, 1923-02-03
F "a MATING IN THE wILDs."

I was not looking for you,' JOY
broke in. you are the last person
I was expecting to meet
rs that SOP The mockery had
gone out OF Bracknell's voice now,
and there was n dangerous ring in it.
The eyes in the haEgard face We're
blazing. and to both the girls It was
clear thai he had much ado to keep
himself in hand. you dare 10 tell
me that-me, your lawful husband?
Perhaps you will tell me for whom
you did leave your home then?
Whom you were following and seek.
ing on a winter trail"
In the wild mood that was on him
Dick Bracknell would be sure to put
q false Interpretation on any explain.
alton that she might offer him. Real
izing this she was silent. and no broke
out again. wrathfully-
you won't tell me? But I already
know. My cousin Roger is the
favoured man, is he not? You start
at that! Well. I will have Harrow
Fell and you also. Now you arc here.
in your husbands house, where you
have come of. your own accord, and
here you remain. Take off your
fursr'
He took a step forward as If to IN
force his order. and Joy shrank back
against the rough logs Of the shack.
Bracknell laughed savagely. but the
ext moment there came an ~interven-
ton.
Stand back, Mr.. Bracknell!'
! The speaker was Miss La Fargo,
and as she stepped resolutely for
ward, holding a small but serviceable
looking machine pistol in her hand.
Dick stepped back IND laughed to
cover his discomforture.
"A she-lynx-and with claws! Well.
time is on my side. You will grow
tired of standing there, and Joe will
be back in a minute or two, then I
shall know how to deal with you"
NO" replied Miss La Fargo. "Our
men will be here in a few minutes.
Then"
A sharp cry of agony sounded
somewhere outside, n rs It reached
them, the girls speech suddenly
froze.
The crash of a rifle came next. fol.
lowed by a shout. and that in turn by
u great stiffness. The three people
in the shack looked at one another
helplessly.
An hour passed in silence and then
Bracknell spoke hoarsely-
Something must have happened,
or the Indian would have been back
before this. And your men"
"No doubt they are waiting said
Joy.
Il am afraid not" answered her
husband. Something has occurred
what, We must find OUT" He glanced
at h window OF skin parchment.
then added, I'VE must cut thai out.
One OF us must climb through and
open the door"
Joy shall go" said Miss La Fargo
firmly.
Go through. JOY" assented the
sick man. Have no fear" he aid
as she visibly hes,tated. II give you
my word that this is no trap. Believe
me. I am very anxious for the safety
of all OF us"
Joy glanced once at him. II vas
plain to her hat he was sincere, and
two seconds later she brok out the
parchment and dropped down into
the snow. a minute later the door
Nv SPNAAE "ANA Ia "a CO bNOtu AlAtl e
looking down the creek. No sound
reached them. Everywhere was the
apall ng, i~nscrutabIe silence of the
Northern wilderness.
we must find out what has hap.
pened!" said Joy, looking at Brack.
nell.
Yes" he said slowly. but you
must not go alone. I will go with
you"
but your cough" Joy began. a
tone Of solicitude in her voice.
MY cough!' Dick BracknelI laugh.
ed bitterly. That is nothing to what
may lie before us, and in any case It
Is not safe for you to go alone"
Something in his voice and man
nor convinced her that he was not
speaking idly. and hat he had his
own reasons for apprehension.
a few minutes walking brought
them IN sight of the main trail. and
suddenly Joy gave a cry, and point
ed ahead.
The body OF George lay before
them. An arrow had killed him.
where is his son Jim? Where arc
tho dogs?" cried Babette. Both
have been here! See, here are the
tracks, and there goes the trail north.
ward
What do you think has hap.
pened" Joy asked.
81 can only guess" he said in n
troubled voice. I think the Indian
who was with me is responsible for
this. II am afraid he wanted your
dogs and outfit. that VIC might get
away from here! Once when my
cousin Roger Bracknell came"
Your cousin Roger has been herc?"
Joy cried. 'Ho is alive them
A Jealous light came in his eyes.
Yes" he replied. He is alive! He
came to my cabin by accident. He
had broken his leg. and had lain in an
'0''an cncampment for weeks. There
nd heard news which had sent
hot foot on the trail Of Il man
who was responsible for your fathers
DEATH"
For my fathers DEATH"
Dick repeated Rogers story.
But who Is tho MANI" asked Joy.
MY cousin I've mo no name, but
believed that he knew him"
"Ah!' cried JOY.
You a1gn r,rn.-It