Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1926-02-05


her, or would she freeze into that
other self-hold him at a distance be-
cause of her quiXotic bargain with
Lascelles?
Steele opened the door Of the trade
house, followed by David. At their
entrance, st. Onge turned in his chair
behind the slab counter where he sat
in conversation with his head man.
"Good evening, gentlemen" The
voice of Steele rang in the silent room.
With eyes wide with amazement
and surprise, st. Onge slowly rose to
his feet, while the lean face Of the
Iroquois thrust forward, tense, ap-
prehensive, as if he feared a trick of
vision.
"Bo-jo, Michel Wat you t'ink
you see, de Windigo?" And David
advanced with outstretched hand.
"We have returned as we prom
lsed, monsieur! !' added Steele, ap-
preaching the counter behind which
the startled men stood staring at the
hooded apparitions.
Then, with a yell and bound, Mi
chel cleared the counter and was hug
ging the blocky Ojibway.
"By garl You not drown cen de
Frying Pan, .Daveed? We tot you
dead men. By dam! l glad to see
you, Daveed, and you, m'sleu, all
right, bot you two, beeg an strong
jes de samef' The delighted Michel
repeatedly wrung the hands of his
amused, but perplexed friends. Then
st. Onge reached Steele.
mon Dieul Mon Dieul Monsieur
Steele Welcome to Wailing River"
he exclaimed in voice, strained-un-
natural. "Doubly welcome, my dear
Steele We thought we looked at
the dead when you entered that door
Michel and I. An Indian brought
word that you were lost in the Jack
fish rapids, last month. We were
hopeless-and now we are overjOyed."
THANK you, sir, l am glad to be
back. We ran the rapids-it's a long
tale, colonel"
st. Onge suddenly started, turning
in bewilderment from Steele to Mi
chel.
"What was thatT'
David doubled with laughter at the
surprise of the Iroquois. Again, to
the bewilderment of the Frenchman
and his head-man, the bloodhound,
outside, raised a deep-throated pro
test at the cold and his empty stom-
ach, which initiated a tedlam Of howls
from the huskies.
"Why, that's Windigo; he's hungry /"
laughed Steele. you'd better look
after them, David, before the home
dogs start to fight"
"That dog? 1t sounded more like
a ion."
'I've brought a bloodhound to track
the Windigo; also to give him bit of
his own medicine. His name is Pete,
but David and l call him 'WindigO.' If
we'd had him last fall, it might have
been different. But MademOiselle ST..
Onge? Is she well?" Steele fastened
to ask.
The face of the older man sobered.
"She has not been WE'LL" he said,
pointedly, "since the news came from
Ogoke."
"You mean"
"The news of your drowning In the
Frying Pan, monsieur"
Steele thrilled at the words Then
the realization of what 1t had meant
to Denise ST. Onge-this blow to her
hopes swiftly saddened him.
II will go to her at once" said St.
Onge. "The shock would be too great
and the JOY" he added. "If you
will follow shortly, you will find your
old room, such as it is, ready"
In the living room of the factors
quarters Denise st. Onge waited for
the man returned from the dead
Entering Steele went to her and
took both her hands.
~ have come back, Denise st. Onge,
as / promised" he said, as her dark
eyes bravely met his. but the cOnvul-
s1ve movement of her lips betrayed
the imminence of tears
I'VE are-so glad-so glad you are
here" !" But the strain was too great
and she turned from him to hide her
emotion.
''It is a happy night for Wailing
River, monsieur" broke in st. Onge,
as Steele turned to the factor to per-
nit his daughter to regain her self
control.
"a happier one for me, colonel!"
replied the man who yearned to take
the girl, who had walked to the end
Of the room, in his arms and comfort
her-promise her that all should be
right in the end
At supper st. Onge insisted on hear
ing of Steele's trip home
Before l begin, tell me if Laflamme
has shown his hand?"
mo, we have heard nothing. One
of his Indians on the way to Albany
with letter told Michel you had been
drowned. That is ALL"