New Britain herald., 1923-11-15

man whom they were discussing. then l hastily averted his eyes.
 The man from the river had turned
 round and was looking al him with concentrated gaze. His lace was work. ing as if he had lost control or his i facial muscles. and his hands were tightly clcnched.
 "Thc hound." he whispered to him. self, "the coutcmptiblc hound.''
 Then as Ainley and the factors wife disappeared in the store, he laughed horshly and relit his pipe.
 No" he whispered below his breath. "Tll wait till the cad comes ont--t'n force him to, acknowledge me"
 But scarcely had he reached the de- cision. when on. the quiet air came the clear notes of bugle sounding the alert and turning his thoughts in new direction. The notes came from the river and were so alien to that northern land that he swung round to discover their origin. At tho same moment the two half. breeds lcaped from the bench and began 10 run towards the wharf. John Rodwell. inc factor and his wife, emerged from the store and hurried in ~the same direction. followed by the Indian who had been bartering. Two other men appeared at the ware house door. and as tho strains or the bugle sounded again, also began 10 run towards the wharf, whilst from the factors house came q boy and girl. followed by white woman and couple or Indian servants. all Of whom followed in the wake Of the others.
 move. Having turned towards the river as the bugle-cal i1oatc1 clear and silvery. and being unable to sec upstream because or the fort buili- inrs. he remained where he vas. keeping one eve on the store The man who had passed him in the Square had not emerged. stane stood there for two or three minutes watching first the river and then the door. At thc end of that time with q resolute look on his face. he began 10 stride towards the store. He was half-uay there when the sound Of a thin cheer reached him from the wharf. lTc turned and looked round His change Of position had given him an enlarged view of tho river. and distant perhaps a quarter of q miIe or sn away he saT a brigade of boats. He stood and stared at them wonder ingiy for monsnt thsu resumed his va" towards the store.
 As he entered he looked round. and. standing near tte parchment window he caught sight of the man for whom he ras looking Ainlry 1as rather 1-i1ito pf rar~. but his cge1isss p-as in ifs p'acn. ard outHardly hp vas coi- Irt.tAd and cool IIubnrt Stanc re- garded him silently for mcment. then he laughed mirthlrssIy.
 "WclI. Ainley" 1e said abruptly. This is q strange meeting place"
 'Ah'" said inc other quickly. ''Is it you. Starr. after aHt''
 Surely ycu krnu that just now s'' was the reply iu rutting voice.
 Gerald Ainiey did not reply. He stood there uith an embarrassed look l on his face. obviously iiI at case. and l tho other continued: You do not i seem pleased to sec me-an old friend l .Fou cut me just now. Why"
 really. Stane. you you ought to-er-be able 10 gness.+' |
 Perhaps I can answered Stane. l ruthlcssly. Things are different I BoH. ] am discharged convict. i 1nwn and out. and old friendship counts for nothing Is that IT,
 "Weli. 'reaiied sinley. haIf-apolo- zrticaiiv. 'yoss can scarcely expect that # zhoul8 Isr otherufse snp- pose that. resily. tbaf ig -hy rou Icff England Ii would have teen int possible for y0u to resuBs Fsgr old