Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-09-19

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The trader led his guests into .
large living room the floor of which
was strewn with moose, caribou
and bear-skin rugs. Two hundred
miles from the railroad the trader
lived In comfort. $50 you're sur
veying the lakes?" he began. II sup
pose that will take you all sum-
mer."
Almost" Garry answered, his
thoughts with the girl. but we
have the lower Nottaway to finish
before joining our party at Rupert"
Lucky you're not mapping the
big rivers that feed this chain OF
lakes! You'd need canoe men-In-
dians."
I'VE left the best whitewater man
In Canada out there on the island
but we'd need more than Indians"
said Finlay pointedly, wed need
luck"
"Oh, you have a man with your"
Yes" So you thought Blaise was
killed on the river, did you? sur
missed Finlay. Then he said: II
Judge from the buoys you use planes
here"
There was a shadow of annoyance
in the others battling eyes. Il have
to hire plane from Quebec to
bring the girls in and out. They
don't like the river. I can't get
them to winter here. It makes it
pretty lonely"
Shortly a Montagnais girl ap-
peared at the door and nodded.
There was laughter outside and Isa-
dore's wife and step-daughter en-
tered the large room at one end Of
which table was set.
Hope you won't mind if we dolled
up and powdered our noses!" bub-
bled Corinne Isadore. Its an event
to have guests and-such guests!"
Isadore disappeared and returned
with cocktail pitcher and glasses.
The two guests watched him close
ly as he filled the glasses with mar
TINS and passed them. Finlay gave
the "Okay" signal to the question
ing eyes of Malone as he lifted his
glass.
ITO our charming hostess!" he
said, holding his glass at his lips
until Isadore and Corinne had start
ed to drink. He watched Lise close
ly as she placed her haf-emptied
glass on the table.
Whats making her so nervous?"
he wondered. ION the surface she
seems too decent to be the step
daughter Of this buccaneer."
Garry caught the trader studying
the bulge in Reds coat caused by
the As in his hip holster as he
bent over the effervescent Corinne.
That's sudden death, Isadore," he
reflected, eff you're so foolish as to
try to pull anything tonight-sudden
death! Watch your step!"
There was red-feshed sturgeon
and roast ptarmigan and the hun
cry men did honor to the half-breed
cook. When the Montagnais girl
brought in bottles of red Bordeaux,
Garry gave Malone the "okay" sig
nal by rubbing his left ear. $50 far,
so good, mine host!" Garry men,
tally applauded. 1.-THE wine may
make your ladies talk"
1t was evident that Corinne Isa-
dore was making night of it. She
was mercilessly flashing her black
eyes at the russet-haired giant, blow
ing cigarette smoke in his face and
greeting his low-pitched converse
ton with bursts of laughter while he
casually filed and refilled her glass.
AS he talked with Garry, Isa-
dore's cold eyes constantly wan
dered to his wife's flushed face inch
ing closer to Reds. 1t was differ
ent with Lise. She lit and snuffed
out half-smoked cigarette after Gig
arctic. The hand holding her fork
was unsteady.
It was evident that Lise Dema-
rails was either excited or worried.
"Your home is in Calgary" Lise
asked.
"Yes," he lied.
$50 your work has been in the
west?" broke in Isadore.
YES" Finlay was on his guard.
There were questions he wished to
avoid. 81 suppose you're a Prov
ince of Quebec MANI" he countered.
Isadore laughed. you think I'm
French? No. my father was Span
ish."
Finlay saw Corinne Isadore an
swer what must have been signal
by raising her black brows. She
turned to Red with: when you've
finished the map of the lake, you'll
let me see it? Could it be traced?
I'd love a map of Waswanipi."
That's his first novel" thought
Garry. HE doesn't believe we're
engineers.
"Of course, III trace one for