Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1926-03-26

zled
Steele nodded.
"And you are to divide 1t among the
Indians laterf
Eyes, when l return from Albany"
From Albany2 You are going to
AlbanyT
''Yes, David and start tomorrow"
The factor was frankly bewildered.
But you need rest, and you are apt
to run right into a Keewatin north
wester at this time, monsieur" objected
st. Onge. What Steele's mission was
he did not ask.
Our dogs are good for it. Wen
take six and go light. You can count
on seeing us inside Of three weeks"
But why not send Michel and Da
vid? You do not fiatter the poor hos
pitality of Wailing River when you
give US but night. I've looked for
ward so to your return-and now you
are leaving u.s." protested the mystitied
factor.
ut is personal matter" said Steele,
land is urgent. We start at daylight"
After reeling off the last miles Of
the lower Albany on an ice-hard trail,
the swift dogs Of Steele trotted up to
the building of the Revillon Freres at
the mouth Of the river, two days be-
fore New Years.
Leaving David to protect the team,
Steele entered the trade-room. AT the
counter a half-breed clerk was busy
with a hunter, but beyond, occupied
at desk, sat the man he had come
three hundred miles to see.
At Steele's "Geod afternoon, mon
sieur!" the trader looked up from his
work. Slowly, as he recognized the
frost-burned features of the man in
duffle capote, the face of Lasceles
went black with anger. He rose and
faced the newcomer, his mouth twitch
ing in vain effort to articulate.
"You remember me-" went on
Steele, casually, openly amused at the
surprise and discontinue of the other.
my name is Steele. l met you at
Wailing River"
"Yes, remember you," exploded the
inspector, finding his voice. What
brings you here?"
II came on little matter Of busi-
ness which we had better discuss in
private" suggested Steele, nodding In
the direction Of the listening clerk.
Come in behind the counter, then"
Steele passed to the rear of the
counter and sat down.
"You come from Moose or Wailing
River" demanded Lascelles, curious OF
the purpose of this strange call In mid
winter
II come from Wailing River. You
may be interested to know what has
happened in the valley since Septem-
ber"
Lascelles was interested. ''You
brought letters for me?" His tone
dropped its surliness.
"Oh, mol have no letters, Made
moiselle st. Onge and her father are
well, however. In fact, St. Onge Is
happy man. He's got the fur he lost
last summer at the big rapids"
"Got his fur? How"
"Why, Laflamme had 1t. By the
way, the trade Of the valley Is in your
hands. Wailing River will pay big in
the future" Steele added pointedly
you can't close the post now"
"But Laflamme? He stole that
'fur? demanded the astonished and
mystif1ed Frenchman. "How did st.
Onge get 1t back?"
"Why, Laflamme bequeathed 1t to
him-sort Of legacy You see, La
famine died-with few others"
Lascelles stared at the man across
the desk as If he doubted Steele's rea-
son. 'Lafiamme deadl What's hap
pened?" he gasped.
"Well, in the first place." began
Steele, lighting his pipe, "the Windigo
you scoffed at proved to be an Indian
from Ogoke. We got him In bear
trap-then closed in on Lafamme and
picked up half his people on the trails.
When we walked in the rest had al
ready stampeded from sheer fright
We missed Lafamme by minutes" !"
The American enjoyed the play Of min
gled incredulity and amazement on the
features of the man he faced. 'He was
found strangled on the Rouge river
trail-later," Steele added. "a private
affair, imagine. Exit all competition
in the valley for st. Onge."
"It's observation-disclosures dead.
And his fur? 1t will come, Of course,
to Wailing River" added the trader,
with satisfaction.
The moment Of the American had
arrived. He deliberately knocked out
his pipe, as he countered: "That de-
pends on whether you sign this" The
speaker fumbled in an inner pocket
and produced an oil-skin envelope with
an enclosure.
Lascelles scowled as Steele drew out
the paper.
"What Is this?" he demanded, his