Graham guardian., 1922-07-04
constructed by the men. The dogs
were harnpSspd and fhey started


were harnessed. and they started.
1t was little more than fifty miles
to Clayton. Travelling along the
cleared road, the distance could be
covered easily in two days. The
dogs ran WELL tie weather was
clear and fine, and Wilton felt well
enough to walk good deal. Their
dinner was almost like a picnic. BY
evening the railhead had come into
sight In the distance, the empty camp,
the long sheds with the miscellany of
supplies, the locomotive shops, and the
great ballast pits beside the line.
AS the dogs climbed the last hill
there came yelping from the cleared
way behind them. Looking back, they
perceived sled approaching. Two
men walked beside It, and the dogs.
sighting Wilton's, yelped in challenge
which was taken up in an outburst of
answering growls.
The sled drew In toward them, and
the men resolved themselves into q
sergeant and a constable Of the mount
ed police. Wilton had stopped his
dogs, but the newcomers did not halt,
and went on. with curt greetings,
toward the cache.
A little surprised at their abruptness,
Wilton let the sled precede his sleigh.
AS the dogs were eager for their meal,
he sent Papillon ahead with them and
followed more leisurely with Molly.
They arrived ut the cache a few min.
utes after the half-breeds, to find the
two policemen waiting for them, while
the two men were embarrassing the
dogs. Andersen, the old Swedish care
taker, was standing beside Joe's coffin
with stunned look on his face. The
policemen were not of prepossessing
appearance. The elder man, the ser
geant, was about forty years Of age.
He had fair hair, dropping mustache,
slight cast In one eye, and an ex-
preston of sullen insolence. His com
panion, a short, stocky young fellow.
looked hardly less surIy and evidently
III at ease.
Evening. Mr.. Carruthers," said the
sergeant bruskly. ''T'm sergeant Pc
tiers, and this is Constable Myers.
That's Joe Bostock's body you're bring
Ing in. guess"
Wilton was staggered. "Yes, it's
Joe" he said, gulping. How did you
get the newsr
The policemen exchanged glances.
Peters smiled scornfully under his
long mustache. Its known, all right.
It's our job to know them things" he
answered. I'm taking charge of it
to bring II In for the inquest"
'But you are not from Clayton" said
Wilton, who. of course. knew all the
members Of the small force Of police
that was stationed there.
"we're from the Pas" answered the
sergeant shortly.
From the Pas That explained how
the sled had come along the road be
hind him. Bowyer must have discov
cred the fact of Joe's death In some
manner, and had probably spread the
news. Wilton surmised that Jules
Halfhead had somehow managed tt
indicate the fact to him.
The constable solved his problem
Eve was on patrol" he youchsafed
"And we met parties who told US
about Joe Bostock having met with al
accident, and that you was bringing
him in"
"That'll be all !" snapped the ser
geant, looking angrily at Myers, whC
subsidized promptly. 81 guess this
young woman is Molly McDonald?' hi
continued.
"This lady is Miss Mcdonald" sait
Wilton angrily, "and you'll keep civi
tongue in your head, sergeant"
Peters looked him up and down inso
lently, and for moment or two the
men faced each other in an aggressive
attitude. Then the sergeant, sneering
swung on his heel Wilton did not
know what TO make Of his attitude, fol
the police were always friendly.
Andersen's room was placed at Mol
ly's disposal, and after Wilton hac
seen to her comfort he went outside
the shack
The dogs were yelping and snarlins
over their fish from the cache. Pa
pillon had just finished feeding them
and Wilton thought Peters had beer
speaking to him. Probably the ser
geant was trying to obtain informa
ton.
The Swede came UP to Wilton. hold
ing pan of sizzling brown potatoes
II can't believe ii. Mr.. Carrutbers,'
he said. "Only last week he passed
through here with you. Gosh, he was
fine man, Joe was How did II hap
penn And you're hurt yourself, sir,
he continued. glancing at Wilton's arm
"Joe was shot at my side in the
woods. The same bullet hit me.
don't know who fired the shot. But
I'm going to know" said Wilton
grimly.
"My God, It's all up with the line
yetr' muttered the old man. with
drawing TO his fire.
Wilton looked at Molly, who had
come out, of the bedroom and was
standing near him. Andersen's excla
nation had gagged the whole situation
Wilton felt physically nauseated by
I