, 1923-01-29

ous,y. and IN a me all three were
in spasms. Then one suddenly re
laxed. and lay stark and dead
4 dark suspicion shot through his
mind, as he IN a swift impulse OF
mercy he drew his pistol and shot
the two others.
the fire, and examined It carefully.
came upon some small white crystals.
"Strychnine-' he cried with horror
shining IN his eyes. who has done
this thinE7"
HIS cousin? For whosver had
placed the ~st-ychntns n the dog food.
had ~caIlously planned to murder him.
And bad as Dick BrscknslI was. the
corporal felt he would not nave done
a thing Ike this
There's that IndLaa-Joe." he saLd-
Yes! The Indian DID f. without
Dicks knowledge"
Alone and without dogs to carry
his stores. the situation was terrible.
It was at least Tour days Journey
to North Star Lodge. probably five
or six. There was food for four days
on b sled Barring accidents there
was an even chance of his getting
through, but II any m-chance arose
then. Presently he fell asleep.
When he awoks It was still dark.
Two tiny globes of Light caught his
eye He looked further. There were
other twin globes of light,
"Ttmber-wolvesr' he whispered I o
himself.
r.zrt-- - 81 -zx t-4J
sighted and fired. 4 wolf yelped-
Presently a gaunt dog wolf shank out
Of the shadows towards its dead COM
rade. and fell on 1t with its teeth.
Another followed and another. and a
tangie Of furry beasts where the dead
wolf had been.
"Phewr' he whistlsd to himself.
they're mad with hunger
His eye caught the package OF pol
eoned salmon roe.
The very thIngg' h muttered. He
scattered the food about. put on his
snowshoes. shouldered his pack. and
stepped out on the trail He had gone
only a little way. when yelps OF pain
cached him and he knew he was
safe. Not a s.ng'e wolf appeared
IATpIkA the Snort uay.
] He camped that night and next
morning started an hour before dawn.
II began TO blow, and then that hap
pened which put a term to his jour
ney. A great tree. well up a bank.
collapsed under It's weight OF snow.
Roger IsaPed aside. but the snowshoes
embarrassed him and he fell. 4
bough OF the falling tree aI!ghted on
his right leg. snapped it Ike a pipe.
stem. and pinned him down IN the
snow.
Death was staring him in the eyes.
He took out his pocket book. and
made shift to write g note to his su-
perior down at the Post Then he
took out his pistol. which carried
death. swift and me-ctfuI. II was no
use waiting.
He held the pistol ready. and for a
moment his thoughts strayed 10 Joy
Gargrave- Would she eye- hear?
Would she guess that he
His thoughts broke off suddenly.
Through the gloom Of the falling snow
he caught q sound Of voices. Some
one. & seemed, was urging 4 dog
team to greater efforts. Presently,
out Of the snov-murk emerged the
forms OF two nen-IndAns. and a.
they bent over him he lapssd into III
CONSEQUENCES
Sir Joseph Rayner. as a solicitor,
was at the very head Of his proses-
SION, and wa supposed to be trusted
with more family secrets than any
other man in England. And in spite
OF as burden OF secrets. usually as
he walked abroad amor men, he
wore a Jaunty air. as befitted a man
with not a trouble OF his own IN the
wide world
But n winter morning IN his pr.
vats office his brow was black with
care as he wrote figures upon a sheet
Of foolscap. Presently he sat staring
at the total.
"Sinstyssyen thousand he wits.
pe-ed to himself God! II anything
were to come OUT
He sat looking At ths ttEure.
Suppose Abrams fns scheme goes
aTTy7 Or suppose joy refuses to
anT-
The vhtr Of the telephone bell IN.
terruptsd his thoughts.
rs that really you. Adrtaa7 go.
Yes. you are in time. though I have
been praying for your arrival for
days. Things are very tight. and that
banker f. getting ' Yes,
the sooner the better. In half an
hour How goes your matrimonial
schems7 -. Uni Hanp fire a 1T.
tie does II, but you're certain o. he
end.
Thank heaven. I'm her guardian.
and there's only my consent TO Be Oh
tzined."
\ cynical emile came ovsr his fAcs.
"s0unds as II you had fallen In love!
.... Yes yes. I know. That's
an. I think"
Putting dgzn thu receiver. he ones
more was the Sir Joseph Rayusr,
whom the city knew, EuIirs cheer
full. prosperous.
Hail an hour A:s- an assistant An.
nounced: Miss GrsHvs and Mr..
Adrian. Sir Joseph"
For sons time they talked OF tbs
long Journey.
Where Is Mss La FarT.r- asked
Sir Joseph
Al the hotel. She knew I uas
] coming here 70 do buFusas-