The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-12-16
CHAPTER XXX. (continued)

lawson awoke. on the second
morning. to behold a long queue of
iur.clad miners waiting outside the
Iold commissioners Office: the
town took on an electric livclincss.
This signiied big things; it gave
pernlancnce: it meant that Dawson
was 10 be the worlds first placer
camp. Business picked up. the sa-
looms became throngcd on every
corner knots OF Goss;ping men as
se,nblcd. There began consider
ablc speculation in claims ON
frcnchman> Hill: merchants plan
ned larger stocks for the next sea-
son: the price ci town lots doubled.
Late that afternoon through the
streets ran Il cry THAT took every
!o"t-ircc man hurrying to the river
front. 'ROck was Cuming' In a
ln1y the vantage points were crowd
cd. Sure enough, far down the lu-
kon two teams were approaching
with the smoke Of Dawson III their
nostri's they were coming on the
run, and soon the more kccn-eycd
spectators announced that they
could make out 'Poleon Doret. The
lieutenant himself, however. was no,
IN evidence. Instantly speculation
became rife. Here was sensation
indeed. and when the second runner
was. identified beyond question AZ
Joe McCaskcy. excitement doubled
Where was Rock? Where was the
other fugitive? What, in the name
OF all that was unexpected. had oc-
Cured:
a Stout OF relief issued from the
crowd when :hc teams drew in rll-
der the bank and Rock sat up. wav.
ing mittcned nard; the shout was
quickly luShcd as the lookcrs-c,1
saw what sort OF burden Joe Nc
Caskey was driving.
Up into the main street came the
cavalcadc. The crowd fell III along.
side and ran with it to the Barracks
clamoring for details, pouring ques'
tons upon the returning travellers
Joe McCaskey, of course, wa:
speeches., this ordeal proving, as {
matter OF fact. scarcely less trying
than that other one at Sheep Camr
when he had run the gauntlet. A:
for Rock and the French Canadian
neither had much to say, and as ;
result sensational stories soOi
spread through the resorts. Th'
Mounted Policeman had got hi:
men, as usual. but only after DIES
perate affray in which Frank Nc
Caskey had fallen and the Officer
himself had been, woundcd-so RAJ
the first account. Those who hat
gone as far Z, the Barracks returned
with a ianriiul tale OF a siege in thu
snow and OF Rocks single-handet
conquest OF the two fugitives. Thcs'
conflicting reports were confusing
and served to set the town so com
pletely agog that it awaited fu!le'
details with the most feverisfl I'M
patience. One thing only was Ger
tain-.he lieutenant had again made
himself hero: he had put new
deathcr in his cap. Men lifted
glasses to him and to the Force
Such efficiency as this commanded
their deepest respect and admira
ton.
PIERCE Phillips. OF course, was tn
most eager member OF that welcom
ing throng. At the earliest momen
he bore 'Poleon away to his cabir,
and there. when the last morbid GU
iioSity-seckcr had been shaken of
and the dogs had been attended to
he heard the story.
you don get no more worry
'Poleon told him, witt, a smile. "Jo'
keel de Count
He confessed: Really"
"Roulctta hgger' it out jus right
BY golly! OATS de smartes' gal!'
,"Shc is indeed. But Frank? VIVA
happened: How did YOU man
age"
'Poleon hesitated. There was ;
reason why he did n1 wish, the dc
tails of that affair on the uppe
Forty Mile to become public. Jo'
McCaskey was beginning to tall
loudly about his outraged rights. III:
citizenship. international law, AM
such incomprehensiblc tlinRs-bu
stronger by far than any fear O
consequences to himself remote a
best, 'Poleon felt a desire to he'll
his friend, the Police lieutenant
Rock was deeply Inundated at hi:
weak failure in living up to his repu'
tation; he felt that he had cut Z
very sorry figure indeed; and, al
though he had undertaken to con.
ceal that feeling from 'Poleon, tho
latter had read him like a book and
had secretly made up his mind to
give full credit to the officer, eliini.
mating himself as much as possible
There was no reason why the actual
facts should be made public. SO fal
as he could see. and, once All art.
fully colored account Of the exploit
had gained currency, Rock could not
well contradict it. He might, un,
doubtcily would, make truthful
report to his supcriors, but 'Polco,l
determined that in the eyes of tho
hero-worskiping people OF Dawson
the fellow should still remain hero
and stand for one hundred per cent.
efficiency. That was quite as il
should be.
It was not difficult to distort the
StO!y CHOuSu ~ AS'S.oS LIN AOASS HS
and the officer had played. and,
when he had finished. Pierce was
loud in his praise OF the Mounted
Policeman.
'eWell. things happened here.
too" the youth declared. Succlnct-
y he told the story of Laurc's de-
layed confession proving that he had
been the victim of a deliberate con-
spiracy. Believe me, I'm glad il
has all come out SO WE'LL" he said.
"People didn't actually accuse NE,
but was conscious Of their susp,c-
ion. their doubt. I had talked tee
much. Then, too. there was that
beastly rurnor about the Countess
\ard me. 1t was fierce! Appear
:inces were strong. I'd-haye gone