The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-01-10

his WISH. bOyutn ndo hOb AdShAh
in courage, but his career in the
Mounted had always been market
by the exercise of good judgment
Emptying his pipe, the ashe'
from which he Immediately ex
tinguished under his boot-heel, thu
officer arose and walked to th'
edge of the clearing. He scanned
the heavens for signs of rain. II
the east, dark clouds hung low
and. as the descending sun cas-
it's pale shadows longer and long
err. the tops of the trees began
to sway and reel in the rising
wind. He hoped it would not rain,
for the long ride to the post was
difficult at best, beset as it was
with mountain streams that need
ed but the encouragement of a
brief downpour peculiar to the
country surrounding, to make OF
them raging torrents. Boyden was
aware that once the arrest of
Yernde was generally known. he
and his prisoner might be follow
ed by those familiar with the
mans Interior interest in the In
dians. It was his way. He always
avoided placing himself or the
| force in situations that might ter
inmate to the embarrassment OF
either. He had stared death in the
face more than once, and had not
| flinched. but he believed caution
was the better part of valor, es-
pecially where the slightest mis-
take of judgment might reflect
upon the reputation of the Mount
ed.
Going to the edge of the stream,
the trooper scooped out a hollow
in the bed, deep enough for Bran
DIV to plunge his nose to his eyes.
Boyden always said it was Bran
dy's way of washing his face be-
fore meals.
AS he arose, waiting for the
murk to leave the swale, he be-
came conscious that someone was
approaching from behind. He
whirled, and there was the flash
of a gun. The constable stumbled
forward, crumpled to the ground.
and lay still. Brandy, his head up
and ears rigid, peered for a time
at his master. He shortly return
ed to his browsing, for he had
learned as early as his colt days
back in the post corral not to be
by the sound of firearms.
Nightfall, and with it a few drops
of rain; later a deluge as the
storm broke. But it was a typical
midsummer shower, and it passed
almost as quickly as it came. The
rushing of the replenished stream
did not quite drown out the sound
of the soft swaying of the tree
tops that broke the stiffness OF
the night. AS midnight approach
ed. the noon emerged from be-
hind drifting clouds. Its melan-
choly light outlined the PROSTATE
form of the constable. Only the
absolute quietness of the figure
betrayed the presence of tragedy.
He lay on his side, and in the
outstretched fingers of the right
hand was held a small revolver.
Constable Boyden, true to his
years of training, had, in the last
second of life, gone into action.
The revolver, a split second be-
fore hidden in his shirt bosom,
had appeared in his hand as il
by magic. But the leaden pellet,
soaring its murderous path thru
the temple, had halted the pres
sure on the trigger ere it began.
A small shrubbery-secluded colt
age on the edge of the Royal
West Mounted Police post
was approached by a board walk.
The planks resounded with the
heavy football of a uniformed fig
ure as it approached the house
at double-quick. There were three
distinct raps On the outer door
before the visitor swung it back
and entered. The soft glow of a
reading lamp turned low revealed
the newcomer to be the corporal
of the night guard. He approach
ed the door of the adjoining bed
room, raised a right hand smartly
to the brim of his hat, and ex-
claimed:
"a telegram, sir! You will par
don me for awakening you at
hour, but the railroad dis
patcher says it is important.
Shall I bring it in, sir?'
From the bedroom came the
sound of relieved springs and the
thump of feet on the floor. !
Abruptly there appeared in the
doorway the figure of a tall, slen
der man in a dressing gown. The
gray hair was %disordered, but
the pointed mustaches lent an air
of severity to the dignified count
enance. superintendent French
was a man of action, his straight,
powerful body moving with a
quickness that harmonized with
the grey piercing eyes in a well
featured face. Returning the
-rooper's courtesy with a salute