Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-10-15
CHAPTER XII.
The Liar.

The Liar.
Curran felt very weary when he
returned to the post A strong man
and usually Of good endurance, he
was not In the habit of indulging in
much physical exercise as he always
had Indians or voyageurs to work
for him. His quick journey to Many
Beaver Lake and return had tired
bin in a way that surprised him.
1T must be that booze I've been
taking" he reflected. "Ill have to
go light on that stuff It's all right
to sell to Injuns, but it amt a white
mans drink. Shouldn't wonder if it
made me nervous, too"
He was exceedingly i'll at ease. In
many ways his schemes seemed to be
miscarrying. Mashkaugan had turn
ed against him for no particular rea-
son, except the fact that the hunch-
back was a superstitious fool who
had allowed his brain to become ad-
died by silly fears. Of course there
was nothing to be afraid of, but
man who believed in all kinds Of
ghosts and spirits was unreliable.
~ can't depend on him any more,
diiu VIII nave w BO ~
way, he was the one who did the
the job over at White Rapids, and it
is his own neck that would get
stretched If he blabbed. Nobody
would take his word against mine!
Anyway, / was here when it hap
pened, and not word Of writing has
passed between us. There isn't a
thing that can be proved against
me-"
The man walked restlessly up and
down the big livingroom in the post.
He was doing lot of thinking, and
the more he thought the more he
worried.
"Just one more swig at that stuff
won't hurt me-" he decided. "I'm
pretty near played out. I'm glad I
got back before it began to blow 80
hard. It's going to be rough even
ing"
He went out after taking another
drink and engaged Indians in CONVEX
sation, pretending to seek informa-
tion in regard to the parties who had
gone out in search of the child. All
had returned save two who had gone
off through the woods.
When he inquired for Mashkaugan
he was told that the hunchback had
gone out alone on the river and ap-
peared to be in desperate hurry.
Curran wondered what the man
was up to. Walking up to the old
chiefs tent, he was met By Minis
SUITS, who did not ask him to enter.
1--WE have all hunted high and
low" said the agent, "but so far
there is no trace of the child.
would like to talk to your daughter"
"Ameou sleeps" answered the old
man. "The WEAKNESS of death is on
her. No talk now"
Curran returned to the post and
resumed his walking up and down,
still thinking deeply. Finally this
bore fruit in a sudden idea.
"Wonder why l never thought to
look over his old papers," he said to
himself. "I know he kept some in a
box"
Entering the room Lorimer and his
wife had occupied, he found that no
search was needed. The furniture
was scanty, practically all Of it be-
ing homemade and bearing marks
of ak or cross-cut saw. Some shelves
had been made from pieces of provi-
sion boxes. They held dozen we'll
thumbed books and various odds and
ends. There was also a small, bat
tered tin cash-box, which proved to
be unlocked.
Without the slightest compunction
the agent opened it. 1t contained a
few dollar bills, some loose silver,
and some large Canadian pennies.
The amount was not sufficient to in
terest him. There were no legal
looking papers, but he found bun
die of old letters, which he opened
and looked over idly.
One of the letters caused him to
stop when he reached the few lines
above the signature.
"I remember he read this to me,
when it came," Curran told himself.
"Any old thing was good enough to
read aloud in this neck of the woods.
Told me that sister of his was mar
ried and had two kids"
He read the last paragraph over
and over again. His keen, evil mind
had been quick to seize a distinct
point of vantage.
After this he read over the whole
letter carefully. 1t gave a lot Of de-
Walls LlldC COulu lilteTtSI uO oiiC pu'
Lorimer, but there was nothing in II
that would hinder Curran in making
use of it.
The man grinned to himself. Here
was a chance for neat, little stroke
of diplomacy. He went back to thu
living-room after putting everything
in order. The letter he put in mi
pocket.
"Cyprienw he called, and the lam'
old Indian retainer promptly re
sponded.
"Go over to Nimissu. and tell hin
want to see him and his daughter
on very important matter" he or
dered. "Tell them to come here"
AS soon as the old chief heard th'
message he spoke to Ameou hurried
ly. The young woman had Away
refused to enter the post building
when Curran was there, giving ont
excuse or another. Now, however
she had no fear since her .fathe'