Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1941-10-16

his pretty stepdaughter.
4 x
Red nodded. Action! There was
the CLINT of sun on young ice in his
blue eyes. Stiff in their chairs the
men waited. Then the trader re-
turned.
1T is most embarrassing, gentle
men," he coolly apologized. "Mrs.
1sadore took more than she's ac-
customed to. hope you'll under
stand"
Garry rose. "Of counsel" he said.
"Will you thank her and your daugh-
ter for most delicious dinner and
interesting EVENING""
"But you're not going? The night
is young
Finlay admired Isadore's callous
nerve. cts late," he replied. "We'n
say good night"
"Well, if you insist. I'll give
you light to your canoe"
Outside the night was black as a
spruce swamp. Isadore produced an
electric torch and walked to the
shore beside Finlay. Close on the
heels of the trader followed Ma
lone.
AS he pushed off the canoe Fin
lay said ''The evening was most
pleasant, Mr.. Isadore, and-instruc-
tive
Finlay and Malone padded in si-
lence until they were we'll offshore.
"Now what do you think of that
for a dinner party?"
"Think?" snorted Red. "My fin
gers ached to drown him in front
of his place. Dragged his own wife!
Some joke on the slick Jules Isa-
dore! And was he sore!"
"That was clever headwork of
yours, Red, when I signalled that
he'd drugged the wine. That strange
western custom of switching glasses
had him stopped dead. Nothing like
an Irish imagination"
Red chuckled. Thought you'd like
it! Say, the girls couldn't have been
wise to his plan!'
''No, it didn't look So. But what
was his plan when he had us
doped?"
II believe he wanted to search
us. He'd let us sleep it of, then
he'd apologize for his strong wine
we couldn't handle"
"Our showing up here must have
staggered him. But he's got nerve"
'tWhat interests me most is this
Tete-Blanche. He seems to be a
DOGGY man at Nottaway and Lise
looked as if she'd seen ghost when
she spotted him in the doorway. She
! must know he's Isadore's private
killer"
81 wonder how much those gals do
know"
"Get anything out of Corinne? She
threw wicked eye at you, Red.
I was worried-thought she'd kiss
you right before King Isadore!"
Red laughed. ''What doll to trot
on your knee! She's right up my
alley fos looks! But she didn't ask
suspicious question. How about
Lise?"
"She puzzled me. She started off
with a rush-was gay and flippant;
then suddenly grew absent-minded.
Drank hardly anything! Didn't hear
half what I said"
'She was sure easy on the eyes
in those whipcords."
"And easier in that white dress
at dinner! Skin sort of transparent
The distinct impression l got was
that she wants to leave Waswanipi
She didn't say so, If course. But
sensed it, She's worried"
The approach Of the canoe to the
island where Blaise had bright fire
burning as beacon was announced
by the barking airedale.
"Well, Blaise, what do you think
of it?' asked Finlay, when he had
finished his story.
''We leave here, wabatch, quick!"
"You mean tonight"
Brassard nodded.
"Why tonight?"
1.-TWO Montagnais fallar come
here after dark. give dem suppair
and taste of whiskey. Den dey talk.
We move out, now. Onles you wish
to fight
"Well, what's it all about, Blaise?"
demanded Red.
Blaise told his story. That after
noon the two hunters had brought a
canoe load of sturgeon to Isadore's
place to be traded for supplies. They
were in the trade-room when the
Peterboro was first sighted far down
the lake. Labelle rushed in and
called the man with the SCARED face
outside where Isadore was watch
ing the distant canoe through
glasses. Curious, the two Indians
moved to the door and listened. The
trader was wild with rage. "You
liar!" he said to Batoche. "Here
come de men you said drown in de
Long Saulte of de Nottaway." The
trader struck Batoche in the face but
Labelle stepped between them. Then
they moved away out of earshot of
the eavesdrQppers.
Later, the Monta gnais were start
ing with their supplies for their fish
ing camp when they heard an angry