjury of enemies
!, The law should have indicated itself
, But 1t didn't. Two of those who hat
plotted against DeBar were arrested
tried-and acquitted. fact which
goes to prove the statement of a Ger
; tain great man that half of the tim,
la.U0 L.. u