Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1925-12-24

for the losf." and as she Qufckemsa
her pace. the heightened color q Der
face betrayed her. Like the strings
Of her violin she had vlbrated 70 his
emotion. Beyond the mystery and the
despair. there was the woman. end he
followed her swift feet over the traAl
with an eiatiOn he had never before
known: with the resolve TO nghs
through 10 the root OF this mystery
II Il meant winter on the snow.
~No way out for the lost" she had
said. and he smiled as he repeated
to himself .But the lost has been
found the lost has been found" Mys-
terry. Windlgo. intrigue at Albany,
were as nothing now that he had seen
the blood leap to her face at his
touch.
He did not follow up her strange
words II would have profited little
and his mind was fun OF what he
had seen beside the traiI-unmistak-
able tracks in the mud. mammoth and
strange. beyond his experience
Shaped they were. somewhat TO
senbling bear tracks, with deep IN
dentations OF claws. but the weight
waa not distributed as In the track
OF q bear, and there were separated
pad marks. ike the track of felineB
YET no lynx or cougar ever owned feet
so mlsshapen and huge. He would re-
turn at daylight and follow them up.
Here at last was something tangible
to work on. In the meantime. Char
lotte would have the post people maud
lin with fear. II would be bad night
for waIling River.
AS they entered the clearing. Steele
saw a knot Of men gathered before
the trade-house. With a swift good
bye. Denise hurried to her kitchen
while Steele Joined the factor. who
announced:
Good evening. monsieur, It seems
our friends have returned" From the
head OF the portage moved canoe
above the familiar legs Of David. Fol
lowing him came Michel. doubled I'M
der heavy load slung from his lump
line.
'what have they gOtY uueried St
Onge
give It up; maybe some Of the
furl" hazarded Steele.
eve shall never see that again.
muttered the factor.
Near them the post people discussed
the safe return Of the search party m
awed whispers. Then, as Michel ap.
preached. Steele grinned. "Meat 70 be |
announced drily.
"Good. we need III" added St. Onge
with a sigh OF relief.
Swinging the canoe from his |
shoulders. David wiped bis brew WITH
his sleeve and grinned into Steele's
questioning face as the latter grlpped
his hand
sBaek safe and sound, Davldyn
Steele looked hard into the swapping
eyes of his friend.
"Ah-hahi Safe an SCUM Bo'-jo'
Meester st. Ongel" and the OjIbway
took the proffered hand OF st. Onge
well, Michel, you found moose, e.
you didn't strike anything else" Steele
said to the Inscrutable Iroquois. 'DOnt
see any signs Of teeth on you yon
must have run too fast FOR the Win
digo." be suggested, but the head man
glanced significantly at the post In
dams and made no reply.
Steele drew David from the group.
Michel on his escape
from a hideous death down river and
asked ANY luck. DavldT
49, tfNXS. R4tf- oag,TNs. krsk I
see some sign Yer strange sign,
boss"
-what was lit"
"Wal. we 6n' de las camp Of fur
cano'. but no sign OF cano' or men.
Den we follow river shore an nOding
there. Den we circle back from de
camp an two smokes into de muskeg
we nn'-f David stopped short to
ycowl past Steele into the face OF a
lowering Indian, who quickly ad-
ranced with extended hand.
'sBo'-jO'i bo'-jo'i Daveed." greeted
refe-BouIe as David seized bis prof
'ered hand
''Bo'-jo'. Tete-Boulel" and the Iron
rip which was known from Nepigon
o Lac Seul closed on the unsuspect-
ng interloper
~oughl Oughl" cried Tete-BouIs
doubling with pain over his crushed
ingers- WHY you shak' de han 30
lardT
The broad face Of David wrinkIed
b amusement as he surveyed the
vrithing victim Of his handshake.
wat de trouble wild you. Tete-
,Oule1 Wen YER glad to sec you.
give de good shakehand"
Az Tete-Boule left them nursing his
myers. Steele muttered: HE won't
orget that soon. Trying to hear what
on are saying, was he7"
''Ah-hah De mex tam eet weei be
ees neck
-But what was it Jon found in the
luskegTv
Elm the musieg we an YER bees
rack OF someflne. We nevalre see