The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1914-01-22

frozen body. BY nightfall he was Kim
self again. The horse, stalled in the
little stable adjoining, also seemed
none the worse for it's experience.
That was a commonplace for both.
After supper sLockhart told Anderson
of his plans. The girl was to go to
Winnipeg next spring to the convent,
to be educated. AS for him, one more
winter. and then, with luck, he would
be able to give up the life and take
ibis wife to civilized town.
Anderson listened mutely. His
brain, which had held only one idea,
WAS now yielding to second. How
could he arrest this man who had
saved his life?
How could he not arrest him? The
Police always get their mar That
was an axiom. Lockhart had shamed
him once; he should not do so twice.
Lockhart knew that Anderson was
"a policeman, but he did not associate
him with his escapade in Montreal
fifteen years earlier. That had, in
deed driven him here, but the episode
had been buried in the past. He did
not imagine that anyone was seeking
him.
Where were you bound for?" he
asked Anderson. But when Anderson
sat staring moodily at the stove, with
out replying, Lockhart did not per-
sist. He knew that it was not good
form to ask questions of the police.
CHI Ia oh
of sweat to his forehead This pre-
dicament was terrible. He was a
man of simple mind and of unfiinch-
ing integrity. He did his duty; but
now the duty was two-fold, and
higher law seemed suddenly to have
interposed itself between himself and
his task.
Il think I'll go out and see the
horse again before turn in," he said.
The little stable was also store.
In it Lockhart stalled the horses OF
his rare visitors and also kept the
stock Of goods with which he traded
with the Indians during the summer
months, when there was no trapping.
Anderson paced up and down, torn
with irreso1ution.
He must take Lockhart back to
or shame not only him
self but that splendid organization
of which he was a part. Yet this
man had given him his life; surely
he must rather lay down his own than
violate the law of man, the primal
law.
IL Oh
stopping beside his horses head and
watching the beast eat with satisfac-
tion now back again beside the door,
where Lockhart's trading goods were
piled on few hometown shelves
Anderson fingered them idly, and a
bale of cloth, which he had displaced,
slipped to the ground In raising it
stopping down, perceived a
demijohn Of whiskey hidden behind
cleyerly contrived sliding board. He :
put the bale in place and went back
to the hut
An immense load seemed to have
been lifted from his spirit that night.
They sat round the stove, the four of
hem, laughing and testing, and ex-
Shdh5ll6 OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES VI lllG Ill LIZ
east. :
you are not married?" inquired
Mrs. Lockhart gently.
Anderson shook his head There
lad been romance in the life of the :
nan, years before; it was astonish-
ng how it came back to him. But
he police was his all now, and life
hnp0n1n foi for. II
He slept dreamlessly in his bed be-
ind the little partition of wood, and
yhen he awoke the sun was already
yer the horizon and the snow had
eased to fall
There won't be much more snow,
m thinking" said Lockhart. tits
lmost spring"
Yes" answered the sergeant medi-
ltively. "By the way, Mr.. Lockhart,
think you'd better come back with
lie this morning"
Lockhart stared at him. and a
readful pallor came over his face.
or the first time he suspected that
le policeman might have come to
m concerning that matter of fifteen
ears before, in Montreal
TITS only days ride" said An
srson. We'll take the horse in
rms. | haven't a warrant, Lockhart,
1t guess you'd as soon get it over
I'd not make troubls for us both on =
at score"
Lockhart licked his dry lips.
What's the charge against me?" he
ked brokenly.
Selling whisky to the Indians" I
swered the policeman. 81 saw that
mijohn in your store. You know
ats contrary to law. I'm sorry,
and I hate to do it, but
ty is duty, you know"
1913, by W. G. chapman.)