Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-05-06

TO be closed now"
He watched her face closely.
Father wept at the news-it was
wonderful" she calmly replied, as II
ignorant OF how great moment to her
own fortunes was the rehabilitation Of
Mailing River.
She had not changed; nothing would
move her She would go through with
It, Notwithstanding the assured indie
pendence OF her father. She would
keep her contract. That was clear.
II she cared, she would have shown
It there. on the river, when @'e met
him. But she sim believed he had
been disloyal-made love to another
woman. on his way home In October.
Her pride had killed forever what she
had felt for him that morning on the
river shore.
At the trade-house he found Michel
and David. narrating In detail the his
tory Of the campaign against the Win
digo and Ogoke.
1T is unbelievable, my dear Steele"
said St Onge. "and l owe you and
Michel a humble apology. l could not
believe that Tete-Boule was dangerous
IA spy. For me to leave her here at
the mercy Of Lafiamme was unthink-
able-and the violinl Poor girl. that
was the final blow"
Michel glanced at David's stole face,
nodding grimly. 'Wal, dat ees paid
dat leetle debt
1T was uncanny-the way you three
men caught Pierre and paid them with
their own medicine. can't believe
now that II isn't all dream. And this
fur OF Lafiamme's. you say it Is cached
up riYer7" The Frenchman was puz-
zled.
Steele nodded.
"And you are to divide It among the
Indians later7"
eYes. when return from Albany
~Frem Aibany7 You are going to
Albany?s
.Yes, David and start tomorrow"
The factor was frankly bewildered.
''But you need a rest. and you are apt
to run right into a Keewatin north
wester at this time, monsieur" objected
81. 0nge What Steele's mission was
he did not ask.
sour dogs are good for II. 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
pitallty of Wailing River when you
give us but a night. I've looked for
ward so to your return-and now you
are leaving US" protested the mystihed
factor.
at is a personal matter" said Steele.
''and Is urgent. We start at daylight"
After Keeling on the last miles of
the lower Albany on an lce-hard trail, |
the swift dogs of Steele trotted up to
the building OF the Reyillon 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 a desk, sat the man he had come
three hundred miles TO see.
At Steele's Good afternoon, mon
sieurr the trader looked up from HIS
work. Slowly. as he recognized the
features OF the man In
dufie eapote, the face Of Lascelles
went black with anger. He rose and
faced the newcomer, his mouth witch
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. met you at
Wailing River"
Yes, I remember you" exploded the
finding his voice. "Whaf
brings you here?"
Il came on a little matter Of busi-
less which we had better discuss in
suggested Steele, nodding In
he direction OF the listening clerk.
"Come In behind the counter, then"
Steele passed TO the rear Of the
ounter and sat down.
'You come from Moose or Wailfng
aIverl'' demanded Lascelles. curious OF {
he purpose Of this strange call in mid
winter.
II come from Wailing River. You
nay be interested to know what has
happened In the valley since Septem-
Ier."
Lascelles was interested. you
rought letters for met" His tone
ropped its surliness.
-Oh, mol have no letters, Made
ioiseIle st. Onge and her father are s
FelI. however. In fact, ST. Onge is a
appys man. He's got the fur he lost I
list summer at the big rapids" I
.Got his fHf7 How p
''Why, Laiiamme had IT, BY the
Tay, the trade Of the valley Is in your )
ands Wailing River viii pay big in {
le future" Steele added pointedly g
You can't close the post now.
But Lafiamme7 He stole that {
mr. demanded the astonished and d
IystIfed Frenchman. How did St
nge get II backT'
ssWhy, Lafiamme beQueathed It to
Im-sort Of a legacy. You see. La
anime dIed-with a few others" a