The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-10-27
HOME CIRCLE MAGAZINE SECTION


months have passed. Have your
permission to lead these men? They
would not go without me-"
Il know that, l know that, Hume.
l hate to have you go, but l can't
say no. Go, and good luck go with
you"
Here the manly old Factor turned
away his head He knew that Jaspar
Hume had done right. He knew the
possible sacrifice this man was making
of all his hopes, of his very life; and
his sound Scotch heart appreciated
the act to the full But he did not
know all. He did not know that
Jaspar Hume was starting to look for
the man who had robbed him of youth
and hope and genius and home.
Here is a letter that the wife has
that he Is alive. You will take it
with you, Hume And the other she
wrote to me, shall I keep it," He
held out his hand.
"No sir, will keep it, if you will
allow me. 1t Is my commission, you
know" And the shadow of a smile
lowered about Jaspar Hume's lips.
The Factor smiled kindly as he
replied, "Ah, yes, your commission
Captain Jaspar Hume of-of what,
Hume?"
Just then the door opened and there
entered the four men whom we saw
around the Sub-factor's fire the night
before. They were dressed In white
blanket costumes from head to foot,
white woollen capotes covering the
gray fur caps they wore JaspaT
then answered the Factors question:
"Of the White Guard, sir"
Good" was the reply. Men,
you are going on a relief expedition
one in which there Is danger. You
need a good leader. You have one In
Captain Jaspar Hume"
Jeff Hyde shook his head at the
others with pleased I-told-yOu-so
expression; Cloud-in-the-Sky grunted
his deep approval; and Late CarscafIen
smacked his lips in satisfied manner
and rubbed his leg with a sehoOl-boy
sense of enjoyment. The Factor CON
tinued: "In the name of the Hudson
Bay Company 1 viii say that if you
come back, having done your duty
faithfully, you shall be well rewarded.
And 1 believe you viii come back,
II 1t Is In human power to do So"
Here Jeff Hyde said, at isn't for
reward we're dom it, Mr.. Field, but
because Captain Hume wished It,
because we believed he'd lead Us;
and for the lost fellows wife We
wouldn't have said we'd do it, if it
wasn't for him that's just called US the
White Guard"
Under the bronze Of the Sub-fac-
tors face there spread q glow more
red than brown, and he said simply,
Thank you, men'-for they had ali
nodded assent to Jeff Hyde's words
Come with me to the store. We viii
start at noon"
And at noon the White Guard stood
In front of the store on which the
British flag was hoisted with another
beneath 1t bearing the magic letters,
H B. C; magic, because thay have
opened to the world regions that seemed
destined never to know the touch Of
civilization. The few inhabitants of
the Fort had gathered; the dogs and
loaded sleds were at the door The
White Guard were there too-all but
their leader. 1t wanted but two minutes
to twelve when Jaspar Hume came from
his house, dressed also In the white
blanket costume, and followed by his
dog, Jacques. In q moment more he
had placed Jacques at the head of the
first team of dogs. They were to have
their leader, too; and they testified TO
the fact by a bark of approval Pune
tualiV at noon JaSDar Hume shook hands