Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-07-29
MacFi rth of the
Mounted Police
BY H. LOUIS RAYBoLD

0
Alan MacFirth saluted his chief
crossed 10 the door with decisive steI
and closed it behind him. Outside In
the crisp northern air he drew a deep
breath. partly of relief that what he
had so long dreaded had at last come,
partly of resolution to put through the
job as eXpeditiOusly as possible. Yet
Its successful accomplishment would
mean, presumably, the downfall of his
hopes.
For the chief had sent him after
Brandon, and Brandon, III spite of the
fact that he had skipped with provin-
cial funds and was in hiding some
where north of the circle, had chosen
to cast acquisitive glances at JEANNE
Bruce, the factors daughter, whom
Alan had loved ever since as a pig
tailed youngster she had come to the
post. And post gossip said that Jean
reciprocated.
Now to say goodby to JEANNE. He
STROBE over to the factors dwelling, the
most pretentious of the little group of
white-painted buildings, and raped
sharply or the door, A moment later,
admitted by Margot, Bruce's dusky
halfbreed housekeeper, who regarded
him with the inscrutable look of her
kind, he entered the long living room
with its sparse yet homelike furnish
ings.
His entrance startled slim figure
from the depths of a huge chair. AS
she rose to meet him Alan saw that
Jean had been crying Evidently she
had heard that he was to be put on
Brandon's trail. Even as he gripped
tightly the two hands she held out to
him MacFirth cursed inwardly. Jean
ME crying over that worthless scamp
of Brandon!
JEANNE, I've come to say goodby,
The chief"
Il know" interrupted the girl, you're
out after Jim Brandon, and l know
what you have been told. know the
chief He always says, Get him, dead
or alive Oh, Alan, for my sake"
she lifted beseeching eyes. "For my
sake, Alan, bring him back alive!"
So the rumor of the post was true.
Jean cared. MacFirth swallowed hard.
docs it mean as much to you as all
that?" he asked gently.
sit means-more than you know"
she returned so sincerely and earnestly
that Alan choked back the words of
love struggling for utterance.
''I'll do my best, JEAN" he said sim
ply, and presently after a phrase of
farewell set out on his |
long and lonely mission.
Had he known that, despite his eff |
forts at concealment, the girl had read |
in his eyes his love for her, he might
have found in the fact a tritle of con-
ISOLATION. He had heard the words she
when he had left her stand
ing, wistful, on the threshold, Heaven
send that Margot is rightr' he would
have had cause for wondering
Many weeks later, in an odorous
gloo not very far from the frozen arc
lie rim, MacFirth found Brandon, rec
0gnizable in spite of his Eskimo
clothes, his growth of beard and the
'ayages of sickness. And Brandon,
Who had seen from the opening of the
gloo the plodding train of sledge dogs,
Knew that his day of reckoning had
'ome.
For in that vast country, with it's
rozen wastes and snow-bound horizon,
White men respect two things-famine
nd the Northwest Mounted Police. .
In the monotonous days which fol-
owed temptation lay heavily on Mac
firth to let Brandon die. In the lonely
lights in camp on the way to the post
e fought ten thousand little devils
Which urged him on to a negative
curse of action--merely not to fight ;
he fever, not to give the medicine,
OF to prepare the nourishing broth.
But he did not yield. The chief might I
e satisfied with Brandon dead-Jean {
'ould not. I
Meanwhile at the post JEANNE pom
cred the Whereabouts of the two men, !
ne of whom she knew loved her. She
Orried also concerning her father.
ohm Bruce was losing furs for the l
TUT ScNtIdl SbuSOIS lue
lue of the pelts had been decreasing :
ct the independent traders were do
e better than ever. Someone had
eer waylaying the Indians on their
turn from their winters trapping :,
I'd bribing them to turn over the most q
lluable skins. For his thievery-and
was little else-her father would be
I'D responsible.
Came d mild day when JEANNE laced y
, her walking boots and took her :
oubles into the open air. After
ngthy tramp she decided, like true =
Iughter of the wilderness, on a short .
It home, and thereby made her dis s
very. y
While forcing her way through an :
most impenetrable growth of under :"
ush bordering a muskeg swamp she :
lmbled over a plank. Surprised, she = :,
Dpped to investigate. and found that :,
Q plank was part of flooring which -
ncealei a dugout of some sort. ?
Curiously she prled at board until :
loosened, and kneelng she gazed
o the gloomy depths within. A