The Coolidge examiner., 1938-08-11

from! l noticed the trail on the riv-
err"
Beside the boys sled, with a %
caliber rifle in one hand, the other
holding three snowshoe rabbits,
stood slender, hooded figure
clothed in white Hudsons Bay duff
fel.
We've got some visitors" re-
piled the man in the doorway.
Hang those rabbits up and come in
before these boys eat up all of your
supper" Then he closed the door
and turned to his bewildered guests.
Il didn't tell you I had a partner
wintering with me-" he explained.
with chuckle In fact l wouldn't
have known what to do without her
I see from your face you think I'm
crazy to bring a girl into this coun-
try" he added to Alan. who shook
his head doubtfully. But she
wouldn't let me come alone. know
was wrong, but what could l dor
She's as strong and able as a boy;
good shot. handy in a canoe and
can walk me off my feet Well.
here she isl"
The door opened and the girl
closed it behind her and stood lean
ing against it. With toss Of her
head. she threw back the hood Of
her parka. Her face, Drowned by
sun and wind, was framed in a
tumbled mass of gold.
Heather" said the giant, with
wave of the hand as the question
ing eyes of the girl sought his, then
curiously met the embarrassed gaze
of the boys. Allan Cameron, here,
of Fort George, with Noel and
Rough. walked in today. starved
out"
GOSH That's too bad!"
She's John McCords daughter,
thought Alan, as he noted the tall,
symmetrical build of the girl which
even the parka coat and the heavy
duffel leggins failed to conceal
''She has it all. the blue of his eyes
and the yellow hair" -
The girl gave her hand to each Of
the boys then. as Rough nosed ten
tatively forward, ears pricked.
brown eyes watching her closely.
she cried: What beautiful dogl
Dad, if we only had a team like
what did you say his name was!"
She turned to Alan, painfully aware
of his ten days growth of beard and
his winter-worn clothes.
Rough"
Come. girl, get OFF your coat and
those heavy moccasins and socks
and have some supper" broke in
the giant. 1T will soon be dark
and we have no candles to waste"
The girl left the men and went
into the connecting room while her
father started batch of corn bread
and filed a teapot. Then he set
small slab table with aluminium
plates and cups and moved it TO
the center of the room.
Embarrassed, Alan and Noel
heated water from the river and
did their best to make themselves
more presentable but without
marked success. When Heather
McCord appeared, Alan refused
seat at the table, where he could not
eat, and placed his stool back in
the shadows of the room lit by the
single candle and the fire.
I'm sorry" she said to Alan,
that you cannot eat with u.s."
I'm living high on this deer
broth, thanks. In day or two Noel
and I'll make up for lost time"
She seemed to Alan hardly more
than seventeen or eighteen. But she
was a head taller than Berthe Des-
sane, down at Fort George, and the
sweater she wore accentuated the
clean lines of her shoulders and
bust, and well developed arms. Still,
he told himself. as he watched the
candle-light pick up the deep gold
in the unruly hair, bobbed at the
nape of her round neck, lovely as
was the picture she made, she was
not lovelier than the raven-haired
Berthe.
RIO BE CONTINUED