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

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man. yet feared him for his I'M
relenting attitude toward any
form of frivoIity. 1t was said Of
the Superintendent that he had
never been taken off his guard.
But what was that? Did the
visitor detect a sudden Wilderness
about the temples? Could it be
possible that face, so immoble as
to resemble a chiseled replica,
was disclosing some shock to the
inner man? Were those long, slen-
der fingers trembling?
The messenger did not realize
the superintendent had finished
the few lines of the telegram un-
til he saw his superior was not
looking at the bit Of paper, but
was staring with unseeing eyes
into the dark corner opposite him.
Slowly the fingers stiffened and
the yellow slip was crushed in a
grip that seemed to endanger the
skin over the knuckles.
Corporal" came the words,
slowly but emphatically, send the
Sergeant-Major to me at once"
A salute, a few quick steps
and the trooper was at the door.
AS he closed it behind him he
glanced over his shoulder at the
figure huddled there in the chair,
the light from the reading lamp
accentuating the haggardness he
had detected creeping over those
features a few moments before.
Superintendent French was palel
Within a few minutes Sergeant
Major Hawley, fully dressed, was
standing at attention before his
commanding officer. He. too, n
ed that the chief had aged per-
ceptibly since he had last seen
him.
"Sergeant-Major, is Inspector
Kerr in his %quarters?"
Eyes, sir. He reported at sew
en- o'clock this evening, having
completed that matter OF which
you sent him to Regina"
81 shall be at my office in ten
minutes. Notify Inspector Kerr to
be there at that time, ready TO
proceed by train to Gatineau. Ev-
cry mar in the barracks, except
those of the night guard, shall
be prepared in twenty minutes
for a Journey"
In all his years of service Su-
perintendent French, Sergeant-Ma-
ior Hawley had never known his
superior to fail to return a salute,
an omission the trooper noticed
as he touched his hat and hurried
from the room.
A moment later the quietness
of this central Canadian night
was broken by the sound of a
trumpet.
AS the superintendent left his
quarters fully dressed eight min
utes later, he observed the men
lined up in front of the barracks
entrance, the rays of the corridor
lamp portraying them as so many
statutes. AS he walked by the
line. there appeared in the door
a the erect figure of a young
officer. The latter saluted, waited
until the superintendent had pass
ed, and fell in behind. They en-
tered the office and those in for
were dismissed to await
further orders.
Read that said the command
ing officer, as he dropped into
the swivel chair behind the desk.
Inspector Kerr smoothed out the
telegram and read the contents
quickly. His virile figure stiffen-
I'd as the import of the words
penetrated his consciousness.
Body of Constable Boyden found
Z D.. m. today j ntimber twelve
niles south of Gacon Ferry. Bull
in right temple. His pocket
run in hand, but unfired. He had
been taken by surprise by person
Who approached from behind. /,
CORPORAL Jeffries, took possession
ii his effects. which apparently
we're undisturbed. and am await
ng instructions"
A silence ensued as the In
;pector finished reading. For a
minute he waited to recover
lis poise. He had known Consta'
lie Boyden and he had loved the
nan. And then there was the fact
hat a member of the force had
G murdered. He laid the mes
;age on the desk, the movement
.ousing the superintendent from
lis meditations. {;
inspector" he said, "the train
caves for the north at 2:15. 1t
s but a few minutes of that time
Take whatever men you
iced, proceed by train to Gatin-
.au, and from there go to Gacon
Your horses are at the
by this time, ready to be
oaded on the baggage car. You {
will supply yourselves with pro-
-isions at Gatineau. You will
each Gacon Ferry not later than
night. l shall expect a {
eport from you within twenty s