The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-06-11
h1 edison MARSHALL
GloN Little Brown & Company

Ray. flushed deeper. but the lines of
Nelson's face began to deepen and
draw. Then his voice broke in
great, hearty chuckle.
''Cool down. boy-wait till you hear
you'll feel better. OF course, you
know what it's about"
'I suppose - Hiram Melville's
claim"
That's itA You know he's always
had an idea that the Yuga country
was worth prospecting, but we al
ways laughed at him. Of course it
IS a pocket country; but it's my
opinion he found a pocket that would
make many a placer look sick, be
fore he died.
But he might have got the mug
sets somewhere else"
Hold your horses. Where would
he get EN-? There's something else
suspicious too. He wrote a letter
the day before he died, and addressed
it to Ezra Melville. He must just
about got it by now. He had the clerk
mail it for him, and got him to wit
ness it. saying 1t was his willard
what did the old hound have to will
except mine? Next day he wrote
another letter somewhere too-but
! didn't find out who it was to-
Il should say 1t was worth a trip"
Ray agreed And a fast one, too
Ezra Melville Will be shown up one
of these days. We want to be settn'
pretty when he comes"
You've got the idea II ought to
be the easiest job we ever did"
Ray was lost in thought. There's
an old cabin up that way some
wherein the river. If his brother
does come up, he'll find us in pos
session-and nothing to do but go
back. So tomorrow We'll load up and
pack horses and light out
up Poor Man creek, through
Spruce Pass"
Sure. Then over to the Yuga-
Old Hiram was hunting down some
kind of a scent in the vicinity of that
old cabin you speak Of, last heard of
him"
"All easy enough" Ray agreed.
He paused. and a queer. speculative
look came into his Wild beasts eyes.
But what I don't see-how you can
figure all this is going to help me
out with Beatrice"
Jeffery Nelson turned in his chair.
You can't, Ell? You need spectacles.
Wen need some one to cook and
look after US, when we get up there
Who should 1t be but Beatrice? She
wouldn't want to stay here you know
how she loves the woods. There
wouldn't be any of the other boys up
there to trouble you. You'd have
clear field"
At a little town Fat the end Of steel
Ben and Ezram ended the first lap Of
their journey.
a canoe was bought for a reason /
able suIn-they were told they had a
good chance Of selling it again when
they leIU the river near Snowy Gulch.
For a ridiculously small sum. which
he mysteriously produced from the
pocket of his faded jeans, Ezram
bought a secondhand ride-an an
cient gun of large caliber, but Of en-
during quality-and a box Of shells
TO match.
old Hiram left me gun. but
we1' each need one" Ezram ex-
planned.
They would have need of good
canoe craft before the journeys end. /
the villagers told them. Ezram had
not boosted of any such ability, and
at first Ben regarded the plan with
considerable misgivings. And it was
with the most profound amazement
that, when they pushed off. he saw
Ezram deliberately seat himself in the
bow, leaving the more important place
to his young companion.
Good heavens, I'll capsize YOU in
a minute" Ben said. How do you
dare risk it
Push off and stop botherin' me-"
Ezram answered. There's paddle
go ahead and shoot 'er"
The waters caught the canoe, speed
ing it down stream: and I'm apprehen-
sion Of immediate disaster Ben seized
the paddle Swiftly he thrust it into
the streaming water at his side
DO you remember when you shot
the Athabaska Rapids?" Ezram had
asked. It was all clear enough. In
that life THAI was forgotten he had
evidently lived much in a canoe, know
ing every detail of river life
Late afternoon. and they worked
closer to the shore. And now, in the
gray Of twilight, Ezram saw the place
to land
It was a small lagoon into which
a creek emptied, and beyond was an
open meadow. found so often and so
unexpectedly in the North woods.
Swiftly Ben turned the canoe into
shore.
All at once a great clarity seemed
to take possession of Ben's mind. !
Here, in these forests. were the slim
uG of which Forest, the alienist, had
spoken; and his brain seemed to leap,
as in one impulse, to the truth. Sud
denly he knew the answer to all the
questions and problems that had trou-
bled him so long.
He sprang up, his eyes blazing. "I
remember everything" an inaudible
voice spoke within him. Then he
whispered. fervently, to his familiar
wilds. And I have come home"
CAPTER Nv