Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-12-31

| or snow and chopped for half an
hour. When he returned to the ca
bin the wounded man was bolstered
up in bed, and the doctor was pac-
ing back and forth across the room,
evidently worked to a high pitch OF
excitement.
robbery-outrage! Right
under our noses, that's what 1t was!"
he cried. "Pierre Thoreau is dead
killed by the scoundrels who left
this man for dead beside hint They
set upon them late yesterday after.
noon as Pierre and his partner were
coming home, intending to kill them
for their outfit. The murderers, who
are breed and a white trapper,
have probably gone to their shack
half dozen miles up the creek.
Now, Mr.. Philip Steele, here's 4
little work for you!"
MacGregor hisnself had never
stirred Philip Steele's blood as did
the doctors unexpected words, but
the two men watching him saw moth.
ing unusual in their effect. He set
down his ice and coolly took off his
coat, then advanced to the side of
the wounded man.
I'm glad you're better" he said,
looking down into the others strong
pale face. "It was pretty close
shave. Guess you were little out
of your head, weren't you?"
For an instant the mans eyes
shifted past Philip to where the doc
tor was standing.
"Yes-I must have been. He says
l was calling for Pierre, and Pierre
was dead. 1 left him ten miles back
there in the snow"
HE closed his eyes with groan
of pain and continued, after a mo-
ment:
Pierre and have been trapping
foxes. We were coming back with
supplies to last us until late spring
when-it happened. The white mans
name is Dobson, and there's a breed
with him. Their shack is six or
seven miles up the creek" r,
Philip saw the doctor examining
revolver which he had taken from
the pocket of his big coat He came
over to the bunkside with it in his
hand.
That's enough, Phil" he said soft
ly. He must not talk any more for
an hour or two or we'll have him in
a fever. Get on your coat. I'm
going with you"
"Fm going alone" said Phil short
ly. You attend to your patient"
He drank cup of coffee, ate a piece
OF toasted hammock, and with the first
gray breaking of dawn started W
the creek on a pair of Pierre's old
snow-shoes. The doctor followed him
to the creek and watched him until
he was out of sight -.-'e " -"
The wounded man was sitting on
the edge of the cot when McGill re-
entered the cabin His exertion had
brought flush of color back into
his face, which lighted up with a
smile as the other came through the
door.
1T was a close shave. thanks to
you," he said repeating Philips
words.
Just So" replied the doctor. He
had placed brace of short bulldog
revolvers on the table and offered
one of them now to his companion.
"The shaving isn't over yet, Falk-
ner."
They ate breakfast, each with a
gun beside his tin plate. Now and
then the doctor interrupted his meal
to go to the door and peer over the
broadening vista of the barrens.
They had nearly finished when he
came back from one of these obser-
vations, his lips set little tighter,
barely perceptible tremor in his
voice when he spoke.
They're coming, Falkner!"
They picked up their revolvers and
the doctor buttoned his coat tight
up about his neck, For ten minutes
they sat silent and listening. Not
until the crunching beat of snow
shoes came to their ears did the
doctor move. Thrusting his weapon
into his coat pocket he went to the
door. Falkner followed him, and
stood well out of sight when he
opened it, Two men and dog team
we're crossing the opening, McGills
dogs were fastened under brush
lean-to built against the cabin, and
as the rival team of huskies began
| filling the air with their clamor for
fight, the stranger team halted and
one of the two men came forward
alone. He stopped with some aston
ishment before the aristocratic-
looking little man waiting for him
in Pierres doorway
"Is Pierre Thoreau at home" he
demanded.
"Im stranger here, so can not
say" replied the doctor, inspecting
the questioner with marked coolness
1T Is possible. however, that he is
'or ! picked up a man half dead out
in the snow last night, and I'm wait