The evening world. Newspaper, May 20, 1916, Page 9

| Lura of the } of the a LDING CHAP Manger Co OrNursis or E from Wis flewd, Mertow Hord of his way aides the willerness Hudeon Way country He us bait arved aud ei; into the dog trot whicn would con- ‘canoe tan Hie jake nea a, woul i Srliten ‘er , joa, Adam Heron, who be att ersou tells the stranger foals" ors ener der is utders 08. is hey Peddler the iP iater the ne, Suspects Of treachery" when disco dry on the ey in ment Out mto ‘be constant iy 88 ‘giant This’ ti Fo hat kot Merck fats. but, iter Merion hy ip. hie eck ” 0 ‘or tain the pace, and he called to Boulter ke 8 to halt. a slipped past, and he found more and Teovatt to headauer mh ibe larkbess Ya yn je0n and tel & blankets thet he may & taitor tor h hin to, abe ee of or from falling from weariness, Se! ety or ‘tare, bat on making pep) ero answered CHAPTER Xil. bes (Continued, ¢ A Lone Hand. HATS this mean?” demanded Boulter, as he peered to- ward Merton in an effort to learn who It was, “Never mind,” retorted Merton, “All you have to do Is to mind your business and not make any false moves, I won't take the least chance, and it would be just as much # Pleasure to shoot you as to keep fier alive. Now, where do you fellows if keen your guns?” f) ‘In the other building,” »@ Boulter. “So? Well, I won't take a chance | on that. Your clothes are there by 4 the stove. Put them on, and be care- {\ tui now you do it.” When the men had dressed they @tood up. “Where's the dog harness?” | manded Merton. | Boulter nodded his head toward the corner behind Merton, and, taken off his guard, he turned to look. A slight sound made him whirl back, and at that instant a heavy iron poker, snatched by McGirr from the stove, caught one ear as it passed his head, And starting toward him almost be- | fore the poker had struck was a heavy iron pot. Instantly Merton dodged ) side, firing as he did so. There was a scream, and McGirr Gropped into a little heap beside the stove, Boulter, who had been reach- j ing for a stick of wood, remained though frozen where he was. “Stand up, back where you were!” shouted Merton, “You see what he got, Houlter.” The woodsman, trembling, jumped back to his place, his finger tips al- most reaching the roof. “Now,” went on Merton, “get down there ant sce what happened to him.” Boulter bent over McGirr'a body and straightened it out. “Where's he hit?” demanded Mer- de: to one ton. “In the head, creased,” was the reply. "Is he dead?” “tL don't know.” “Well, L want him, dead or alive, Now come with me and get the dogs harnessed and hitched up.” Boulter looked up inquiringly. “Never mind where we are going,” snapped Merton, “Come on.” Carefully Merton directed Boulter 1 \ how to act as he went out the door, ) |) and, his cooked rifle in his hands, fol- ql lowed him to where the dog harnesses were kept. In ten minutes the team a was standing hitched to @ long to- \ boggun before the door, sald Merton | { as he drove P Moulter wliead of him into the building | / Waere MoG ay, “start a fire and boil some ten and set out « lunch, | While the tea is boiling Le a rag | @pound McGirr's head. He may be {\ alive.” | “How is be?” he asked a few min- i nee RRT RARE: mn they were : the weapon were it necessary, The Evening World Daily Magazine, Saturday, May 20, A Springtime Renanee Big Outdoors utes later, when Boulter, having done as he laud been ordered, felt of Mc- Gier's “He live. He may die and he may Rot. Poepends on how close it cut.” “All right,” said Merton sharply. Get him dreased up as warm as you can and lash him on the toboggan. Better wrap two or three blankets ‘round him. Half an hour later, with MoGirr Jashed to the toboggan, his head rest- ing on the bottle of whiskey beneath the blank Boulter ahead of the dogs and Merton bringing up the rear, the return journey began. Once they were ollt on the Ice and had setfled tinue hour after hour, Merton for the first time reabized ti bis task was only half completed, It had been easy to get the rifte, from the drunken Indian, it bad been! easy to surprise the two men when leep; but to maintain a constant watch during twenty-five miles of travel, even to travel that far after the long run that had ended only a hour before, was something that would tax his etrength and will to Mod utmost. After an hour falter on tho trail. a half hi Merton began to! After an hour and ww that he could not main- “Tn going to ride,” he eald when the other came back to the toboggan. ‘Change those lashings and move | back so T can ait in front.” They went on again and Merton, | now that he could ride, kept urging Boulter to @ faster pace, The trail more difficulty in keeping awake. The cold was intense, and he felt it keenly. He held the rifle across bis arms, hugging it to his body. His hands were #0 cold he could not have used| At last he called a halt and re-/ aumed his place behind the toboggan. . Thus, by alternately running and rid- | ing, be kept from freezing to death | In the middle of the forenoon the gun came up, and five miles of the journey remained. They were now on the big lake. The dogs hed long be- fore settled into their all day pace, and Boulter was still running on abead. But try as he would, Merton could not fight off the desire for sleep, The cold was striking deeper, numbing his mind as well as his body. Once, when Boulter stopped quickly, Mer- ton was shaken to wakefulness by the sudden jar of the toboggan, and he scrambied quickly to his feet and covered his startied prisoner with the rifle, ‘They went on again. Merton tried everything he could think of in the effort to keep awake, He had ceased running because he was too tired, and without the exercise he had become so cold he gradually forgot every- thing except his desire to aleep. He was in the last stages of freezing, and because freezing is such an easy death, be did not know it. The miles slipped by unheeded. Boulter, had he known it, could have gone back to the toboggan at any moment and lifted the rifle from Mer- ton's unresisting hands, When they skirted the south shore of an island Merton was roused for an instant by the nearness of the shore. Then, on the ice before him, he saw a small heap of objects which brought the blood leaping from his heart, cleared his head and made him forget *he weariness and the cold. For the things he saw were a pair of snowshoes, a rifle, some food, a blanket. Lura had not failed him. CHAPTER XIill. Lura Comes to the Rescue. ULTER saw the little cache on the ice and stopped the dogi jo on," commanded Mer- ton, getting to his feet, “Never mind that.” But as he trotted painfully behind the toboggan the elation aroused by the knowledge that Lura had not failed him vanished before a@ realiza- tion that the most dificult part of his task remained, Herson himself, trusting no one from the outside, loyal first of all to his people, with the traditions and habits and ideas of a hundred years of isolation behind him, was yet to be reckoned with, Rapidly, for they were now in sight of the headquarters post, Merton formed plans and rejected them, Di- plomacy, argument, even the facts themselves, would not carry weight with the leader, Merton knew enough of the man to realize that his decile sion would be reached immediately upon seeing the strange cavalcade draw up the bank, Only one course was open, Only the tactics he had employed at “One Post" would avail here, Herson must be subdued by force until he would understand the truth. The fact that Herson still stood accused, jn the po- liceman's eyes, of selling whiskey to the Indians never entered Merton's head, He had no evidence, save from McGirr'a actions. From what he had seen of Lierson he could not beleve RCH Those B | S€€ BIGHATS YES, AND AGAR Wey ane | ( Sasa JERYY ORNAHEN TAL ‘b ann 0 IN 1 HATE THOSE BiG HATS ‘5 him guilty. Im his own mind the case clear, As Merton decided that he must continue to carry the situation by sheer force he realized the diMoulti He stood alone against Herson and Lochrie, both of whom would come armed td meet him. He too wi armed, but his idea of force dia not extend to violence in this case, To pull a trigger against Herson would mean the end with Lura. And then Merton admitted a great admiration, even a tender feeling, for this man who dared to defy the world in the interests of the little band of which he was leader. As they crossed the ice to the bank before the buildings there was no sign of life except the smoke rising slowly from the chimneyé Beneath the bank Merton ordered Boulter to halt. “Leave the team here and walk ahead of me,” he commanded, “I'm right behind you, and I'll shoot the tirst time you make a break.” They climbed to the level of the buildings, but still no one was to be seen. Straight toward the middle of the line of cabins Merton drove his prisoner. ‘Btop!" be whispered when they were Mfty feet away. Then, filling his lunge for the effort, Merton shouted. Seconds passed, and there was no response, Then the door of the cook camp was thrown open and Herson and Loobrie rushed out. Merton's heart leaped when he saw that their hands were empty. “Stand where you are!" he shouted, Ufting the rifle to his shoulder and alming it at Herson. “Now walk this way. That will do, Don't make a move.” Merton was looking at his prisoners, but he beard a sound in the cabin and turned to see Lura and Lawrie Saltar standing in the door. For an instant the girl looked at him, and her eyes made bim forget that his friend had come, In them he saw injury, anger, then purpose. With a quick motion she stepped back. “Cateh ber, Lawrie!” cried Merton, “Don't let her get a gun!” He had forgotten that be would have to reckon with Lura, that she would misunderstand w’ be was doing, that she could be depended upon to do anything to aid her father, But as this flashed upon him he realized that his course toward her Would have to be the same as that toward Herson himself. Until they knew the truth they would be against him. Lawrie Saltar obeyed instantly. The first glimpse of bis friend cov- ering three men with a rifle had toid him that bis services were weeded, But to capture the girl was anot matter. She had dasted back to tl rear of the dining room, where Luchrie had sefl 018 sobbed eae 2 ig Hats! Heer ates Use| ven Y FUL Ta wall. Saltar reached her as she grasped it. With @ quick wrench he tore it from her bande. “Listen!” he sald. “I don’t know about, but I'm backing Tara, panting, only glared et him angrily. “Come on outside,” pleaded Lawrie, sorry for his use of force, “He 1s a traitor, a spy, and he prom- ised me he would never do this!" cried Lura. Then her eyes suddenty filled with tears and she bent her head. “And I helped him to do it,” she wobbed. “Whatever Merton 1s doing, it is the right thing, I kaow,” eaid Saltar in an effort to reassure her. “I don’t know anything about this, but we'll find out. Come.” Lure allowed him to tead her out- side, where Merton still stood with his rifle covering Hereon, Lechrie and Boulter, “Open the door in the next duild- ing there, Lawrie,” he called. Lura etood back of her father, her hands covering her face, her body trembling convuleively. Salter saw that she would not move for @ mo- ment and turned to do es Mertos hed ordered. As he lifted the heavy bars from the door and swung it open the policeman stepped out. He had seen all that had happened trom the window, and he acted immediately. “Give me that gun, Gattar,” he com- manded, taking the rife from Law- rie’s hands as he did ao. He ran quickly to Merton's side and turned to face the prisoners. “Now, Herson,” he cried, “I've got you where I want you.” “No, you haven't!" exclaimed Mer- ton, “I'm etill running this how. You will have to take your orders from me until I'm through. Under- stand?” The policeman looked quickly at the young man. The frosted face, the sunken eyes that blazed, told this hunter of men that temporary ac- quiescence was the better policy, “All right," he reaponded. “What are you going to do?” “First,” answered Merton, “you take Lochrie down to the tce and have him drive the doge up here. The: @ man on the tobo pretty near it. We've got to take care of him first. Go with this man and get MoGirr, Lochrie.” The two went down to the lake While Merton guarded Herson and Boulter, “What's all this about, asked bia te Merton’” 4s Le crossed over to itu jend u'll get lin @ minute,” Mer- replied, without taking his eyes om Herson, “Waitt until they take of tuat fellow down there.” ca: 1916. atatzhive,, By Maurice Ketten IN AN ELEVATOR , WHEN A MAW F a beautiful opera singer were in love with you, I if you had all the funds of a bank at your disposal, if the President of a republic were your chum— You might or might not let yourself get into such a REMovE SENCE ©) Rd Sem SS Herson, in the mean time, hed not spoken. His stern face bad relaxed, his anger had given way to bewilder- ment, when Merton overruled the man who only a few hours before had been his fellow prisoner. The coming of Lawrie Saltar that morning had been @ Gisturbing factor, for Saltar had confirmed all that Merton had eald tn their first interview. But the sight of McGirr, one of his chief Neutenants, being bauled insen- sible to the post, was more than he could stand. “What's the matter with Charley, Boyd?" he demanded. “You did?” broke in Saltar incred- ulously, “You'll pay for it,” declared Herson. ‘Walt until you know the facts,” replied Merton irritably. The strain was telling op bim, and Lure, now Gry-eyed, was looking at him from the doorway. ‘The team was stopped before the door. “Lawrie, help Lochrie get that man inside,” ordered Merton. “Mr. Police- man, go in and see thet no one makes @ break while I drive these fellows in- aide. Mr. Herson, you and Boulter follow them in and eit down on that long beneb along the west wall.” ‘The entire party went inside, where Salter and the policeman made a quick examination of McGirr. ‘How about him?” asked Merton, as the policeman etood up. “Can't ¢ell yet. He's still uncon- aclous. He may be as good as dead, and he may not be badly burt at all. There's nothing to do for him now except get him to bed.” “AU right. You and Salter take him Into the bullding where you were locked up, amd call Mrs. Loohrie. Silently those in the building wait- ed while McGirr was carried out, ‘When Saltar and the policeman re- turned the latter immediately picked up bis rifle, “Now we'll start these fello the outeide,” he exclaimed, as faced the three men on the bench. “Sit down!” commanded , Merton sbarply. “I’m conducting this affair.” “You've done all that's necessary, young man. Now I'll take a band to it.” “@it down,” repeated Merton, turn- ing to face the policeman. told you what I would do, and you gave me @ promise. I'm not through yet.” Just at that moment Lura, who had been forgotten when the scene of operations had been transferred to the building, caime quietly from room and took a seat fa » facing Merton, the policeman had pulled up @ bench eo that they faced the prisoners and tue {roat door, and Merton cromeea FORGETS TOREMOVE HIS HAT over and sat down with them. For a moment he looked at debating as to the best manner of opening the little speech it was now nec ry for him to make, He was tired, very sleepy, in the warm room. He lald the rifle, cov- ered with frost and like a red-hot fron to the touch, across his knees. As be looked at Herson he found the same uncompromisi: eyes, the name firm jaw, the same set face. Suddenly he was struck with the hopelessness of convincing this man of what he knew to be true. “What is the use of this?” asked the policcman, u' because of the delay. “I'm going ahead with it as T seo fit. Merton looked at him angrily. Then he braced his shoulders, gripped his rifle &-4 turned to Herson. At tho same instant the bench was jerked from beneath him and the others, Hereon, Boulter and Lochrie rose as one man and fell f.rward upon the three who lay sprawling on the floor. Lura, darting into the fray, grasped the two rifles th.i had fallen and re- treated with them toward the door. A moment later Merton, Saltar and the policeman were prisoners. Ne- bau-benis stood in the tear door, through which he hed come, waiting for Lura’s approbration and further orders. CHAPTER XIV. The New Gods Win. j= HERE was no exultation tn T new prisoners on the bench along the wall. Rather Herson's attitude as, rifle in hand, he faced the three there were bewilderment and inde- ciston in his eyes. Lochrie had taken the other riffe s and also stood ready. Boulter, after a quick gtance around the room, started toward the door. “Don't let him out!" cried Merton. “Don't! He'll get the whiskey!" “Whiskey! exeatmed = Herson sharply, “What whiskey.” “It's in a botUe on the toboggan,” replied Merton. “Btep dum.” “Come back, Andy,” ordered Her- gon as Boulter continued on toward the door, “What whiskey is he talk- tng about?” “t don't know,” sullynly. “1 don't about any whiskey.” “There is @ bottle of whiskey on that tobowgan,” repeated Merton, looking from Herson to the others as mumbled Boulter know anything though seeking some one who would get {t, His eyes met Lura’s Won't you get t?” he asked sud denly. For a moment the girl hesitated an: then went to the door. waited silently he retul potile in her hands, mess as did the hero of Next Week’s Co and it is Zend Heraon, incredulous, #tared at it. Merton glanced at the policeman and saw that he was watching the leader closely. “Where did that come from?” de- manded Herson angrily. ‘Bit down, Mr. Herson,” suggested Merton gently, “while we talk this thing out. And I would advise you to keep an eye on Boulter, It wouldn't do any harm to put him on the bench with us.” “Andy is not a spy,” indignantly, “No, he's worse,” retorted Merton. “Take a chance with him if you wish. Then be proceeded more quirtly “That bottle of whisky, Mr. Herson, |I picked up this morning just beforo 4 o'clock in an Indian's camp lesa than half a mile from ‘One Lost.’ The Indians, I imagine, are still there, for they were so drunk when I saw them this morning they could not move.” “Where did they get the whiskey?” demanded the leader. “From ‘One Post.’ Last fall, when MoGirr and Boulter picked me up on replied Herson the shore of the Iake, they had eight five-gallon casks of It In the canoe. Before 1 found them loading their canoe I had run on to four casks hidden in the brush beside the port- ago. That night, before we reached ‘One Post,’ they stopped and hid the whiskey on an island, They knew you were there and said they had better not take a chance on your seeing it “The next day I was tipped over in the rapids. I have always believed McGirr tried to kill me in that way, though I can't prove it. “T can,” interrupted Lu leaning forward eagerly. “I saw it then, but I did not underetand it, and’—she turned to her father—"I warned Merton when he made that trip back with McGirr. McGirr ran the canoe on tho right side of the boulder in the chute, and when he was close to that flat rock on the shore he stepped out and let the canoe go.” “You are imagining that, Lurs said her father sternly. “That was an accident. Boyd swung the bow of the canoe, and Charley couldn't do anything else.” “That is what Charley told you,” she retorted ‘I saw it.” The light was dancing In her eyes now, and she looked across at Merton with an understanding so complete that he atraightened quickly and rushed again Into his story, “McGirr told you he fell on the portage that day he was hurt,” he continued. “MoGirr did not fall, He tried to leave me there, leave me so that I would starve to death, and I whipped him. I thought for a while that I had killed him.” “Good boy, Mert!" broke tn Saltar tically. “You always could “Box?” said Merton, turning to his friend in bewilderment, ‘I never thought of that, Lawrle, We didn't box. Woe fought.” “And then,” broke in Lura again, ‘he paddied that ammunition home alone, the night before the lake froze over, If it hadn't been for that there would have been no ammunition for the Indians, father.” “1 remember,” sald Herson. on, Boyd." “Nothing else happened until yes- terday, when I saw this man in the woods. Ho knew who I was because he had seon Lawrle at the Junction, and he told me Lawrie was coming out to look for mo again, I didn't know then who or what he wes, and I didn't know when I was locked up here, When he was locked up with me he told me enough to let mo see the whole thing. And, Mr. Herson, YOU've got to seo It In the same way.” He looked pleadingly at the leader, Dut as yot he failed to find what he “Go “Don't you see.” he continued, lean ing forward in his earnestness, “what 1 all means? ‘Chis man ts not a spy from the Hud Hay Company, 1 Was not a spy ne tludson Bay Company hasn't sent out spies or any one to harm you for more than forty years, You are living tn the past man, when they may have done things. The free-trader is not mo le ted any more, A Man of Mark BY ANTHONY .HOPE The Evening World Itiaa ‘arg! that will set your heart to beating faster by the man who wrote ‘‘The Prisoner o! mplete Novel in those who watched him saw the change coming, saw his strong spirit bow to the new conditions, to the blow which two friends had di him. Untti the last he had resisted even the thought of what he had sus pected, when Saltar arrived, was the truth, Now he could not escape It, The policeman, roughen by bis life as a hunter of criminals, was no leas a keen student of human nature. Be @ the others, perhaps, le saw what was going on in Herson's mind, recognized what the man might have been had not tradition Ued him for life to a dream. nent, Mr. Herson.” he ; rou have been tricked My name i# Ben Crandall, and I'm 4 member of the police, as I told you All I want is the men who have been selling whiskey to the Indians, From what the lad here has said, and from what I know of you, I don't believe j you had anything to do with it, { “Now, I need a deputy to help take these men out, if the other one lives, and I want some better evidence, I'l have to go over to the other post to et ft, and I wish you would send some one as a deputy, It would heip a lot if you sent one of your own men, Then my superiors would certain you are on the square.” Crandall had risen and taken a step toward the leader. Herson did not Move or attempt to stop him. For a moment no one spoke. Even Crandal) looked away. The emptiness lett vy shattered dreams was in the leader's be ppetemene face. Suddenly the leader stiffened and stood up. “Mr. Officer,” he said, “will you take me as your deputy?” “I'd be glad to,” exclaimed Cran- Gall, thrusting out hie haod and grip- ping that of the other. “I want to know it all,” went on Herson bravely, “I am convinced now, but I want to see it all. We will start at once.” “And you'll find that Indian and his squaw if you do,” interposed Merton. “We'll find them, I'm sure,” re- plied Herson sadly.” “They will both be dead, my boy, if they were drunk on a night like that.” » He turned to Lochrie. “Take Boulter into the storeroom and lock him up.” he ordered, with « trace of his old-time authority. “You had better come with us, Jimmie, and take charge of ‘One Post’ until we can get some one else.” “Do you think I could do that for you, Mr. Herson?” faltered Merton. “I'd lke the job." “You take the job!" exclaimed Saltar, “You're not going to stay here, are you, man?” like to,” said Merton simply, Mr. Herson would let me.” “You will always be welcome, lad,” replied the leader. “I can never re- Pay you for what you have saved me from doing.” “But the poor boy can’t Hve there alone!" exclaimed Mrs, Lochrie, who had returned for a kettle of bot water and remained to learn what was hap- pening. “IML send Ne-bau-be-nis for the present,” said Herson. “But,” and Merton again spoke hesitatingly, “I don't understand the business very well, and I'l need some one to teil me how to do things; some one who knows about running a post.” Unnoticed by the others, Lura had slipped through the group to Merton's side, He turned to see her smiling up at him “You know, Lura,” be whtspered, reaching for ber hand. “Won't you come?" Lura did not blush, Her happiness i Was too great, too sudden hy “That's why you're staying!” cried { Herson Then his face clouded and for a mo- he stood looking the two young pe before AN his 4 ife there h ny stern adhe: ver has been a recruit he said ‘ why have aiways kept to arsely have ne needed to 7 8 the outside uing. But , le beg lly his tones Aged and his face high e nev Ja trait une WORRY. as he welt te 09)? ar iw ke Boyd) I'm 1 Indians. Wa of it got to the out ; side, and the Government sent this my poy I man in to arrest you. You might 1) you come back I'll come have sent him ont ongue Psi with you tor the wedding,’ came the but others would have come, and h t from Offtevr would ave taken you and all nila bring @ preacher others because two of your men have “!t 5 been traitors, You bucked big Sell ied HH company for a hundred years and “But, Mert, are 1 won, but you can't buck the Dow Bostor mandi ton of Canada, You must give is men up. ‘Turn thein ¢ to this po- ex ed Me emun and they will be punisned ember Bost lw Herson did not it continued orn $o look steadily at Mertog, Slowly (The End) i s