Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-01
CHAPTER XIX-tConiinuedl

ago and the last party, ulluel '''"
Bilinger. has been gone Il week
You told me to send your very best
men. and have. 1t mas larry
stripped the camp Of the men we d.
pended upon. and there are hardly
enough guns left to kill meat WIN,
.J didn't write this letter said
philip. looking hard at MacDougai'
"The signature is a fraud. The letter
which sent to you, revealing my dis.
coveries at Churchill, has been inter
cepted and replaced by this. 10 You
know what it means?
MacDougall was speechless. HIS
square law was set like an iron clamp
his heavy hands doubled into knots
on his knees.
1T means-fght." continued Philip.
"Tonight-tomorrow- any moment
now. can't guess why the blow
hasn't fallen before this
He quickly related to MacDougaA
the chief facts he had gathered at
Fort Churchill. When he had finished
the young Scothman reached over to
the tADle, SPlLcu IIS ltN'IN''' ''''' ''N'''
the butt end of it out to Philip.
Pump me fun Of lead-for Gods
sake, do, Phil" he pleaded
Philip laughed, and gripped his
hand.
Not while need a few fighters
like yourself, Sandy he objected
Were on to the game in time. by
tomorrow morning We'll be prepared
for the war We haven't an hour
perhaps not minute to lose. How
many men can YOU get hold of tonight
whom we can depend upon to fight"
"Ten or a dozen, no. more. The
road gang that we were expecting up
from the Grand Trunk Pacific came
three days after you started for
Churchill--twenty-eig of EN- They're
a tough.ooking outfit, but devilish
good workers. I believe YOU could
: hire that gang to do anything. They
won't take a word from me. It's all
up to Thorpe; the foreman who
brought 'em up, and they wont obey
an order unless it comes through him
Thorpe could get them to fight, but
they haven't anything TO fight with
>except a few knives. I've got eight
guns left, and ! can scrape up eight
men who'll handle them for the glory
Of IT. Thorpe's gang would be mighty
handy in close quarters if it came to
that"
MacDougall moved restlessly and
ran a hand through his tawny hair.
Il almost wish we hadn't invited
that bunch up here" he added. "'rhey
look TO me like a lot of dollar thugs,
but they work like horses. Never saw
such men with the shovel and pick.
And fight? They've cleaned up on a
half of the men in camp. If we can
get Thorpe"
.Well see him tonight" interrupted
Philip 'Or to be correct this morn
ing. It's one o'clock. How long will
il take to round up our best men?'
"Half an hour" said MacDougall
promptly, jumping to his feet. There
are Roberts, Henshaw, Tom Cassidy
Lecault, the Frenchman, and the tive
St. Pierre brothers. They're all crack
and they're worth twenty ordinary
men"
A few moments later MacDougal
extinguished the light and the two
mon left the cabin. Philip drew his
companions attention to the dimly
IL.
he had followed the stranger a shor'
time before.
"That's Thorpe's," said the younl
engineer. 81 haven't seen him. since
morning. Guess he mist be up"
well sound him first" said Philip
starting off.
At MacDougall's knock there was
moments silence inside. then heav.
footsteps and the door was fun
OPEN Sandy entered. followed b.
Philip Thorpe stepped back. He wa
OF medium height yet so athleticall
built that he gave the impression o
being two inches taller than he actu
ally was. He was smooth-shaven, an
his hair and eyes were black. Hi
whole appearance was that OF pc
son infinitely superior to what Phil
had expected TO find IN the gang-for
man. His first words. and the manns
IN which they were spoken. added
this impression.
Good evening, gentlemen
"Good morning" replied MacDol
gall, nodding toward Philip. This
SIR. whittemore. Thorpe. We sa
your light and thought you wouldn
mind a call"
Philip and Thorpe shook hands.
"Just in time to have a cup of co
fee.s invited Thorpe, pleasantly m
iloning toward a steaming pot on II
; ~ stove. II just got in from lof
. \, like out over the new roadbed. Bee
IA hooking the ground over along Il
north shore of the Gray Beaver, ar
K. WAS 80 interested that didn't start Il
Il. nome until dark. Won't you draw u
nenticmen? There are mighty few wi
/, P, 1nn beat me at making coffee"
[. Mac cDougsll had noted sudd'
.snge Ia Philips face. and as Thor