The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-10-21

would be sport for the five powerful
dogs. Driving, as he would, to bring
skill and medicine to the succOr of the
guest at Elkwan, Garth hoped to
reach the post before dawn, but much
depended on the light. A thick night
would slow the dogs to a walk while
| crossing the mouths of the big rivers,
where tide cracks opened and closed
over night and the trail led through
hummocks and ridges, bad going by
day-at night, Misunderstanding to driv-
er and dogs.
you're not sorry-havent regret
ted promising to Gomez" he asked, as
he wrapped her in robes and slowed
her bags.
She shook her head. mot in the
| least. Mr.. Exile I'm reconciled now
to the loss of the last shred of my
reputation. 1t was wild scene-in
the house. They even prayed for me
when they realized threats were fu-
tile"
prayed for you-you, bound on an
errand of mercy? In the name Of all
the saints, they'd let an Innocent man
die for want of proper care, because
of my reputation? I must be a mon
ster to them"
She laughed. Eyes, can truthfully
say that after what my brother told
them. they think you are a terrible
person"
do you?" he countered, leaning
over the sled.
well" her dark eles flashed up
into his, mot exactly terrible, rather
what shall say?-stubborn."
"Marche, Castor!"
And the huskies, with Shot ahead,
gallOped to the trade-hOuSe. There
the Camerons were waiting for the
girl who had, also, burned her bridges.
Shortly, down the cliff trail and over
the river-ice raced the team, carrying
hope for Craig Galbraith, deep in de-
lirium at Elkwan, ninety white miles
away.
AS they left the river and turned
up the coast, Guthrie's anxious eyes
circled the gray horizon for indica-
tions of what would follow the haze
smothered sunset over the Keewatin
muskeg. For days, now, the weather
had softened TO above zero tempera-
ture, a characteristic of James bay
winters, which are milder than those
of the forest country to the south,
and he prayed for a bright night, as
his thoughts were busy with the trag-
edy of Craig Galbraith and his own
part in the climax of the pitiful his
tory.
The decision he had made beside
the bunk in the Ghost, once he had
struck on feasible plan of procedure,
was inevitable to the man who owed
his life to the heroism of the stricken
Galbraith. But the situation which
Guthrie faced as he watched the high
barrens of Akimiski catch and hold
the yelled light of the dying sun,
might easily result not only in dismis
sal from the company but in arrest by
the authorities. His clear duty to his
employers had demanded that he re-
port to Cameron the presence of
Laughing Mcdonald at Elkwan. The
information that a HudsOn's bay fac
tor had concealed from the govern
ment man suspected of murder
would raise a hornets nest in Ottawa.
All this Garth Guthrie had seen with
clear vision the night before, when he
shared his plan with Etienne, but as
his eyes rested for an instant on the
tragic face of the friend who, that day
in front of Amiens, had not counted
the cost, there was in his face the
look of a man who would repay to the
last farthing. Ottawa, the company he
had served so well, were nothing.
There lay Craig Galbraith, sick, hunt
ed by the law he had defied, deserted
Laughing Mcdonald, whom he had
fought for the trade-hiS friend, and
he would see it through. Craig should
have his chance, slight as it looked.
With the woman of the great heart
and the skilled hands, he was hurry
ing over the sea-ice as fast as five I'm
gavas could travel. Hold on, Gal
braith, V. c.. as you held at many a
disputed parapet and shell-hole!
They had talked little through the
first miles, the thoughts of the man
centered on his problem. With the
skill of long training, she had gone
into the details of Etienne's wound.
and Garth had had no heart so early
in their journey for a confession of
his duplicity. But when, off the mouth
nf hn TO hn hot
it was time to rest the dogs and eat
the supper prepared by Mrs. Cam
eron, he felt that, over the hot tea,
Joan Quarter should be told the facts.
With the aid of cedar kindlings car
ried on the sled, he soon had a fire
under the teakettle
DO you realize how you have ig-
nored your passenger, Mr.. Exile? This
is my first ride behind the dogs and I
wanted to talk about them"
The huskies, except Shot, who was
inspecting the willow thicket, were
sprawling in their harness, shifting
hungrily at the odor of bacon. Now
that he was alone with Joan. was to
be alone with her through the long
miles to Elkwan, Guthrie felt strange
ly diffident. Until he had laid the
truth before her, told of the love he
bore this broken thing, once feared as
Laughing Mcdonald, waiting in such
sore need of her ministrations, and
received her absolution for his decep-
ton, he would feel i'll at ease with
the woman who faced the world with
the stark truth in her eyes.