Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-12-10

Balm. AS he hurried to Breeds quar-
ters he wondered IL Colonel Becker
or Isobel had seen him from their
window. He had noticed that the
curtain was up, and thin spiral of
smoke rising from the clay chimney
that descended to the fireplace in
their room.
He found Breed. the factor, poring
over one of the ledgers which he and
Colonel Becker had examined. He
started to his feet when he saw
Philip.
where in the name of blazes have
you been?" were his first words, as
he held out hand. I've been hunt
ing the country over for you, and had
about come to the conclusion that
you and Bucky Nome were dead"
Hunting for me-" said Philip.
What for?"
Breed shrugged his shoulders.
"The colonel an Miss Isobel," he
said. "They wanted to see you so
bad that l had men out for three
days after you'd gone looking for you.
Couldn't even find your trail. I'm
curious to know what was up"
Philip laughed. He felt tingling
his body. 1t was difficult for him to
repress the trembling eagerness in
his voice as he said:
well I'm here | wonder IL they
want to see me-now"
Suppose they do" replied Breed
slowly lighting his pipe. But you've
hung off too long. They're gone"
Gomez" Philip stared at the fac.
tor
Gomez" he demanded again.
Left this morning-for Churchill u
affirmed Breed. 1.-TWO sledges, two
Indians. the colonel and Miss Isobel."
For few moments Philip stood in
silence, staring straight out through
the one window of the room with his
back to the factor
Did they leave any word for me?'
he asked
mo"
"Then-I must follow them"
He spoke the words more to himself
than to Breed The factor regarded
him in undisguised astonishment and
to add
81 can't tell you why, Breed-but
it's necessary that l overtake them
as soon as possible. | don't want to
lose a day-not an hour Can you
lend me team and driver?"
'G've got scrub team" said
Breed "but there isn't another man
that | can spare from the post
There's LeCroix, ten miles to the
west. II you can wait until tomor.
| row"
81 must follow this afternoon
now" interrupted Philip. "They will
have left a clean trail behind, and
can overtake them some time tomor
row. Will you have the team made
ready for me-a light sledge, II
you've got it."
By three o'clock he was on the
trail again. Breed had spoken truth.
fully when he said his dogs were
scrubs. There We're four of them
two mongrels, one blind huskie, and
mamelute that ran lame. And, be.
sides this hendicap, Philip found thst
his own endurance was fast reachinf
the ebbing point. He had Travelled
sixty miles in day and a half. ant
his legs and back began to show
signs of the strain In spite of this
fact, his spirits rose with every mile
he placed behind him. He knew
that 1t would be impossible for Isobe
and her father to stand the hardship
of fast and continued travel At the
most they would not make more thar
twenty miles in day. and even witt
his scrub team he could make thirty
and would probably overtake them a
the end OF the next day Two hour.
later he came upon the remains O
their midday campfire, nine or ter
miles from Lac Balm 1t was darl
when he reached this point Their,
were glowing embers still in the fire
and these he stirred into life, addin,
armfuls of dry wood to the flames
He would camp here-where Isobe
had been only a few hours before
If he travelled hard he would over
take them by next noon
But he had underestimated his owl
exhaustion. 1t was nine o'clock mex
morning before he awoke, and afte
ten before he again took up the pur
suit Of the two sledges. The after
noon was half gone before he strucl
their camp of the preceding evening
and he knew that, because of hi
own loss of time. Isobel was still
as far ahead of him as when he ha,
left Lac Balm. He followed the trai
while the moon was at Its highest
and then pitched his tent. He wa
up again next morning and breakin
camp before 1t was light.
Scarcely had he travelled an hou
over the clear-cut trail ahead of hir
when he suddenly halted his dog
with loud cry of command and az
tonishment. In a small open tn