The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1922-09-16
CHAPTER Xxx
The Fate Of the Miwaka.

N'V thAb youA houSSs "bAu's
"No. AlnE; this Is an Indians house.
but 1t is not mine. 1t Is Adam Enos'
house. He and his wife went some
where else when you needed this"
HE helped to bring me here. then7"
"No. Alan. They were alone, here
she md Adams wife. When she found
you. they brought you here-more than
a mile along the beach. Two women!"
Alan choked as he put down the lit
tie porcupIne quill box which had
started this line Of inquiry. Whatever
questions he had asked Judah or Sher-
rill these last few days had brought
him very quickly back to her. Moved
by some intuitive certainty regarding
Spenrman, she Ind come north; she
had not thought Of peril to herself:
she had struggled alone across danger
Gus Ice In storm-a girl brought up as
she had been! She had found him
Alan-with life almost extinct-upon
the beach she and the Indian woman,
Wassaqunm Ind just snid-had
brought him along the shore. How
had they managed that. lie wondered.
His throat closed up. md his eyes
filed rs he thought OF this.
In the week during which lie had
been cared for here, Alan had not seen
Constance; but there had been a pc
culinr and exciting alteration In Shcr-
rill's manner toward him, he had felt
il was something more than merely Tx
Ing for him that Sheriff. had showed.
and Sheriff. had spoken of her to him
as Constance. not, rs he had called
her always before. "Ailss Sheriff." or
my daughter" Alan had had dreams
which had seemed impossible OF full
fillment. of defeating his life and NIL
that he could make of 1t to her; now
Sherrill's manner had brought to him
something like awe, as Of something
quite Incredible.
He turned to the Indian.
HAS anything more been heard Of
Spearman. Judah"
"Only this. Alan: he crossed the
straits the next day upon the ferry
there. In Mackinaw City he bought
liquor at q bar and took 1t with him;
he asked there about trains into the
northwest. He has gone. leaving all
he had. What else could lie do?"
Alan crossed the little cabin and
looked out the window over the snow
covered slope. where the bright sun
was shining. Snow had covered any
trucks that there lind been upon the
beach where those who had been In
the boat with him Ind been found
dead. He had known that this must
be; he hnd 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 MS 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 persisted 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, Judah?'
"Yes, Alan"
Was he going to see her. then? Ex-
element stirred him. and he turned to
Wassaqiium to ask TINT; but suddenly
he hesitnted and did not inquire.
wassaqusm brought the mackinaw
and cap which Alan had worn on Mum.
Der rs: he took from the bed the new
blankets which had been furnished BY
Sheriff.. They waited until q farmer
appeared driving q team hitched to .
low, wide-runnered sled. The Indian
settled Alan on the sled, and they
drove OF.
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
Their; they were walking at the water
front near the railway station. and