The spectator., 1920-10-15
CHAPTER l-Continued.

Harris left his wife with company of other women in the government i'm migration building while he set out to find, if possible. lodgings where she might live until he was ready to take her to the homestead country. He must hrSt make q trip of exploration himself and as this might require sev- er;ll weeks his present consideration was to place her in proper surround ings before he left He inquired at many doors for lodgings for himself and wife, or for his wife alone. The response ranged from curt announce mentS that the inmates "ain't takn' boarders' to sympathetic assurances that if if were possible to find room for another it would be done. but the house was already crowded to suffoca= ton. In two hours Harris. notwith- standing his stout frame and his young enthusiasm. dragged himself somewhat disconSolately back to the immigration huilding with the nfor- nation that his search had been fruit. less
 Al the door he met Tom Morrison and another, whom he recognized as the teller of Indian stories which had captivated the children of his car
 And what luck have ye had?' asked Morrison. Seizing the young man hy the arm. Little. I'll he thinkin'. by the smile ye're forcin' up But what am l thinkin' Of? Mir. McCrae is from way out in the Wakopa county. and an old timer on the prairie.
 "Aleck McCrae." said the big man. We leave our .miSterS' east of the Great Lakes. An Ahm not from Wa kopa. unless you give that name to all the country from Pembina crossing to Turtle mountain Ah'm doing bust ness all through there. an no more partial to one place than another"
 What k your line of business, Mir McCrae?" asked Harris.
 "Aleck. said. an Aleck it is"
 "All right" said the other, laugh ing, What Is your business, Aechf"
 My business k assisting settlers to get located on suitable land. an eke- ing out my own living by the process Tom here tellS me you're hunting house for the wife. Ah know Emerson too well to suppose you have found one"
 "f haven't for fact" said Harris reminded of the urgency of his mis- sion.
 Its out of the question" said Me Crae. "BeSides, it's not so necessary as you think. What with the bad time our train made, an the good time the stock train made. an the fact that they started ahead of us. they're in the yards now. That's q piece of luck. to start with
 But l cant put my wife in q stock carl" protested Harris.
 There's worse places" McCrae an- swered, calmly worrying considera- ble section from plug of black chew ing tobacco. Worse places. An should say. Ah've seen times when Il good warm stock car would have passed for heaven. But that ain't what An have in mind Wen all turn in an get the stock unloaded. hitch up the horses. pack load, an get away. Ah've been making a canvass. an An find We have six or seven families who can he ready to pull out this afternoon. My team will go along. with good tent an some cooking outfit. Everyone has bedding, so we're nll right for that Now, if we all hustle we can be start ed by I o'clock. an out ten or l2 miles before we pitch camp. How does it suit you?'
 What do you say. Mir. Morrson?"
 'I thipk Aleek's plan Is best. I've my wife and the two girls, and there's no roof for their heads here. IL suits me"
 If it's all settled" continued Me Crae. who had the leaders knack of suppressing indecision al the psycho- logical moment. well all turn in with the unloading of the stock"
 Harris ran to tell his wife that they were to join party for the | front" that very afternoon, She re- ceived the news ioyously,
 In few minutes all hands, both | men and women, were busy at the | cars. Many hands made the work | light, and ny mid-afternoon six sleighs | were loaded for the Journey. All the | women and children were to go with | the party Morrison and one or two hired men would remain in Emerson | complete the unloading and take | charge of the effects until the teams | should return from their long journey, | Mccrae on account of his knowledge of the town and of the needs of the journey. was chosen to secure the sup plies.
 Each settlers sleigh carried that | which seemed most indispensable |