Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1922-08-18

looked out the WINDOW over tne SHOW
covered slope where the bright sun
was shining. Snow had covered any
tracks that there had been upon the
beach where those who had been in
the boat with him had been found
dead. He had known that this must
be; he had believed them beyond aid
when he had tried for the shore to
summon help for them and for him.
self. The other boat, which had car
ried survivors Of the wreck, blown
farther to the south, had been able to
gain the shore of North Fox island;
and as these men had not been so long
exposed before they were brought to
shelter, four men lived. Sheriff. had
told him their Names they were the
mate, the assistant engineer, deck
hand and Father Perron, the priest
who had been passenger but who had
stayed with the crew till the last Ben
jamin Corvet had perished in the
Wreckage of the cars
AS Alan went back to his chair, the
Indian watched him and seemed not
displeased.
"You feel good, now, Alan" Wassa-
guam asked.
Almost like myself, Judah"
"That is right, then. 1t was thought
you would be like that today. A sled
is coming soon, now"
"We're going to leave here, JudahY
"YeS, Alan"
Was he going to see her, then? Ex-
citement stirred him. and he turned to
Wassaquam to ask that; but suddenly
he hesitated and did not inquire.
Wassaquam brought the mackinaw
and cap which Alan had worn on Num-
ber 20; he took from the bed the new
blankets which had been furnished by
Sheriff.. They waited until farmer
appeared driving team hitched to a
low, wide-runnered sled. The Indian
settled Alan on the sled, and they
drove off.
They travelled south along the shore,
rounded into Little Traverse bay, and
the houses Of Harbor Point appeared
among their pines. The sled proceed
ed across the edge Of the bay to the
little city; even before leaving the bay
ice, Alan saw Constance and her ia
ther; they were walking at the water
front near the railway station, and
they came out on the ice as they recog-
nized the occupants Of the sled.
Alan felt himself alternately weak
and reused to strength as he saw her.
Their eyes encountered, and hers
looked away; sudden shyness, which
sent his heart leaping, had come over
her. He wanted to speak to her, to
make some recognition to her of what
she had done, but he did not dare to
trust his voice; and she seemed to un-
derstand that. He turned to Sheriff.
instead An engine and tender coupled
to a single car stood at the railway
station.
"We're going to Chicago?" he in
quired of Sheriff..
"Not yet, Alan-to st. Ignace. Fa-
ther Perron-the priest you know
went to st. Ignace as soon as he recov-
cred from his exposure. He sent word
to me that he wished to see me at my
convenience; l told him that we would
go to him as soon as you were able"
"He sent no other word than that?"
"Only that he had very grave COM
munication to make to u.s."
Alan did not ask more; at mention
of Father Perron he had seemed to feel
himself once more among the crashing,
charging freight cars on the ferry and
to see Benjamin Corvet, pinned amid
the wreckage and speaking into the ear
Of the priest.
It was not merely confessional
which Father Perron had taken from
the lips of the dying man on Number
25; it was an accusation of crime
against another man as well; and the
confession and accusation both had
been made, not only to gain forgive
ness from God, but to right terrible
wrongs. If the confession left some
things unexplained, it did not lack con-
irmation; the priest had learned
enough to be certain that 1t was no
hallucination of madness. He had been
CudTS6U UeuullSly W ISpSdL WildL Add
been told him to the persons he was
now going to meet; so he watched ex-
pectantly upon the railway station
platform at st. Ignace. tall, hand
some man whom Father Perron
thought must be the Mr.. Sheriff. with
whom he had communicated appeared
upon the car platform the young man
from Number % followed him, and the
two helped down young and beauti-
full girl.
They recognized the priest by his
dress and came toward him at once.
'Mr SherrillT" Father Perron In
quired.
Sheriff. assented, taking the priests
hand and introducing his daughter.
81 am glad to see you safe, Mr.. Stat
ford" The priest had turned to Alan.
"We have thanks to offer up for that,
you and Iv'
II am his son, then! I thought that
must be So"
Continued Next Week