The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-05-12

over; then he went away. When he
had finished his coffee, Alan went into
the smaller connecting room and re-
commenced his examination of the
drawers under the bookshelves. AT
ten o'clock, Alan stopped his search
and went back TO the chair in the IL
brary. He dozed; for he awoke with
a start and feeling that some one
had been bending over him. and gazed
up into Wassaquam's face. The In
dian had been scrutinlzing him with
intent, anxious inquiry. He moved
away, but Alan called him back.
when Mr.. Corvet disappeared, Jul
dab, you went to look for him up at
Manistique, where he was born-at
least Mr.. Sheriff. said that was where
you went. Why did you think you
might find him there?" Alan asked.
an the end, I think, a man maybe
goes back to the place where he be-
gan. That's all, Alan"
"In the end! What do you mean by
that? What do you think has become
| OF Mr.. Corvet?"
=
What makes you think tnat?
Nothing makes me think; I think it
myself"
81 see You mean you have no rea-
son more than others for thinking it;
but that Is what you believe"
"YeS" Wassaquam went away, and
Alan heard him on the back stairs, as
cending to his room.
When Alan went up to his own
room, after making the rounds to see
that the house was locked, droning
chant came to him from the third floor.
He paused in the hall and listened,
then went up to the floor above. A
the half-open door Of a room at the
front of the house; he went a little
way toward it and looked in. Two
thick candles were burning before a
crucifx, below which the Indian knelt,
prayer book in hand and rocking to
and fro as he droned his supplica-
tons.
A word or two came TO Alan, but
without them WassaQuam'S occupation
was plain; he was praying for the re-
pose of the dead-the Catholic chant
taught to him. as it had been taught
undoubtedly to his fathers, by the
French Jesuits of the lakes. The in
toned chant for Corvet's soul. by the
man who had heard the Drum, fol-
lowed and still came to Alan, as he
returned to the second floor. .a-
He had not been able to determine,
during the evening, Wassaquam's atti-
tude toward him Having no one else
to trust. Alan had been obliged to put
certain amount Of trust in the In
dian; so as he had explained to Was
saquam that morning that the desk
and the drawers in the little room off
Corvet's had been forced, and had
warned him to see that no one, who
had not proper business there, entered
the house. Wassaquam had appeared
to accept this order; but now Wassa-
guam had implied that it was not be-
cause Of Alan's order that he had re
fused reporters admission to the
house.
Alan started and went quickly to the
open door of his room, as he heard
voices now somewhere within the
house. One Of the voices he recog-
nized as Wassaquam's; the other in
distinct, thick, accusing-was IN
known to him; it certainly was not
Spearman's. He descended swiftly to
the first floor, and found WassaQuam
standing in the front hall, alone.
"Who was here, Judah?' Alan de-
manded.
"a man." the Indian answered stol-
idly. HE was drunk; put him out"
what did he come for?"
''He came TO see Ben. I put him
out; he is gone, Alan"
Alan flung open the front door and
looked out. but he saw no one.
what did he want Of Mr.. Corvet,
Judah?"
81 do not know. I told him Ben was
not here; he was angry, but he went.
away"
HAS he ever come here before?''
Eyes; he comes twice"
"He has been here twiceT
More than that; every year he
comes twice, Alan. Once he came
oftener."
"How long has he been doing that?"
.Since 1 can remember"
as he a friend of Mr.. CorvetT
"No friend-now
"But Mr.. Corvet saw him when he
came here?"
Always, Alan"
-And you don't know at all what he
came aboutT
How should I know? No; do
not"
Alan got his coat and hat. The
sudden disappearance of the man
might mean only that he had hurried
away, but il might mean, too, that he
was still lurking near the house. Alan
had decided TO make the circuit of the
house and determine that But as he
came out on TO the porch, figure
more than a block away TO the south
strobe with uncertain step out into the
light of a street lamp. halted and
faced about, and shook his fist back
at the house. Alan dragged the In
dian out on TO the porch
rs that the man, JudahT he de-
handed.
Yes, Alan"
Alan ran down the steps and at full
speed after the man. But when he
reached the corner, he was nowhere In
sight. Alan retraced his steps for
several blocks, still looking; then he
gave it up and returned east toward
the Drive