Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-10-19

- window OF has Office at Fort
Providence, n Of the Hudson Bay
COmpany's posts. The servant, or
more properly, Orderly-Sergeant Gosse,
late Of the Scots Guards, departed
on his GRAND, glancing curiously at
his masters face as he did so. The
Chief Factor, as he turned round,
unclasped his hands from behind him,
took a few steps forward, then standing
still in the center of the room, read
carefully through a letter which he
had held in the fingers Of his right
hand for the last ten minutes as he
scanned the wastes Of snow that stretch
ed away beyond Great Slave Lake to the
Arctic Circle and the Barren Grounds.
He meditated a moment, went back
to the window, looked out again,
shook his head negatively, and with a
sigh walked over to the huge fireplace.
He stood thoughtfully considering the
floor until the door opened and Sub
Factor Jaspar Hume entered. The
Factor looked up and said "Hume,
I've something here that's been worry
ing me a bit. This letter came ia the
monthly batch this morning. IL is
from a oman The Company sends
another commencing the cause Of
the woman and urging us TO do all
th0N DOEoltlt W lhttb utE MlHhtNs
1t seems that her husband is a civil
engineer of considerable fame. He
had a commission to explore the Copper
Mine region and a portion OF the
Barren Grounds. He was to be gone
six months. He has been gone a year.
He left Fort Good Hope, skirted Great
Bear Lake, and reached the Copper
Mine River. Then he sent back all
OF the Indians who accompanied him
but two, they bearing the message
that he would make the Great Fish
River and come down by Great Slave
Lake to Fort Providence. That was
nine months ago. He has not come
here, nor to n other of the forts,
nor has any word been received from
him. His wife, backed by the II. b. c.,
urges that a relief party be sent to
look for him. They and she forget
that this is the Arctic region, and that
the task is a well-nigh hopeless one.
He ought to have been here six months
ago. Now, how can we do anything?
Our fort is small, and there is always
danger Of trouble with the Indians.
We cant force men to Join a relief
party like this, and who will volun-
teer? Who would lead such a party
and who will make up the party to
be led?"
The brown face of Jaspar Hume
was not mobile. 1t changed in ex-
preston but seldom; it preserved a
steady and satisfying character of
intelligence and force. The eyes, how
ever, were Of an inquiring, debating
kind, that moved from one thing 10
another rs if to get a sense Of balance
before opinion or judgment was ex-
pressed. The face had remained i'm
passive, but the eyes had kindled "a
little as the Factor talked. To the
Factors despairing question there was
not an immediate reply. The eyes
were debating. But they suddenly
steadied and Jasper Hume said SEN
tentiously, "a relief party should GO"
eyes, yes; but who is to lead them?"
Again the eyes debated.
Read her letter." said the Factor,
handing him it.
Jaspar Hume took it and mechan-
ically scanned it.
The Factor had moved toward the
table for his pipe or he would have
seen the other start, and his nOstrils
slightly culver as his eyes grew con-
sciOus of what they were looking at.
Turning quickly, Jaspar Hume walked