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J£ * Si rtf ;n THURSDAY, NOVEMl 4TH, ItM . fjp &:k f /VAlXEi ^VOICES GEORGE MARSH author, of " TOILERS OF THE TRAIL " " THE WHELPS OF THE WOLF^ i&R ^COPYRIOHT 6y THE FEHH PUBUSHIMOCO. can a* and poled rapidly upajrta.nL. fat a ftw hundred yards, while the pua- xled Steele looked on. Then the In dian awunir the ante of the boat down river and {Middled past them In mid- / SYNOPSIS CHAPTER I.—With David, half-breed aide. Brent Steele, of the American aaeum of Natural History, is travel- fan In northern Canada. By a stream he T he hears Denlae. daughter of Col. Htlalre St. Onne, factor at Wallins River play the violin superbly. He Introduces himself and accepts an in vitation to make the post his home durian his stay. Prom‘St Onne he learns of the myeterloua creature of evil, tMe “Windt'no.” and the disap pearance of a canoei and its crew, with the season's take of furs. CHAPTER 11.—Steele hears the “Win- dlno.” David and Michel, St. onge'e head-man, leave for the scene of the oaao'e’s disappearance. St. onge tells Steele that Lascelles, the company's manager at Port Albany, seeks his ruin In order to compel Denise to mar ry him to sa^e her father. CHAPTER III.—Hearing her violin playing. Steele realises that Denise Is encrlflctng a brilliant muelcal career to comfort her father. David and Michel return, but are uncommunicative. CHAPTER IV.—Tete-Boule. Indian In St. Onge's employ. Is caught listening to Steele's talk with David and Michel, and roughly handled. Steele learns uls Li that Leu as mad< is hand o f h David lied. Steels Laflamme, factor at Ogoke, 'loatlQ enlsa. a made application to her father for (CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK) • ^ ' % * CHAPTER V The following mornlug th* Hire* friends were loading their canoe pre- pnrntory to ascending the river on a round of the falj camps of Indiana trading at the poat, when the flash of a paddle far upstream aroused their Interest. “L»at ee* queer t'lng,’’ commented Michel, scowling darkly. “Kef M'xteu l.aflamme come to iaak* trouble, he weel fin' plenty here.’* At the mention of I.aftsmiue, David's small eyes narrowed; the minuiea of his thick forearms worked nervously as though he already felt his Angers at the fhgoat of the free-trader. .Hlaeia's curiosity waa keenly aroused, for It was too late In the year for ths < sno«* of a trading hunter to visit the post; this boat was undoubtedly from Dgoke. What new scheme had la- .Ak in me iu mind? It would lie four weeks beiW» the winter would break —the limit he had given Sr. Onge for his answer. It wits not long before the hard driven craft was close enough to dis close but a single occupant. And abortly, as It ueared the shore. Mldiel called : % “Bo'-Jo' bn'In' IM*rre* Wat you d<i here «o far from de Feather lake?'’ The Indlun gr<>iindt‘«i hi<< boat on the beach and «haklnt( ihe linnd of tlie lieatiman. replied in OJlbwu\ ua Da vid and Steele Joined tliem: * ‘'Bti’-Jo, Michel I The hunters at the Feather lake* are leaving for the .Medicine Hills country. For three nights the Windigo howled on the burnt ridge by Rig Feather lake. The people are we;ik* witli fear; they will not trap there this winter.” “Did you hear the voice of the Wln- Pierre? - ’ asked Michel gravely. Ej 'No. I was netting whltelish at the lake of the Peep Water. When I re- *Miimed to the camp they wen* leaving There will be no trap lines in that val- lej this long snows.” ‘‘Did the people see the tracks of , the Windigo?'’ “No. their blood was cold In their veins. They did not stay to look for j n trail. Why should they? They were afraid”, *T»ut why did you leave your family for the Windigo to eat and come here; last spring you traded your fur at Dgoke?” rasped Michel so savagely that the OJihway backed away, for the raw-boned Iroquois was feared the length of the Wailing. *T need shells Wr my gun. and ■Ogoke Is far.'* weakly replied fhe other, his eyes shifting uneasily. The swart features of Michel twisted with anger. “You lie. you have plenty shell!” he replied, fiercely, returning to English for Steele’s benefit. “Yon travel here to tnak' trouble wld your heeg talk of de Windigo.” And the long arm of the exasperated headman “shot out a crushing blow In the face •of the OJihway. As the Indian staggered back with a cry from the attack of the lafud- ated Iroquois, Steele stepped between them, and pushing Michel aside, vt- dered sternly: “That’s enough f” The cowed Indian, nursing hl« bleed ing Itpe, and protesting his Innocence, left the men on the beech and Jetned the post people who were excitedly discussing the coming of the stranger ^ and his reception at the hands\ef A^JdHiel. -Evidently you don’t like that ^Tlerre^ laughed Steele. “What made you so road?” “I t'lek he cum here to talk to Tete- Foule,” was the significant reply. “Dey •weel mak' de medicine toalgfit te scare de Wlndlfe” > v 1 “What, la he a shaman—a conjuror, toof de claim he ees bee* medicine man, — a* Mldewlwjn, ssi I fink te puj de devils een me now.” Then Michel related what had passed between him and Pierre. ‘•But you can’t blame him for fear ing the Windigo, or for coming here if It Is Nearer his hunting grounds than Ogoke.” The inscrutable Iroquois faced Steele with snapping eyes. “Many long snows fall, ra’sleu, seence de ’Jlbway starve out on de Walling riviere. Maybe ten—maybe more. Many- dle all tni dees ♦■owntree dat long snows, for eet was de year of de rabbit plague and dere were no moose. Dees Pierre cum to Fort Ma ms taws n dat spreeng an' say bees woman die, but I go to bees camp dat summer, an’ I fln’ her hones eeu de hush een »wo, three place—all ronn\ He keel bees woman—and left her In de snow for de wolverines an’ fox— she nevalre starve. He ees no good. He cum here to mak’ de trouble an’ scare our peopie.7 “But why should he come so far to make trouble here, as you say? What Is behind It all?” For an instant. Michel seemed on the point of making a revelation. Then, evidently changing Ids mind, with a shrug of his bony shoulders, he an swered: “We see aome day.” Steele and David exchanged puzzled looks. What could Michel have In the hack of his head? • • • j • • • With the coming of the canoe with news from Feather lakes. Wailing River was again thrown Into a punlc of rear of the night prowler. After a hurried talk with St. Doge. Steele started up the river, bound for Rig "What in thunder is he driving at David?” _ **We are de fool for aure,” was the laconic answer as Michel swept by With his eyes on his friends, then threw the bow of the canoe to the ahore and landed. “He nevalre pass here wUiout seeia’ dls camp.” /. Michel’s maneuver was explained. “Dat Pierre pass here two sleeps back,” said Michel. Joining Steele. “Dees man bln dead t’ree, four day an* de tracks on de shore are old one. De riviere rise after de rain, two sleeps back. De Windigo mak' deni tracks here before de rain,” and Michel point ed to some footprints which were bare ly covered by water. “Suppose he did not notice this camp, what then?” ' “He was hongree an’ hunt for game; he sees dees camp for sure.” Dnvid nodded In agreement. “Then why did he not tell us?” “Dat ees w’at I ask heem tonight at Wallin’ Riviere.” CHAPTER VI The twenty miles of hard running rlvbr down to the fort was covered by the three skilled canoemen In a few honrs. On arriving, they hastened to the trade house. Steele opened the ponderous slab door and entered, fol lowed by the two half-breeds, to learn that Walling River had a visitor. Seated with St. Onge behind the trade counter was a short, thick-set stran ger, wearing a cap with an insignia in gold braid. “M'xleu Lascelles.” whispered Mi chel over the shoulder of the Ameri can. St. Onge and Lascelles wfre evi dently in the midst of a heated con versation in French, for they Ignored Steele’s entrance. “You are as superstitions as you claim the Indians to he. I aui not In terested In this Windigo stuff," Lss- celles said Irritatedly. when St. Onge. glancing toward the door, saw Steele. “You are hack so soon, monsieur? And you have news?” 'Hie factor ap peared relieved at the appearance of the ma*i he thought far upriver. Brent Steele's hack stiffened as he advanced to meet the man who had Feather lake He had little hope of ^ ,n U * n ' 1 * to ^ru, ‘ , ' ,h * ' girt over In the factor's quarters. discovering anything which would throw light an the mystery. Hut one thing piqued the curtoalty «>f the three man. They were keenly Interested In finding tracka similar to those near Ihe post, for they carried the exact measurements of the latter, and In case they tallied with those at the Feather lakes, forty mlie* aw»y. they | would have discovered a new and most peculiar trait in animal hahlta. name ly. a beast with feet strangely like a bear’s, which had ranged forty miles within a few days. t>n the morning of the second day Ihe canoe was traveling In the easier water Inshore, when Michel, poling In •he how. suddenly exclaimed; “Kequay! Look!" On the shore, ahead, were the re mains of a fire ami near It what re aeinhled the Imdy of a man. With n few strong thrusts of the |ailes. the cflnoe w as driven to-the heacla The men leaj*e<| ashore. Before them, stretched beside the dead lire, lay an Indian, hideously mutilated. ”He has been literally torn to pieces," muttered Steele. “A hear alone could have done this, and yet I never heard of such a thing.” David was on his knees searching for tracks iu the dry leaves, when a cry from Michel drew the a I tent ion of the others. “l/ook! Track on de shore!” and the In»quois pointed to a patch of mud Hearty marked by the prints of huge feet. -They're ringers flnr the tracks near the post,” said Steele, and he took from his pocket strips of rawhide of the dimensions of the footprint* which had frightened Charlotte. In hreudth. length and character, the tracks in the mud were identical with those near Walling River. The three friends looked blankly at each other. ‘Tt’s the same bird," said Steele. David removed his felt hat and scratched his broad forehead. "No hear travel forty mile and back twenty onions somet’ing drive heem over whose rare qusltty lie would never sense, who*-* soul he would never know. Aa he walked around behind ihe trade-counter, there was a set to hta heavy shoulders, a glint in the gray eyes, which did not pass unno ticed by the men lie approached. “Monsieur Steele, thin is inspector Lascelles of the Itevlllon Frorea.” With a smile Steele extended a hand, hard as a spruce kaot. and on Ufa feet. “This Morning we found tba camp sod body of • strange Indian—thn tracks were identical with those you saw near here on the trail." Then Steele suddenly changed the subject. “Where Is that Pierre who came here from the Feather lakes the day we left? Michel wishes to ask him seme questions.” , "He left this morning. Didn't you pass him on the river?” A.muttered curse from Mtchel met Steele’s backward glance. “Too bad!’’ exclaimed the Ameri can. “I suppose, monsieur, you attribute the loss of our. furs to this same |VlndIgo?” broke In Ixiscelles. “Oh, undoubtedly, Inspector," re plied Steele, whh a suspicious curl of the Up. his blood slowly rising at the tone used by the man from Albany, However, above all things, he had to consider St. Onge and Denise, he told himself, and not to allow this fellow to lure him into a hostile attitude. “I see you are Joking," rejoined the Frenchman, flashing. “On the contrary, I am very- far from Joking when I tell you that there are mysterious things afoot In this vtlley—which neither my experience nor scientific knowledge are able to fathom. Yon had better go upriver tomorrow and see for yourself. You seenp skeptical regarding the whole matter.” '* ^Have you never seen a dead man before, monsieur?” derided Lascelles. “I fear It has gone to your head—this WIndigo matter.” St. Onge excitedly half rose from his chair, as the cool gray eyes of his ’guest slowly surveyed the man from Albany, from moccasins to hair; and then fell hack relieved, when the American, flushed, but In control of himself, drawled: ’Monsieur, you were formerly a man of war, a soldier, while 1 am only a |»ea« , eful man of science. To you It Is hut natural that violent death should he a familiar sight, while to me It Is most terrifying./Why. I find It most repulsive even to clesn a fish.” So Innocuous was Steele’s smile, and so guileless his manner, that Lascelles, conscious of telng played with hy the rugged American, found no words to reply, but sat In Impotent rage. Then the retreating backs of Michel and David, whose shaking shoulders be trayed their suppressed mirth, spurred the Itevlllon man to answer: ”Tf you are so afraid of M«s»d.” he sputtered, "why are you hunting this man-eating Wladlgo?” Steele smiled down good-naturedly at the man he would have hHthHy bat tered with hla fists, and -lenving the two men at the trade-hsuse, sought out Denise St. Onge. “Oh. welcome back! Monsieur Steele," she said, forcing a smile. "I have Just heard that you have mads a terrible discovery." “Please, we will not talk of that." he Insisted. “I have something to say to you before I go. tomorrow. Tonight there will l»e no opportunity.” He won dered If Lascelles had seen her pri vately since his arrival that afternoon, but It did not matter. “We are to make a wide circle of the country,” he went on. "and will he away until 1 leave for Nepigon.” Mej- sensitive face quickened with •motion n* she listened. “M ndemoDelle St, Onge. - ’ he began, *1 hs ve no right to ask this from you, but In Justice to yourself I must.” She started to *|teak, a* If In pro test. then her troubled eyes squarely met his. •'Will you promise me-—that you will not—’’ He hardly knew what he wished to juk from the girl who so tensely listened. There had been nothiiig between them. He had no right—bur in spite of his diffidence found himself begging: “You will^pot destroy Vourself—that l*enutifu1 tal ent. that—soul. 1 ecattse you think to save .your father?’! He was talking recklessly now. nil reticence gone. “No matter what happens to the post —what Lascelles tries tt> do. promise me that you will not throw your hap piness, your life, to the winds. It I 22 • T. B. Ellis With a Smile Steele Hand. Extended His he in sisted. “But hears don’t mutilate bodies like this." added Steele. v . “WaU” muttered the OJihway. “dees one mak’ de mess ov dees poor feller all de same. W’ut you goln' do?” As the features were obliterated. - Michel was busy examining the kit of the Read man In an attempt to iden tify him aa an Indian trading at the post. “De gnu ees French company gun, but de kettle and knife l neraT see ■before. I t’ink eet ees not Wailing Riviere hunter." "Who could he be. then, traveling on this river so late In the year?” “Eet ees vert strange,” Stuttered tho headman. ; < "Kef dat bear ees do Windigo." Da vid’s wide fhee contracted in a net work of wrinklen, as he ^grinned at Steele, “w’at we do den?” "Windigo or no Windigo, David, he’s our meat if bo atapa in front of my Mannllchor—or yours. Why, what's tbs matter, Michel?” ^ His gram face of the Indian had suddenly assumed in expression so sinister as to aronoe the white man'* curiosity. “By gar! We are de fbol!" "What d’yen mean?” For answer Michel jeoped tfttQ ftp grasped t>ie fingers of the puzzled and curious Lascelles. “I missed meeting you at Albany, inspector, in August. You were over at Moose when I called.” The black eyebrows of Lascelles rose as he now Identified the stranger whose presence at Walling River he found most, annoying for his plans. “Ob, ye«, Monsieur Steele, the Amer ican scientist; I thought, you left Al bany weeks ago bound for the Nep igon,” he suggested pointedly. “I did, inonslear, but l stumbthd on a most interesting situation here— fight in my line, you know. I found what I have been searching for, for years.” Steels waa losing no time rub bing It into ths skeptical Lascelles. “You have a bona-ttde Windigo iq this valley, monsieur—a—most interesting situation to a adentlst, 1 assure you. 7 The Indians are in a panic and you will have difllcuity in keeping them on their trap-lines this winter.” "You, a scientist, believe In Indian aercery and superstition?" demanded the Frenchman, sarcastically. “Well^ now, that is somewhat dlffl- colt to answer, mens I tar,” badgered Steele, to the delight of the two swart- faced men with whom he had entered. “I have heard the Windigo wall in the night; I have seen hie tracks; and I- have Jyst returned to report to Mon sieur St. Onge that we here found up neer the mouth of Stooping river the remains of an Indian torn to pieces, evidently ty this same Windigo ” "What do Ten v*jT 8L Onge wan not necessary, as yon may think have ample means. 1 will gladly finance your father—I have influence; 111 take it up with headquarters In Montreal. We’ll beat Lascelles! Don’t — don’t destroy yourself, mademoi selle !’* As he finished, she was smiling at f»im through tulst-hlurred eyes, then rose and went to the window. “You have not already?” he faltered, thinking of her letter U> Albany. From the window came the low an- swef. “I am the fiancee of Monrieur Lascelles.” “You are mad—mad,” he groaned, stunned, unable to accept, now that he had heard It, what he had feared. "I had no right to ask yon—what -I did. But I could not help it. mademoiselle. I might have known—the heart of you —was dead. You have killed a beau tiful thing.” — She suddenly turned a tragic face. “Monsieur, yon may wonder why I let you say these things, but you have guessed the reason,” and she placed her hands on her breast, “the heart et me—Is dead.” And she left the room. To remain longer under the factor's roof, to sit at dinner with this hope- le* girt, who had bartered her hap piness tor her father's welfare, and the uu*n. who waa brute enough to ac cept the seed flea, was unthinkable, no Steele went to the little room which had been bis since hie coming, te peck hijS duffle bag. Them he found Char- lotto, watting. * ,N \ , Jj "Ten weesh for to roaree main’- selle?" the Indian abruptly The question was startUng. but honor to the loyalty of the "She * le rellea," ask the evident ed rhsriotts do “She hate M'sled X«M|Obs !" vehe meetly protested the OJNvmay. "She cry aa* cry w’sn she send heem de let- talr. Yon are de good mam. Michel say. Daveed tell you have heeg house, far away seat’. You tak* aaa’m’selle. she t’ink you good man, she wee! go wM you for yoqr woman! 1 Steele’s pnlae quickened at the thought. "Would she go with me, would she go with me?" he repeated to hirpsHf. “if I were man enough te take her from her father? She could never face a future with Lascelteet" Then his knowledge of Denlae 8L Onge asserted Itself. “But no, she has given her word; and she'll keep It. She’s that kind. She would never desert her father, and she’s found herself to Lascelles. It’s too late!” Searching his face with eager eyes fihorlotte waited for hla answer. “It’s too late—Oharlotte. Made moiselle lias already told the French man that she will marry him.” The scowl of contempt which greeted his reply transformed the dark face of the OJihway into that df n fury. She had placed her faith in this Amer ican. and he had failed her. “Daveed tell me you are good man to fight—have de strong heart,” she hurled at him. “Why you have de fear ov dat leetle Frenchmans—are you teeg rabbit? Why you not tak’ her away een de cano’? She weet go!” Again, a fierce exultation swept him. (’harlotto must know har mis tress’ secret thoughts to apeak so con fidently. What he had of late felt— sensed—In the presence of Denlae Bt. Onge; what be had put aside as Im possible. unbelievable—an Illusion, based on hla own emotions—might, after* all, have been her Inatincttvs call for help; the unvoiced reaching out of her heart to one who would nnderstand her need. But he had failed her. The victim of hla own lack of vanity, he had gone off up river and left her to solve her prob lem alone, to hind herself definitely to I<aa«-elles, when, had he acted on hla Inatincta, he might have saved her from herself. He had been blind—and lost. “We must wait, Charlotte. What- you tell me—about mademoiselle—T — did not—know. But don’t lose heart. First, I’ve work to do. I’m going to catch that Windigo. Then—” Steele did not finish, for the scowling face of the OJIbwsy woman went a sickly gray at the mention of the dreed name, and she disappeared through the door Aa he hastily threw hla clothes Into the raavaa hag. the words of Charlotte. "She weel go wld you for your wom an.’’ returned to mock him. IRd the Indian renlly know, after all. or was ■he trying In force hla hand? That this exqnlstte girt whom he had found in the northern forests, aa one finds a Jewel In the grass, should have come to care for a man of whom she knew so little, seemed unbelievable. And yet more than once slnre that day on the mountain he had surprised a look In her eyes which had strangely sent hla pulse* racing. And now that he knew he had been loving her all those precious dare which he might have made Indelible In memory—he faced the hitter conviction that Denlae Ht. Onge, onre she had given her word, would keep R. He carried hla hag to Michel’s aback and announced to the aurprlaed owner that he would eat and sleep there: then, while in search of David, he ran Into St. Onge. “Monsieur Steele.” the old soldier cr1pi*ed hla guest’s hand ami vigorous ly shook It. “You have my extreme admiration— and emtlttide. Mon Dleu ! Bnt you were magnificent. To aeo you my friend and guest, insulted before my eyes—and how you made him ridiculous!’’ Steele’s face hardened. “But your daughter--whal of her?" he demanded, almost fiercely, of the ntjm whose eyes wavered before hla cold glance. “You have seen her?” “Yes. she has told me. She's ruined herself—thrown away her happlnean— her life." “Ami all for me,” atghed the father, “all for me!" “But you knew she would do it—to protect your future with the company; and you allowed her to,” Steele con tinued pifHessly. tn a voice, low, hat carrying the bitterness of gall In Its tones. "Colonel St. Onge. you have permitted a beautiful soul to destroy Itself. You-” “Stop, monsieur!” at. Onge Inter rupted, Iu a voice broken with passion. “You do not know—and you are ray friend, therefore I forget what you say. I have begged her not to do .thin —am prepared to leave the company. I will not allow such a thing. Why," and the factor shook his clenched fists In Hteele’s Air#, ‘T would kill that pig lAsrelles before I gave har to him." “Bnt ahe has given herself to Mm; of bar own free will, today. And aha Is a thoroughbred; sha will keep har word.” St Onge glared into Steal*’* !■- wfijh knawa haw. Thatwawsr* ' daartng, and Steal*. In no tha subject of the left tha excited factor swatting tha approach of th* man who mss ocalt- lag la Ms hard-won victory. A taraod away, ha said: "I havt ■ s^r stuff to MiehaTs shack. It Is leas far me to tall yoo bow- nach I appreciate your hospitality of your danghtar. You eaaraa that I could not stay." “Yes, monsieur, R would embarrassing to yon sad to mo, regret deeply to have yon go." (CONTINUED NEXT WEEK) 1. E. ELLIS ENGINEERING CO. ' Land Surveying a Specialty, » I Lyadharat, & C ♦♦♦b>dddd»00 »»MMr fr»»d»0d0»»+»»M»ddMM»»4d : All IV I * ’Farm Coverage * a Specially; '1 » Calhoun and Co. j P. A. Price, Mgr. Bank of W. C. 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