The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-09-01

"Where'd YOU serve it?"
That is a problem" admitted Dig
by. I've thought oyer that. But
this sort of thing wasn't what | signed
on for. That's all there is 10 il. If
you'd told me what was expected of
me, | might have signed with YOU or
might not. I'd have thought about
1t. object to my rights being in
vaded. SO | wish TO offer my resigna-
ton"
All right" said Wilton shortly.
Then, feeling that the other had Il
sort of justice in his attitude: ut
IS rather tough to expect You TO do
! police work." he acknowledged. But
l don't think there will be any more
of It,"
Digby looked at him in frank as
~tonishment. "Why. l like il :" he said.
L a the time of my life last night.
It's simply the principle of the thing.
But I'm afraid l didn't quite make
my position clear
mot altogether" answered Wilton.
However, I'm sending some special
mail down this noon, and you can go
in with the sleigh"
Digby's detection was a serious
blow, for it would be necessary TO
make arrangements for a man TO take
his place. However, Wilton decided
- take no steps TO that end immedi-
atoly, He inspected the camp, saw
that a good job was being made of the
cleaning up, and went to look at
Kitty'S house.
This was built substantially of logs,
and had already been half completed.
II consisted Of four rooms ana an out
kitchen, and stood at the edge Of the
new road near the ridge, about five
fRundrcd yards from the nearest bunk
house.
That afternoon he made his first
examination of the MuSkcg. He took
soundings in several places, but the
peat seemed bottomless. Nowhere
could he reach rock bottom, except
within q few feet of The shore.
The underlying bed of peat was
everywhere. He went two or three
miles up and down the stream without
discovering any way of bridging the
MuSkeg.
He was too busy now 10 see Molly
mor than an hour daily, but he al
ways went to the portage for a short
visit after supper.
The factor. who had learned to eX-
peCt his coming at the same hour each
day, withdrew upstairs before he
arrived. Once or twice, when they
came face to face, he turned his head
away in sullen anger.
AS a prospective father-in-law, Nc
Donald seemed about as hopeless n
proposition as could be conceived, but
the time TO consider his own and Mol
Tvs future would not come until the
line was on its feet. Big Muskeg was
the giant in the way. Often Wilton,
staring down at its sullen depths from
the top Of the ridge, would feel it
as a personal enemy, defying him 10
overcome il.
One evening Wilton was sitting in
his shack, utterly di~scOnsOlate. He
had sounded nearly every possible
place without result, and even Molly
had failed to cheer him. He saw no
alternative before him except to re-
turn to Clayton and confess himself
beaten.
Andersen tapped at the Goor and
said that q man wanted to sec him.
Wilton rose up and, to his surprise, adj
mitted Lee Chambers.
The engineer was roughly dressed
and wretched-looking. He told Wilton
that he had tramped in from Cold
Junction, thirty miles southwestward,
the present terminal point Of the New
Northern.
II thought maybe you would give
me a job" he said. I've left Mr..
Bower for good. We had some
trouble He wanted ME TO make a
crooked report, and I would not do
II. I'm through with him and his
dirty schemes"
Wilton gave him a chair and looked
him over coldly. He did not like
Chambers. and he suspected that he
was lying, and that Bower had sent
him to him for his own purposes.
Digby's disappearance had left him
in q hole, but that hardly justified his
taking on Lee Chambers, though he
was one Of the ablest of his profession
in Manitoba.
"Wel, Mr.. Chambers" he said, Tn
carrying on my work here on the lines
established by Mr.. Bostock. Joe Bos-
took had two maXims. The first was:
Never lay off a man If you "a help
it, The second was: Never take OF a
man who's left you And to be quite
frank-I feel about the same way. You
left the Missatibi, which had treated
you well, and we have reason to be-
lieye you gave useful information to
Mr.. BOwyer."
81 swear I didn't" shouted Cham
bers. springing to his feet. "Prove
that, Mr.. Ca%rruthers!"
81 can't prove it," Wilton admitted.
II am giving you my personal feeling
about yourself, in confidence"
swell, it's a mighty poor sort Of con