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diff --git a/old/50275.txt b/old/50275.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 7139a7b..0000000 --- a/old/50275.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6229 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dick Kent on Special Duty, by Milton Richards - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Dick Kent on Special Duty - -Author: Milton Richards - -Release Date: October 22, 2015 [EBook #50275] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DICK KENT ON SPECIAL DUTY *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Rick Morris -and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - DICK KENT - ON SPECIAL DUTY - - - By MILTON RICHARDS - - - Author of -"Dick Kent with the Mounted Police," "Dick Kent in the Far North," "Dick - Kent with the Eskimos," "Dick Kent, Fur Trader," "Dick Kent with the - Malemute Mail." - - - THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY - Akron, Ohio New York - - Copyright MCMXXVIII - THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY - _Made in the United States of America_ - - - - - Contents - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I Rand Tackles a Difficult Case 3 - II The Price of Folly 12 - III Three New Recruits 17 - IV Frischette's Money Box 28 - V A Midnight Prowler 38 - VI New Complications 49 - VII The Mysterious Poke 57 - VIII Corporal Rand Takes Charge 66 - IX Unexpected News 76 - X Conflicting Theories 85 - XI Finding a Motive 93 - XII "Rat" MacGregor's Wife 103 - XIII On Creel's Trail 111 - XIV A Meeting in the Woods 121 - XV A Deserted Road-House 129 - XVI Trapped! 134 - XVII A Policeman's Horse 144 - XVIII A Red Blob 154 - XIX Across Hay River 161 - XX A Thrilling Experience 170 - XXI The Key to the Mystery 180 - XXII Dewberry's Treasure 188 - XXIII Leaves From an Old Diary 197 - XXIV Carson's Son 206 - XXV Piecing the Threads 216 - XXVI Dick Rejoins His Comrades 225 - - - - - DICK KENT ON SPECIAL DUTY - - - - - CHAPTER I - RAND TACKLES A DIFFICULT CASE - - -"Rat" MacGregor dropped to the floor and crawled on hands and knees to -the bunk wherein Dewberry, weary after hours of heavy mushing over an -almost unbroken trail, now slept the sleep of the just. Dewberry's -raucous snores could be heard plainly. He lay face up, mouth partly -open, while one large, hairy arm hung limply over the side of his bed. - -MacGregor knew that Dewberry was really asleep. Not only did he know -this, but he was cognizant of another fact, of which he alone was the -sole possessor. He knew that the big Englishman could not easily be -awakened. He was aware that something else besides weariness and -exhaustion compelled Dewberry to slumber thus. And he grinned over the -thought of it. - -Before retiring for the night, the prospector had, following the usual -custom, removed none of his clothes. Neither had he troubled to unstrap -the money-belt that he wore, and place it in safe-keeping. The -money-belt was full, almost bursting with yellowbacks and greenbacks of -various denominations. But the thing which interested MacGregor even -more, was the small poke, suspended from a moosehide cord, and tied -securely about the sleeping man's neck. - -In his present predicament, the prospector would have been easy prey for -the figure who crept towards him, had circumstances been a little -different. The difference was this: In the room, the large airy room of -one "Frenchie" Frischette, keeper of road-houses, were a number of other -persons besides MacGregor and the drugged Dewberry. - -These persons reclined in various attitudes and conditions of sleep. Not -a few of them, including Corporal Rand, of the Royal North West Mounted -police, possessed--even in slumber--a sense of hearing exceedingly -acute. The creak of a board, a sudden rustling movement--almost any -noise at all--would have aroused them at once. No one realized this any -better than MacGregor. His job had been only half accomplished a few -hours before when, with very little difficulty, he had drugged the man -from Crooked Stick River. - -The thief rose slowly to a position on his knees. He was so close to his -victim that the man's feverish breath fanned his cheek. He could hear -plainly his own heart and the heart of the sleeper, beating in a sort of -wild harmony together. His right hand was within eight inches of the -rugged prospector, yet he seemed unable, powerless to extend it one -infinitesimal part of the distance which separated it from the actual -point of contact. - -In the dull, red glow of the fireplace he could see the tell-tale bulge -on Dewberry's barrel-like chest. It filled him with a sort of agony to -realize that at the crucial moment he lacked the courage and the -strength to accomplish his task. Never before had he been so overcome -with weakness. A few quick movements only were required to bring wealth -into his grasp; yet here he knelt, with a cold dampness suffusing his -face and a tingling paralysis of all his muscles. - -The prospector groaned and moved slightly, then raised one knee in a -convulsive movement of pain. MacGregor shrank back trembling, his eyes -darting about apprehensively. In a far corner another form stirred -uneasily and a loud, full-throated cough broke across the stillness like -a trumpet of doom. - -Several minutes elapsed before MacGregor had recovered sufficiently from -his fright to attempt another furtive movement forward. This time he -summoned to his aid the last remnant of a wilted spirit. His hands went -out toward Dewberry's throat. These clammy physical members found the -cord, but his fingers refused to function in his efforts to untie the -knot. For a moment he hesitated, then with a low, almost inhuman growl, -he tore his hunting knife from its sheath and tried to cut the cord. In -his haste, inadvertently the sharp point of the knife pricked the -sleeping man's chest and, to MacGregor's great astonishment and horror, -Dewberry started visibly and opened his eyes. - - * * * * * * * * - -The aroma of freshly fried bacon filled the room. Standing among his -pots and pans, nursing a new-found despair, "Frenchie" Frischette, -road-house keeper and gentleman of parts, could hear the approaching -figure. The pupils of his eyes were like beads of glass as they -encountered the trim, athletic figure of Corporal Rand. - -"_Oui_," he admitted slowly, "ze beeg prospector ees dead. You saw -heem?" - -Corporal Rand nodded. - -"How many men have already left?" he inquired. - -"Zay haf all left," Frischette shrugged his shoulders regretfully. "Many -before dawn. Zay go in ever' direction--both ze good men and ze bad. How -you find heem of ze beeg knife?" - -"The man who stabbed and robbed Dewberry will go south," Corporal Rand -stated with conviction. "It is the law of the land. Men, who have money, -invariably go south--to spend it. Is there anything more simple than -that, Frischette? The rule seldom fails. Adventure goes north and money -goes south. I'm taking the trail south." - -The road-house keeper moistened his dry lips. - -"I see heem four men go on the south trail ver' early roun' five -o'clock." - -"Together?" - -"Zay went each by heemself." - -"No doubt, one of those four men is the murderer." - -"You t'ink so?" - -"Yes," said the policeman stubbornly, "I'm quite sure the murderer would -travel south. At any rate, I'm going in that direction. So long, -Frischette." - -Two days later, Corporal Rand was forced to admit that in this case, at -least, a precedent had been broken. None of the four men was the -murderer. Two were Indians from Lac la Biche; a third, Beckholt, a free -trader, a serene, gray-eyed veteran of the North, was above suspicion. -Father Marchand, who completed the quartette, could not for one moment -be included in any inventory of crime. - -Without even taking the time to question one of them, Rand swung about -and retraced his way to the scene of the recent murder. - -In the policeman's absence, Frischette had made an important discovery. -Eagerly and somewhat excitedly, he told the story in a mixture of poor -English and bastard French. Fontaine, a half-breed boy in Frischette's -service, had seen, on the evening preceding the robbery, a tall, -furtive-eyed man mix two drinks--one for himself and one for the -prospector. In the cup intended for Dewberry, the tall, furtive-eyed man -had poured something out of a small bottle. Shortly thereafter, the big -prospector had stumbled to his pile of blankets and had fallen asleep. - -In doubt, Rand questioned the boy closely. At first, he did not believe -Fontaine was telling the truth. Then it became apparent, following a -severe cross-examination, that Fontaine had really seen what he had -described--was wholly innocent of guile. The description of the -furtive-eyed man, his mannerisms, his clothing, the way he walked, had -quickly brought a picture to Rand's mind. There was no possibility of -any mistake here. It was MacGregor, "Rat" MacGregor, of the Willow Lake -country. - -Soberly, the mounted policeman pondered his problem. If "Rat" MacGregor -was the murderer, as the cards seemed to indicate, why, with so much -money in his possession, had he set out on a trail which led farther -into the wilderness? By all the rules of common sense, a person of -MacGregor's caliber would have lost no time in getting back to the gay -"outside."[1] It was inevitable. The desire within him would have been -stronger than the will to resist. A powerful influence indeed, that -would pull a man north when wealth was burning his pockets. - -Ten days later, Rand found MacGregor in a small cabin below the Finley -River. First he had seen a man and woman together, then two scrambling -forms, a door closed hastily, and presently a gray puff of smoke from a -window near the front of the house. The bullet whistled over his head, -struck harmlessly in the brush behind him. A second cut into a drift to -his right. A third, lilting of death, grazed his shoulder, causing him -to sit down very suddenly. - -Thereafter, Rand moved slowly and painfully. This time he advanced -toward the cabin more cautiously. Fifty feet from his objective, he -threw himself down behind a snow-covered log, lit his pipe and dully -pondered what he ought to do next. For several hours MacGregor continued -to blaze away intermittently from the window. After that darkness came -and an interval of silence. The cold had grown more intense, more -bitter. By degrees, a peculiar numbness had settled over the policeman's -shoulders and along his wounded side. - -A moment later, he struggled to his knees, then rose deliberately and -walked ahead in the direction of the cabin. In front of the door he -paused, every sense alert. No sound issued from within; nor could he see -even a faint glimmer of light. Somewhere inside, Rat MacGregor--true to -his name--skulked in the dark--and his wife with him. - -The faint outline of a block of wood, lying in the snow at his feet, -drew his attention. Acting upon a sudden angry impulse, he stooped -forward, picked it up, and raised it high above his head. It catapulted -from his powerful arms, striking the window with a resounding crash. A -woman screamed. Her terrified cry rang out through the deep hush that -ensued and, accompanying its last wailing note, MacGregor's guns -spoke--two fiery flashes, not unlike the red tongue of a -serpent--darting out into the gloom. - -Shoulders hunched, Rand struck the door with a furious impact, and the -bolts gave way. As he fell forward into the room, one hand clutched his -gun. Again MacGregor fired; this time wildly, foolishly, for the flash -of his revolver indicated only too well his position, and Rand had him -almost before the sound of the other's weapon had become smothered in -the deep stillness of the room. - - - - - CHAPTER II - THE PRICE OF FOLLY - - -MacGregor's resistance had cost him his life. Ten minutes later, in the -flickering glow of a wax candle, the mounted policeman looked down at -the prone and lifeless form. - -"Well," he said, turning suddenly upon the girl, a rather pretty French -half-breed, "where is the money?" - -The half-breed grunted and looked sarcastically, indignantly at Rand. - -"No have money. No take money. Why you keel my man?" she wailed -tearfully. "Mounted police! Bah!" - -"Easy," cautioned Rand. "Where's that money?" He drew up to his full -height. "Better answer me quickly now or I'll take you along too." - -"No money," insisted the girl. "He no catch 'em money that time. Beeg -prospector wake up. No chance then. My man he come away." - -"Rot!" declared the policeman. "Your man killed Dewberry. Robbed him. -Nobody else." - -"Leesen!" MacGregor's wife plucked at his sleeve. "You think wrong this -time. You make heem beeg mistake. My man no rob, no keel--nothing! I -prove you find no money here. My man heem try rob, but no get nothing. -Otherwise, we go south--Edmonton. No can go without money." - -Although Rand was certain that the half-breed lied, a careful and -painstaking search of the premises failed to reveal the hiding place of -Dewberry's gold. Baffled, he was forced on the day following to place -the girl under arrest and set out for detachment headquarters, two -hundred miles away. There he filled in his report, turned the prisoner -over to Inspector Cameron for further questioning. - -But to no avail. Invariably the same answer, repeated over and over -again: - -"My man heem no rob, no keel. No take beeg prospector's money. Mounted -police! Bah!" - -From that point it became a baffling case indeed. Corporal Rand, to whom -it had been assigned, still believed, in the months that followed, that -MacGregor had committed the murder. But where was the money and the -poke? Did the girl really know where Dewberry's gold was? If the theft -had actually been committed by MacGregor, why had he broken precedent -and remained in the North. - -At Frischette's stopping-place, two miles east of the Big Smoky River, -Rand heard again Fontaine's story of the drugged drink, together with -such other information as the two Frenchmen could supply. Both were of -the opinion that MacGregor, and no one else, had planned and executed -the crime. Frischette's voice came droning in his ears: - -"Zat girl she know well enough where money ees. Not crazy zat girl; ver' -clever, ver' clever." His low chuckling laugh gradually grew boisterous. -"What you think, Corporal, zat girl foolish enough to tell ze mounted -police ever'thing. Mebbe after while she go south too." - -Preoccupied as he was, Rand caught the significance of that last -statement. - -"Are _you_ going south, Frischette?" - -The Frenchman nodded. - -"Yesterday I sell my beezness. I haf done ver' well here, corporal." -Then his voice sank to a confidential whisper. "In ze las' two, tree, -four year I make much money--ver' much money. Now you wish me ze good -luck, corporal." - -"Good luck," said Rand, his brow wrinkling. "Yes. By the way, whom did -you sell to?" - -Frischette hesitated, his little eyes gleaming queerly. - -"I no sell exactly. I haf too much already--too much money. Fontaine ees -a good boy, monsieur. You understand--a good boy. He learn queek. He -deserve much from me. For a few hundred I sell heem my beeg beezness." - -Still thinking deeply, Corporal Rand walked outside and sat on a rough -bench in the warm spring sun. Why had MacGregor failed to go south if he -had really robbed Dewberry of his gold. Men with money travelled south -invariably. There was no other rule. It had seldom been broken. Why, -Frischette himself, who had made a lot of money during his stay in the -North, now contemplated going south to spend it. - -With a sudden exclamation, Rand jumped to his feet. No! The rule had -never been broken. MacGregor probably killed, but he never robbed -Dewberry. He wondered if the man who had robbed Dewberry was inside. - -"Frischette," said the mounted policeman a moment later, "I wish to ask -a favor of you." - -"Yes, monsieur." - -"You are going south?" - -"Yes, monsieur." - -"How soon?" - -"In ver' few days, corporal. Why you ask." - -"Because I may need your help. I am going to ask you to remain here for -a while. I shall ask you to stay here until I have recovered Dewberry's -gold." - -Rand watched the other closely. The eyes of the road-house keeper -narrowed slightly--but that was all. - -"Et ees as you say, monsieur." - -Then Frischette turned and walked back into the kitchen. - - - - - CHAPTER III - THREE NEW RECRUITS - - -One bright spring morning Corporal Rand arrived at Fort Good Faith. It -was somewhat off his regular route, but he had a purpose in mind. There -were three young men there he very much wished to see. One of them was -Dick Kent, the second, Sandy MacClaren, a nephew of the factor, and the -third, a young Indian, named Toma. On many occasions previously the -three boys had given unsparingly of their services. The police needed -their help now. - -Working on the Dewberry case, Corporal Rand had suddenly remembered -about the boys and had decided to call upon them for assistance. They -could help him in clearing up the mystery. All three were unknown to -Frischette. They might be able to secure valuable information he -couldn't obtain himself. So, immediately after his arrival, he summoned -the three boys and made known his plans. - -"I would suggest," he concluded, "that the three of you, masquerading as -young prospectors, drop into Frischette's place and remain there several -days on some pretext or other. You can say that you're waiting for -supplies, coming in by pack-train from Fort Good Faith. Cultivate -Frischette's acquaintance. Make friends with Fontaine, the half-breed -boy in his service. See how much information you can pick up about -Dewberry and 'Rat' MacGregor." - -"But do you really believe," Dick asked, "that Frischette knows any more -about the murder than he has already given out to you?" - -"I'm not sure." Corporal Rand pursed his lips. "But one thing is slowly -dawning upon me." - -"What?" asked Sandy breathlessly. - -"That MacGregor's wife was right, that MacGregor didn't take Dewberry's -money, or the small poke he had around his neck." - -"But if he didn't take it, who did?" Dick inquired. - -"Frischette himself might have taken it." - -"Surely MacGregor had something to do with it," argued Sandy. - -Corporal Rand rose and walked slowly across the floor to a little table, -where he helped himself to a glass of water. He turned and regarded the -boys thoughtfully. - -"Here is a supposition that may throw a little light on what actually -occurred. 'Rat' MacGregor, as we have reason to believe, was the first -person to have designs upon Dewberry. He planned the robbery. He drugged -his victim. Evidently murder did not enter into his calculations. When -all was still in the room, MacGregor crept over to Dewberry's bunk to -commit the robbery. - -"In some way his plans went wrong. Perhaps the drug had not proved -sufficiently potent. While taking the money and poke, let us say, -Dewberry woke up. Perhaps Dewberry made some slight exclamation or -sound, which terrified MacGregor and which also might have aroused some -other sleeper in that room. In desperation, we will assume, MacGregor -murdered Dewberry, but is surprised in the act by this other person who -had awakened. Just for the sake of my theory, we will say that that -person was Frischette, that in some way he got the 'drop' on MacGregor, -compelling him to hand over the money and poke and then forcing him to -leave the place immediately." - -"Yes, that is plausible," agreed Dick. "But why Frischette? There were -other persons in the room beside him. Why do you think that Frischette -may be the guilty one?" - -"Because Frischette is planning to leave the country. He claims that he -had made a lot of money up here, and is now giving his business to the -boy, Fontaine, for a small consideration. That in itself is suspicious. -Frischette's determination to go 'outside' surprised me because I -remember that, less than a year ago, he confided to me his intention to -build three new road-houses here in the North." - -"When is he planning to leave?" asked Sandy. - -Corporal Rand smiled reminiscently. - -"He expected to go this week, but he has changed his mind since my last -talk with him. As a personal favor to me, he has consented to postpone -his journey until this little mystery has been cleared up." - -"But do you think that Frischette is aware that you suspect him of the -theft?" - -"No, I believe not. I merely told him that he would be of invaluable -assistance to me in solving this case, and that the mounted police would -be deeply indebted to him if he would consent to remain here for a few -weeks longer." - -Dick and Sandy both laughed. - -"I'll bet he's worried stiff," grinned the latter, "that is, if he's -really the thief. By the way, corporal, how much money did this Dewberry -have in his possession at the time of the murder?" - -"There's no way of determining the exact amount," Rand answered. -"Probably several hundred dollars in cash." - -"I wouldn't think that that would be sufficient bait to tempt -MacGregor." - -"There was the poke. Don't forget that." - -"But you said it was a small one. Perhaps there wasn't more than a few -hundred dollars in nuggets and gold dust." - -"I'm not sure that it was gold." - -"What makes you say that?" - -"Well, it was a very small poke. That much I know. It was almost too -small for a prospector's pouch. As you have suggested, if it contained -nuggets, there would scarcely be a fortune there--hardly enough to tempt -MacGregor. MacGregor would never have taken the chance he did for the -small amount involved. He was naturally a coward, a sneaking human rat, -and only a big stake could have induced him to gather sufficient courage -to make the effort. After reasoning it all out, I have come to the -conclusion that MacGregor must have known what that poke contained: -Something infinitely more valuable than gold." - -"More valuable!" exclaimed Dick. - -"Yes. Why not? Precious stones--or a secret of some sort worth thousands -of dollars." - -Sandy sat up, clutching the sides of his chair. - -"I'll say this is getting interesting. You're arousing my curiosity, -corporal. I love a mystery." - -"Well, you have one here," smiled Rand. "The morning after the murder I -came to the conclusion that it would not be a very difficult case. -However, it seems that I was wrong. Apparently, 'Rat' MacGregor is not -the only person involved. Before we sift this thing to the bottom, we -may discover that many persons are implicated. It is one of the most -mysterious, unusual cases with which I have ever had to deal." - -"How do you purpose to work it all out?" - -"I'm almost wholly at a loss to know. I haven't a great deal to go on. -It occurred to me that you boys might be able to pick up information -that I couldn't get myself. You may be able to find a clew. In the -meantime, I'm going over to Crooked Stick River--the place where -Dewberry came from just before the murder--and question some of the -people there. Perhaps Dewberry had a friend or two in whom he confided. -Certain it is that the contents of that poke has been seen by someone. -Otherwise, to use a well known expression, MacGregor never would have -been 'tipped off.'" - -"Don't you suppose that Dewberry might have told MacGregor about his -secret?" asked Dick. - -"Scarcely likely. MacGregor was hardly the type of person in whom one -would confide. He was a notorious character here in the North. He had a -very unsavory reputation. At various times he had been implicated in -certain questionable undertakings, and once had served a term in jail." - -"You think, then, that MacGregor had been following Dewberry?" - -"Yes, awaiting his opportunity. He'd learned of the secret. But I'm -positive that Dewberry gave him no information at all." - -Thus far Toma, naturally reticent, had taken no part in the -conversation. He sat rigid in his chair, eyes wide with interest, -nothing escaping him. Suddenly he drawled forth: - -"When you want us go over this fellow Frischette's place?" he asked. - -"Tomorrow, if you will," answered the corporal. "Arrange to stay there -for three or four days. Then come back here to meet me." - -"I know this young fellow, Fontaine, you talk about," Toma informed -them. "One time we pretty good friends. We go to school one time at -Mission. If he know anything, me pretty sure him tell Toma." - -"Good!" exclaimed Corporal Rand. "I'm glad to hear that, Toma. Your -friendship with Fontaine may be the means of solving this mystery. If -Frischette is implicated, Fontaine must be aware of it." - -The policeman rose to his feet again. - -"Well, I guess you understand what's to be done. If you'll excuse me, -I'll hurry away now. I want to see Inspector Cameron for a few minutes -before I go on to the Crooked Stick." - -He turned and shook hands with each of the boys in turn. - -"Well, good luck to you. I hope you'll like your new role of police -detectives. When you return, you'll probably find me here awaiting you." - -On the evening of the following day, the three boys, dressed for the -part, arrived at Frischette's road-house. It had been a warm afternoon -and the boys were weary as they rode up to the well known stopping place -and slowly dismounted. Sandy paused to wipe the perspiration from his -face. - -"We're here--" he announced, "mosquitos and all." He looked curiously -about him. "So this is the famous stopping-place. I've often heard of -it. It's one of the largest road-houses north of the Peace River. They -say that Frischette is an interesting character. He's lived in the North -a good many years." - -Sandy's observations were cut short by the appearance of two young -half-breeds, who sauntered over in their direction. Toma gave vent to an -exclamation, dropped the reins over his pony's head and advanced quickly -to meet them. - -"One of them must be Fontaine," guessed Sandy. - -"But he knows them both," observed Dick. - -Immediately Toma and his two friends approached and introductions took -place. - -"This him fellow," Toma was explicit, "my friend, Pierre Fontaine. This -other fellow, also my friend, Martin Le Sueur. He come long way this -morning to be with Pierre. Mebbe after while they be partners an' buy -Frischette's business." - -Both Le Sueur and Fontaine spoke very little English, so the -conversation that ensued, a lively one, was carried on in Cree. While it -was taking place, the boys put up their ponies and walked back in the -direction of the hostelry. No sooner had they entered, than Frischette, -with his usual hospitality, came forward to bid them welcome. As he did -so, Dick gave him the benefit of a close scrutiny. - -He was a little man, dark, vivacious--typically French. Yet his lively -features showed the unmistakable Indian strain of his mixed origin. He -conducted the boys to the dining room, talking as he went. - -"Very hungry you must be, monsieurs. Sit down for a moment. We have -plenty to eat here. I myself will serve you. Baked whitefish from ze -water only an hour. Brown bread which I bake with my own hands. Then -there ees coffee an' a sweet pastry, monsieurs." - -"I was hungry, but I'm famished now after hearing all that," Sandy -declared. "You are very generous, Mr. Frischette." - -"Et ees nothing." The Frenchman waved his arms deprecatingly. "I like et -you come here once in a while during thees lonesome summer to make ze -company. I am glad to learn that you are friends of thees ver' good boy, -Fontaine." - -Their welcome had been so whole-hearted and spontaneous that Dick did -not, even for a moment, believe that Frischette's manner was assumed. In -spite of himself, he was drawn toward the vivacious, hospitable -Frenchman. A capital host! It was difficult to see how Corporal Rand -could harbor suspicion against such a person. The genial road-house -keeper had none of the characteristics nor any of the appearances of a -criminal. - -That was Dick's first impression of the man. Nor did he stand alone in -this respect. Sandy, too, had been impressed favorably. Just before -retiring for the night, the young Scotchman whispered in his chum's ear: - -"Look here, Dick, if you want my honest opinion, I think we've come on a -wild goose chase. I believe Corporal Rand is wrong. After seeing and -talking with this man Frischette, I'm absolutely certain that he's -innocent. Someone else is the guilty person." - -"I can't help thinking that too," Dick replied. "If looks and actions -are not deceiving, Frischette is innocent. I doubt if he knows any more -about the case than he's already told Rand. Just the same, we'll remain -here and follow the corporal's instructions." - -"Just wasting time," grumbled Sandy. - -Suddenly, they were aware of a presence near them. Both looked up -quickly and a little guiltily, expecting to see Frischette himself. -Instead it was Toma--Toma, a curious expression on his face, the light -of excitement in his eyes. - -"Sandy, Dick," he announced breathlessly, "you come with me. I find out -something important to tell you!" - - - - - CHAPTER IV - FRISCHETTE'S MONEY BOX - - -Toma led Sandy and Dick to the seclusion of a poplar grove, a few rods -away from the house. His manner was mysterious. That he had come in -possession of information of extreme importance, neither of his two -friends could doubt. The young Indian's eyes fairly snapped, as he -motioned Dick and Sandy to be seated, he himself taking a position near -them. Sprawling out on the soft turf, he began eagerly: - -"I think better we come to this place, where no one hear us. I just find -out something about Frischette. Fontaine tell me. Good news for the -mounted police." - -"I hope you didn't tell your friend what we were here for," interrupted -Dick. "We mustn't take anyone into our confidence." - -"I no tell him that," Toma assured him. "All I do is ask once in a while -few questions 'bout Frischette. Then my friend, Fontaine, him talk. Tell -'em me all 'bout murder. He think MacGregor get money all right, an' -hide it away somewhere before police catch him. Never once it come in my -friend's mind that mebbe Frischette take the money an' the poke himself. -Frischette, he say, is good man, but very queer fellow. Once in a while -he do queer things--things Fontaine not understand. Every few days he -get out all his money, take it to room where he sleep, lock door, an' -begin count many, many times. Over an' over he count all his money 'til -he get tired, then he take an' put it back in box an' walk outside an' -find another good place to hide it." - -"A miser!" gasped Sandy. - -"I don't know what you call him. But Frischette very queer that way. -Fontaine 'fraid to ask him any questions or make talk when Frischette -like that, because he act like crazy an' swear an' beat Fontaine with a -big stick if he say too much." - -"The mere fact that Frischette is a miser, Toma," Sandy pointed out, -"doesn't necessarily imply that he's also a thief. If he wants to hide -his money and gloat over it, that's his own privilege." - -Toma nodded. - -"Yes, I know that. But Fontaine tell me something that make me think -that mebbe Frischette steal money too." - -"Is that so? What did he say?" - -"He say," Toma hurried on, "that two times last winter a very queer -thing happen. First time he wake up at night an' hear someone walking in -room, where all the men sleep. Next morning one man him say he lost all -his money. Frischette feel very bad an' give man mebbe ten dollars an' -say how sorry he is that once in a while thief comes like that in his -house." - -"So next time," continued the young Indian, "when Fontaine hear someone -walk again in middle of the night, he go quick as he can to Frischette's -room, an' he very much surprise when he see no one sleep in Frischette's -bed. Quick he go back again to room, an' all at once he meet Frischette -coming out." - -"'What you do here?'" Frischette say. - -"'I hear noise,' Fontaine tell him, 'an' I go to wake you up.' - -"'I hear noise too,' Frischette say, 'so I come in here to find out -mebbe another bad thief come,' he say. - -"Next morning, sure enough, two men lose all their money, an' Frischette -very sorry again an' say bad things 'bout thief an' give each man ten -dollars." - -"It does look suspicious," mused Dick. - -"Something of a coincidence," agreed Sandy. - -They sat for a short time deep in thought. Sandy got out his knife and -began whittling a stick. Dick's gaze wandered thoughtfully away to the -fringe of woodland opposite. - -"It might not be very difficult," he broke forth suddenly, "to determine -beyond the shadow of a doubt whether or not Frischette is a thief. In -fact, I have a plan. We might try it." - -"What is your plan?" asked Sandy. - -"We'll lay a trap for him. Between us we can scrape up a little roll of -money, and we'll use that as bait. I'll pull it out of my pocket when -he's looking, and pretend I'm counting it." - -"Yes, yes! Go on." - -"I'll return the money to the inside pocket of my coat while he's still -watching me. At night, when he comes into the room, I'll throw my coat -carelessly over a chair." - -"Look here," objected Sandy, a wry smile on his face, "I don't think we -have fifty dollars between us. Hardly an impressive roll, is it?" - -Dick grinned. "I can easily remedy that." - -As he spoke, he pulled from his pocket a number of old envelopes, -containing letters, wadded them together and then began wrapping crisp -new bills around them. With the acquisition of the bank notes Toma and -Sandy gave him, the dummy had grown to noble proportions. The boys -laughed gleefully over the subterfuge. - -A short time later, returning to the house, Dick awaited his -opportunity. Frischette was nowhere to be seen, when first they entered, -but presently a noise at the back attracted their attention and -immediately afterward Frischette came through the door, leading into the -kitchen, carrying a box under his arm. - -Dick and Sandy exchanged significant glances. Both recalled what Toma -had told them regarding that box. Also they observed the inexplicable -change that had come over their host. His animation and vivacity were -gone. From under their shaggy brows his dark eyes darted glances from -right to left--the look of a maniac or insane person. Without even a -nod, he passed by the three boys and entered his own room. - -"Got 'em again," whispered Sandy, much taken aback. "Not a very good -time for the working out of our plan, is it? He's deeply engrossed in -that mysterious box by this time." - -"We'd better try it out on him tomorrow," decided Dick. "He'll be in -there several hours, and it will probably take him another hour to find -a new hiding place for his precious treasure chest. It's getting late -now. We ought to be in bed." - -The boys went over and sat down on a long bench near the fireplace and -began idly to take mental inventory of the room. Bear skins hung from -the wall. In the center of the room stood a long rough board table, -covered with a somewhat frayed and tattered cloth. Above the mantel were -several firearms of various caliber and design. - -Suddenly, Sandy leaned forward and clapped Dick on the knee. - -"Dick, I have an idea. Just for the fun of it, let's follow the old -rascal and find out where he hides that box." - -Dick looked at the other dubiously. - -"Well," he hesitated. "I don't know. It seems like meddling to -me--prying into something that doesn't concern us." - -"Wait a moment, Dick. Is it really meddling? For the sake of argument, -suppose that box contained Dewberry's poke and money. We already have a -suspicion that such may be the case. Why wouldn't we be justified in -following him, when he leaves his room, and attempt to find where he -hides the box?" - -"But surely you wouldn't open it?" - -"Why not? I don't think I would have any scruples about that. Remember -you are dealing with a crook." - -"Are we?" argued Dick. "What makes you so sure? We have proved nothing -against him. Neither has Corporal Rand. He may be entirely innocent." - -Sandy lifted his shoulders in a gesture of impatience. - -"I'm afraid you'd make a poor detective. You're too honest, too -cautious." He paused, looked up and grinned. "Can you picture a -case-hardened police officer or the average sleuth passing up such an -opportunity? Candidly now?" - -Dick was forced to admit that his chum was right. "I'll grant you," he -smiled, "that no one, working on a case like this, ought to have trouble -with his conscience." - -"No, he shouldn't. As long as we are in the business, we might as well -conduct ourselves like real detectives." - -"All right, you can have your way this time. We'll follow Frischette. -We'll even pry open the box if you say so." - -A shadow flickered across Sandy's forehead. - -"But supposing the box is locked. There's a possibility that hadn't -occurred to me. We'd be in a difficult position, wouldn't we, if we -broke it open and found that there was nothing there to incriminate him? -Frischette would see that the box had been tampered with. He'd guess -that one of us, you, Toma or I, had opened it, or possibly he might -suspect Fontaine or Le Sueur." - -"If the box is locked," reasoned Dick, "there is a key to open it." - -"Yes--and he probably carries it around his neck. Fine chance we'd have -getting it from him." - -Their whispered conversation was interrupted at this juncture by the -creak of a door opening, and the sound of footsteps along the floor. -Startled, the boys looked up, just as Frischette came into the room -where they were, the box under his arm. He had come sooner than they had -expected. Again the boys noticed his strange behaviour. Some sudden -impulse induced Dick to accost him. - -"Mr. Frischette, may I trouble you for a moment." He attempted to -control the quaver in his voice. "We--Sandy, Toma and I--have been -wondering about our bill. If you don't mind, we'd like to pay you." - -Frischette's face recovered some of its former cheerfulness. - -"Ah, monsieurs, surely you are not to go so soon. Did you not tell me -zat you stay here for three, four day yet. I will be ver' sorry ef you -go now." - -"But we have no intention of going now," Dick enlightened him. "We -merely wish to pay you in advance." - -The Frenchman's dark face brightened. He watched Dick reach in his -pocket and pull forth a huge roll of bills. At sight of it, his eyes -gleamed and sparkled with envy. - -"If you weesh, monsieur. But et ees not necessary. Ze amount ees twenty -dollars for ze three of you." - -Dick fondled the heavy roll, slowly peeling off the required amount. He -was watching the roadhouse keeper and noticed with satisfaction the -effect the money had upon him. To his surprise, Frischette said: - -"Ees not monsieur leetle careless to carry roun' so ver' much money? Are -you not afraid zat thief will take et or else you lose et from your -pocket?" - -Dick pooh-poohed the idea, laughed, and with a sly look at Sandy, thrust -the roll carelessly in the inside pocket of his coat. Frischette -followed every move. His eyes seemed to burn into Dick's pockets. A look -of greed so transformed his features that for a time Dick could scarcely -believe that this was the genial, obliging host of the previous -afternoon. - -When he had received the twenty dollars, Frischette had found it -necessary to put down the square box, containing his treasure. He had -placed it on the table at his elbow with his right arm flung out across -it. Not once did he move from this position. While Dick was carrying out -his part of the prearranged plan, Sandy also was busy. He moved to the -opposite side of the table, in order to get a better view of the box. -What he wanted to find out was whether or not it was locked. - -Not until Frischette was in the act of picking up the box, preparing to -go, was Sandy able to determine about the lock. A key would not be -necessary. The small but formidable-looking chest could easily be -opened. Sandy smiled to himself. - -All that remained to be done now, he reasoned, was to follow Frischette -and learn where he kept his treasure. Then, when the opportunity arose, -they would ransack the box. It would not take long to solve the mystery -surrounding Dewberry's priceless poke. - - - - - CHAPTER V - A MIDNIGHT PROWLER - - -To follow a man through Arctic twilight, to slink from tree to tree and -cover to cover, to keep hid always and make very little sound--is not an -easy accomplishment. At least, the three boys found that it was not. -They stole stealthily along about fifty yards behind Frischette, -attempting to keep within that distance, neither advancing too quickly -nor too slowly. - -The wood they had entered was exceedingly dense, in places almost -impassable. Underbrush grew so thick that it choked out even the grass. -So thick indeed was the undergrowth, through which Frischette hurried, -that it was utterly impossible always to keep within sight of him. Now -and again they would see his hurrying form, only to lose it a moment -later. Sometimes the crackling of the underbrush would reveal his -whereabouts. At other times the boys would be in doubt as to where he -was, and would come to the conclusion that perhaps they had lost him. -Then they would hesitate about pressing on for fear that they might walk -boldly out in plain view of him. - -Yet always they contrived to pick up his trail, either by finding his -footprints or by hearing some slight sound ahead. As they continued -their pursuit, their astonishment grew. Why did the Frenchman seek out a -hiding place so far from the house? Had his greed completely unseated -his mind? Already, Dick estimated, they had come at least two miles, and -yet Frischette showed no sign of stopping. He was walking at a furious -pace now, his nimble legs darting along over the uncarpeted forest path. -He hugged his treasure-box to him and fairly plunged through thicket and -across the open spaces, occasionally muttering to himself. - -To the boys' amazement, the chase ended abruptly. They had come out to a -small clearing in which stood a cabin. Frischette's fingers stole to his -lips and a peculiarly soft, bird-like whistle sounded through the -forest. Then the Frenchman remained standing where he was until the door -opened and a slouching figure emerged. - -At sight of the occupant of the cabin, the boys gasped in wonder. Never -before had they seen so unusual a person. He was bent and old, and -hobbled as he walked, in one hand a cane to guide him. His head was -hatless, covered with a thick, straggling crop of hair, some of which -fluttered into his face and over his shoulders. His beard was long and -heavy--of a peculiar reddish tinge, streaked with gray. - -He approached Frischette, pausing a few feet from him, and looked up at -his visitor with eyes that peeped out from the shadowed depressions -between his beard and eyebrows like two black beads. The Frenchman was -the first to speak: - -"I bring back ze box again, M'sieur Creel. You will take et an' watch -over et. You are a faithful guardian, my friend. I weesh to compliment -you. Ever'zing ees here: ze money, ze treasure--ever'zing." - -The stranger spoke in a voice so low that, from their hiding place, the -boys could make out but a few words. Frischette spoke again: - -"Et ees tonight." - -The old man shook his head vigorously, gesturing with his hands. The -Frenchman raised his voice: "Et ees tonight, I tell you. You will do as -I say." - -This time they heard the protest: - -"No, no; I cannot come. Tonight I have other work. I cannot be there. I -refuse to do as you wish, Frischette, even for the sake of gain." - -The Frenchman's face grew suddenly crimson with fury. He stooped and -picked up a club, advancing threateningly. - -"I see 'bout that," he fairly shouted. "I see 'bout that pretty queek. -You try fail me, m'sieur, I make you sorry." - -The other did not blink. He faced his antagonist calmly, scornfully, -presently breaking into an amused chuckle. - -"You couldn't hurt a fly. You are a coward, Frischette. I, an old man, -have far more courage than you." - -The road-house keeper's sudden flare of fury quickly burned out. He -dropped his club and stepped back several paces, hugging his treasure to -him. Before the unwavering gaze of the old man he was helpless, and -possibly a little afraid. He glanced about sullenly. - -"All right, et ees your own broth you brew, monsieur. I shall keep ze -box. Et ees all mine. Do you hear? Et ees mine." - -"Faugh! A bluff! You wouldn't dare. I ask you to try it." - -The Frenchman clutched the box still more tightly. - -"Et ees mine," he persisted stubbornly. - -"You try it," warned the other. - -"No more will I come to you," Frischette informed him. "We are through. -I shall keep ze box." - -"Fool!" cried the other in vexation, beginning to relent "I suppose that -I must humor you always. Very well, it shall be as you say. I give you -my promise. But it will cost you a pretty penny this time." - -Suddenly they began to barter. - -"Half," said the Frenchman. - -"Two-thirds," insisted the man with the beard. - -Frischette gave vent to a shriek of anguish. - -"Two-thirds," he howled. "What? Are you crazy? I will not leesen to zat. -Et ees outrageous, m'sieur." - -Sandy poked Dick cautiously in the ribs. - -"Both mad!" he announced. "Can you make anything out of that gibberish? -What are they talking about?" - -"I'll confess," Dick whispered, "that I'm at a loss to know." - -In the end, the two conspirators came to an agreement - -"One-half it shall be," they heard the old man mutter. - -Having won his point, Frischette beamed. He thrust the box into the -other's hands. - -"Take et, m'sieur. I am sorry ef I speak cross. We must be friends. We -must understand each other. En a ver' few weeks we go to Edmonton an' we -shall be rich, m'sieur." - -Creel grumbled something through his beard, seized the box with eager -hands and half-turned as if to depart. - -"Tonight then?" - -"Yes, tonight." - -The boys scrambled back quickly, for Frischette was beginning his -journey homeward. A moment later, from the deep shadow of a heavy -thicket, they watched him pass. He was shaking his head and talking to -himself in a complaining undertone. Not long afterward he had -disappeared in the tangle of greenery, and over the woodland there -settled a deep and impressive silence. Dick looked at Sandy and Toma and -smiled. - -"The farther we go into this thing, the stranger and more perplexing it -becomes. I wonder who that man is? In what way is he associated with -Frischette? Why is he guarding the box? Now what do you suppose they -were arguing about?" - -"I can't imagine," answered Sandy. "What do you think, Toma?" - -The Indian youth rose and broke off a twig from a branch above his head. - -"I think him bad fellow just like Frischette." - -"Yes," agreed Sandy, "probably his accomplice." - -"It doesn't look as if we would open that box now," grimaced Dick. - -"Not unless we overpower the old man." - -Dick too arose, glancing back at the cabin. - -"I'd like to think it over before we attempt it. Possibly some plan may -occur to us tomorrow. At present we'd better go back to the road-house -before Frischette becomes suspicious. I wouldn't be in the least -surprised if he attempts to relieve me of that roll tonight." - -"I can agree with you there," said Sandy. "Did you notice his eyes when -you pulled it from your pocket?" - -"Yes." Dick smiled at the memory. - -They started back along the trail, for a time walking in silence. -Presently, however, Sandy turned toward Dick, his face thoughtful. - -"Supposing," he inquired, "that Frischette really does attempt the -robbery tonight. What will we do? Let him have the money? Or do you want -to catch him in the act?" - -"We'll let him have it." - -"But there's nearly sixty dollars of our money. I'm not so rich that--" - -"We'll get it back somehow, Sandy," Dick interrupted. "The police will -see to that. I've marked the bills so that we can identify them." - -"Good!" - -"We'd better remain awake, all of us," continued Dick. "I'll take the -lower bunk in the corner near the door. You can sleep in the upper one. -Toma can occupy the lower bunk next to mine. Just before we retire, -while Frischette is still in the room, I'll remove my coat and throw it -over the back of a chair." - -"We'll all keep perfectly still," said Sandy, "when he enters the room. -Remember, Toma, that you are not to make any effort to stop him." - -The young Indian nodded: - -"Yes, I understand. Me do nothing." - -Later, when they had retired for the night, they were in an excited -frame of mind. Had they been ever so tired, it is doubtful whether they -would have been able to relax for sleep. Dick lay, facing the doorway, -so that he could command a view of the entire room. Frischette's -sleeping apartment, almost directly opposite, opened on to the large -bunk-hall they occupied. If the Frenchman planned to take the roll, it -would be necessary for him to pass through the doorway, directly across -from Dick, and steal stealthily along the row of bunks to the chair, -over which Dick had carelessly flung his coat. - -The bunk-hall was shrouded in a partial darkness. Outside the night was -clear, and a half-moon rode through a sky sprinkled with stars. To the -ears of the boys, as they lay quietly awaiting the Frenchman's coming, -there floated through the open windows the droning sounds of the forest. -An owl hooted from some leafy canopy. The weird, mournful cries of a -night-bird, skimming along the tree tops, could be heard distinctly. The -curtain, draping the window on the west side of the room, fluttered -softly as it caught the rippling, nocturnal breeze. - -As time passed, Dick became conscious of an increasing nervous tension -and restlessness. He found it difficult to lay still. He turned from -side to side. The strain upon his eyes from watching the door so -continuously had caused a blur to appear before them, and only with -difficulty could he make out the various objects in the room. Time and -time again, he imagined he could hear a slight sound coming from -Frischette's apartment. Yet, as he lay there and the door did not open, -he realized that he must have been mistaken. - -At length he decided that the road-house keeper would make no effort to -come that night. Reasoning thus, he lay very still, his eyes closed, -drowsiness stealing over him. Through his mind there flashed confused -pictures of the day's happenings. In imagination, he was threading a -woodland path, following the fleeing form of a man, who clutched to him -a mysterious wooden box. Again he saw the angry, distorted face of -Frischette, who was standing there, one arm raised threateningly above -the stooped form and uncovered head of Creel--the queer old recluse. - -Tossing restlessly, his eyes came back to the door, and suddenly his -nerves grew taut. The door, he perceived, was now slightly ajar. It was -opening slowly. A few inches at a time it swung back, and at length a -muffled form stood framed in the doorway, then moved noiselessly nearer. -Unerringly, it padded across the floor, straight towards Dick's bunk. It -paused near the chair, scarcely four feet from where Dick lay. - -With difficulty, Dick suppressed a cry. The skulking, shadowy form was -not that of Frischette--but Creel! Creel, a horrible, repellent figure -in the half-darkness. Long, straggling locks of hair fell over his eyes, -while the heavy beard formed a mask for his repulsive face. Dick could -almost imagine that he could see Creel's deep-set eyes shining from -their sockets. They were like those of a cat. - -Previously it had been agreed between the three boys that in the event -of Frischette entering the room and attempting to steal the money, no -effort would be made to prevent him. Now Creel, and not Frischette, was -about to commit the crime. For some unknown reason Dick felt that he -could not lay there inactive. Resentment and anger suddenly burned -within him. As Creel cautiously lifted up his coat, Dick found himself -sitting bolt upright, and, to his amazement, heard himself shout out: -"Drop that coat if you don't wish to get in trouble. Drop it, I say!" - -Creel started so quickly, dropped the coat so suddenly, that the chair -overturned and crashed to the floor. There came the sound of moccasined -feet pattering away! Dick had sprung from his bunk, as had also Sandy -and Toma. For a time confusion and excitement reigned. Frischette -appeared in the doorway, and upon his heels came Fontaine and Le Sueur, -rubbing their eyes. - -"What ees ze matter?" Frischette inquired in a frightened voice. "What -has happen?" - -"Someone came in here a moment ago," cried Dick angrily, "and tried to -steal my money. I tell you, Frischette, the thief is in this house!" - - - - - CHAPTER VI - NEW COMPLICATIONS - - -Not until the following morning did the boys have a chance to discuss -the happenings of the previous night. Over the breakfast table, Dick was -the cynosure of two hostile pair of eyes--those of Sandy and Toma. It -was quite evident that Dick's chums were not satisfied with the outcome -of the night's adventures. Sandy, in particular, could scarcely contain -himself. He kept glowering at his friend over his coffee and bacon, and -Dick could see that a lecture was forthcoming. However, Sandy did not -get his chance until nearly an hour later, when the three boys left the -dining room for a turn in the open air. Scarcely were they outside, when -Sandy broke forth petulantly: - -"Look here, Dick, I must say that you followed out our agreement to the -letter. What did you mean by crying out like that, after it had been -decided to let Frischette walk away with the money?" - -"But it wasn't Frischette," Dick defended himself. - -"Wasn't Frischette. What do you mean? Of course, it was Frischette. I -saw him with my own eyes." - -"It was Creel." - -"Creel!" - -"Yes, that fellow who took the box from the Frenchman yesterday." - -Sandy whistled softly. - -"So that's their game. Creel is Frischette's confederate. I can see it -all now." - -"That's the way I have it all figured out too. Frischette is the man who -plans all the robberies and Creel is the one who executes them." - -Dick paused and leaned against the trunk of a huge jack-pine, -contemplatively regarding his two chums. - -"It means we have two persons instead of one to deal with. The -treasure-box they keep between them. Each probably has an equal interest -in it. I wish there was some way we could get hold of it." - -"Mebbe that not be so very hard," Toma suddenly interjected. "One night -we go over to Creel's cabin an' find it sure. I think I know how we get -it without much trouble." - -"How?" demanded Sandy. - -"You remember yesterday when Frischette come close to Creel's cabin he -stop in the brush an' make 'em noise for him to come out. Well, one of -us do same like that while other two hide close to cabin. When Creel -come out, thinking it Frischette, good chance go get box. What you say?" - -"A good plan, certainly," criticised Dick, "only how are we going to -imitate that peculiar, mysterious whistle. I'm sure I couldn't." - -"I couldn't either," declared Sandy. - -Toma put two fingers to his mouth and blew softly. It was an excellent -imitation of the sound the boys had heard on the previous day, and both -Dick and Sandy clapped their hands in delight. - -"You're good!" Sandy exclaimed. "I'm proud of you. How can you manage to -do it, after hearing it only once?" - -"I hear it many times," flushed the young Indian. "You see, there is -bird that hide deep in the woods that make 'em call like that. -Frischette, jus' like me, try make sound like that bird." - -"We'll go tonight," exulted Dick. - -The other two nodded in agreement. - -"Ten o'clock will be a good time," Sandy suggested. "Dick and I will -enter the cabin, while you, Toma, practice your wiles upon the thieving -Mr. Creel. Lead him away from the cabin as far as you can, so that we'll -have plenty of time to look around. We may have some trouble in finding -the place where he has hid the box." - -The boys had worked themselves up to a high pitch of excitement long -before the time appointed for setting out on their night's adventure. In -order not to arouse Frischette's suspicions, should he discover their -absence, they had informed him that they were planning to go over to -Lake Grassy Point, a distance of about eight miles, and visit the Indian -encampment there. Fontaine and Le Sueur, they explained, would accompany -them too, and he, Frischette, must not worry if they were late in -getting back. - -To their surprise, the arrangement met with the Frenchman's immediate -approval. - -"Et ees good you go," he told them. "You young fellow get ver' tired -stay one place all ze time." Then he sighed regretfully. "Ver' often I -weesh I might be young too. Always go, always have good time. Et ees ze -great fun, monsieurs." - -Dick's brow contracted thoughtfully. Did Frischette contemplate a visit -to Creel himself? Had the Frenchman a plan of his own? - -"Just our luck," Dick told Sandy a few minutes later, "if the old rascal -decides to visit Creel tonight. We've gone to a lot of trouble already." - -The young Scotchman slapped irritably at a mosquito that had lit upon -his arm. - -"Yes, it was necessary to take Fontaine and Le Sueur more or less into -our confidence. That's one phase of the thing I don't like. Those two -friends of Toma's know we're up to something. All I hope is, that -they'll have sense enough to keep their mouths shut. If Frischette ever -gets an inkling that we're watching him, the game's up." - -"But Fontaine and Le Sueur haven't the least idea what we purpose to -do," said Dick. "Neither one of them knows that we're spying upon -Frischette." - -"Yes, but they'll think it's queer that we're deceiving him. They'll -wonder why we have lied to him, want them to go to the encampment while -we remain behind." - -"You don't need to worry about that, Sandy. You may depend upon it that -Toma has made our proposed actions seem very plausible." - -Sandy grinned. - -"Toma probably has told them a wonderful story. I'll agree with you -there. He certainly possesses a keen imagination." - -Dick consulted his watch. - -"It's twenty minutes past nine now. I think, Sandy, we'd better go back -to the house and find Toma and the others. It'll be time to start before -long." - -They hurried along the path, and a few minutes later entered the house, -where they were joined by Toma and his two friends. Soon afterward, -Frischette strode into the room, carrying his coat and hat. - -"I go with you a leetle way," he announced. "All day long I work in ze -kitchen, where et ees hot. I think ze night air mebbe make me feel -good." - -Dick glanced sharply across at Sandy, keen disappointment depicted in -his gaze. The Frenchman's announcement had taken him completely by -surprise. The situation was awkward. - -"Why not come all the way to the encampment with us," invited Dick. -"We'll be glad to have you." - -Frischette threw up his hands in a gesture of dismay. - -"All zat way! Empossible! Et ees too far, monsieur. I am too tired. -Eight miles there an' back an' ze brush tangle in my poor tired legs. -No, I will go only a ver' short way." - -So Frischette, much to the boys' disappointment, accompanied them. He -chatted as they walked, continually gesturing, often stopping abruptly -in his tracks to point out some inconsequential object. - -Never before had Dick been given so excellent an opportunity to study -the man. He was slightly amused at the Frenchman's queer antics. He -would become intensely enthusiastic over the merest trifles--a bright -flower, a sparkling stone, a gnarled, misshapen tree. - -A person of moods and impulses, Dick decided, watching him. Sometimes he -wondered if Frischette were not assuming a certain behavior for their -special benefit. What was his real purpose in coming with them? -Certainly it was not because he really wanted the exercise and fresh -air. More likely, he intended to go over to visit Creel. - -Their course to Grassy Point Lake led them in the general direction of -Creel's cabin. When the Frenchman bade them adieu and turned back, Dick -estimated that they had still about two miles farther to go before they -would be directly opposite the abiding place of the mysterious recluse. -Realizing this, his previous conviction that Frischette was really going -there became shaken. Perhaps, after all, the road-house keeper had told -the truth, was actually going back as he said. - -Even if the man planned to strike off obliquely through the woods to -Creel's, hope of obtaining possession of the box was not altogether -lost. They might still turn the trick that same night, if only they -hurried. By running part of the way, they would arrive at the cabin -sufficiently in advance of Frischette to achieve their purpose. With -this thought in mind, Dick, after waving a friendly farewell to the -unsuspecting Frenchman, led the party forward quickly until a turn in -the trail obscured their movements. Then, breaking into a run, he darted -along the shadowy forest path, motioning the others to follow. - -Ten minutes later, the three boys drew away from Fontaine and Le Sueur, -striking off at right angle with the dim trail to Grassy Point Lake, and -continued their hurried course straight in the direction of the lonely -cabin. As they proceeded on their way, excitement, caused by the thought -of their coming adventure, grew upon them. They were shaky and nervous -when they finally drew up in front of a thick screen of underbrush, less -than sixty yards from the house. Dick motioned to Toma. - -"Hurry around toward the front of the cabin," he whispered tersely, "and -give your bird-call." - -"Sure you all ready?" inquired the young Indian. - -"Yes, all ready." - -"I go then." - -Without further word, Toma slunk forward, skirted the line of underbrush -and presently disappeared from view. - - - - - CHAPTER VII - THE MYSTERIOUS POKE - - -Dick and Sandy waited breathlessly. Thus far, no sound had come to them. -The forest was pervaded by a silence so deep and oppressive that the two -boys, waiting for Toma's mysterious call, could hear the thumping of -their own hearts. They had crept forward through the dense thicket to a -point where, though still concealed themselves, they could see the cabin -plainly. In the sombre northern twilight its every detail stood clearly -revealed--the low, grass-grown sod roof, the tiny window and the crude, -rough door. - -The boys found it difficult to restrain their gathering impatience. What -was Toma doing? Chafing over the delay, they crouched low, their gaze -sweeping the tiny clearing ahead. On Dick's forehead beads of -perspiration gathered slowly, while the palms of his hands were moist -and warm. - -"Can't imagine what's happened to him," Sandy croaked in Dick's ear. -"What's he waiting for? What's got into him, anyway? First thing we -know, Frischette'll be here--and it'll be too late." - -Dick did not reply. Just then he thought he had heard a slight sound in -the brush, directly in front of the house. Excitedly, he reached forward -and seized Sandy's right arm. - -"Ssh!" he whispered. "Keep still. Just look over there." - -Following his friend's instructions, Sandy looked and immediately his -mouth gaped open, and he emitted a startled gasp. - -Two men plunged out into the open--rough, desperate, evil-looking men, -who made their way stealthily forward. Each carried a knife and revolver -at his belt. One was tall and sinewy, the other short and thin. The tall -man proceeded ahead with long awkward strides, while the little man at -his side pranced along, like a small boy attempting to keep pace with -his elder. - -Of the two, the face of the smaller man was, if such a thing were -possible, more sinister, malevolent and wicked than that of the other. -His features were twisted in an expression that was both horrible and -repellent. It was as if he had been overcome by some violent emotion: -rage that hungered for revenge, or cruelty inflamed by avarice. In all -their experience, the boys had never encountered a more terrifying pair. -The very sight of them caused Dick and Sandy to shiver and draw back in -a sudden panic. - -"Ho-hope they don't come this way," shuddered Sandy. - -"Toma saw them before we did," whispered Dick. "That's why he didn't -attempt that call. Who do you suppose they are?" - -In terror, Sandy shook his head. - -"Keep down," he trembled, "or they may see us." - -Dick grew suddenly tense. The two men had reached the door of the cabin, -and for a brief moment stood undecided. Then the tall man raised a -gnarled hand and struck the door so violently and unexpectedly that -Sandy and Dick both jumped back, as if they, instead of the rough pine -barrier, had received the full impact of that mighty blow. - -The echo had scarcely subsided, when the tall man struck again. - -"Open up! Open up!" he thundered. "Creel, open up this yere door." - -The door swung back on its rusty hinges, and then the boys saw Creel -framed in the aperture. But it was a different Creel than the man they -had seen previously. He looked much older. The stoop to his shoulders -was more noticeable. A pathetic figure now, a terror-struck human -derelict. At the very best he could offer but feeble resistance to these -two terrible fellows, who had come storming and raging upon him. - -"Guess yuh know what we've come fer, Creel," the little man snarled. -"Yuh can guess, can't yuh? Quick now, an' bring it out. We're in a -hurry, I tell yuh. Quick!" - -Creel made the fatal mistake of pretending he did not know what the -other was talking about. He raised a trembling hand. - -"If you'll explain a little more clearly, gentlemen, what you want -I'll--" - -The sentence was not completed. The tall man reached out with one arm -and caught Creel about the neck. Scarcely seeming to exert himself, he -lifted him completely off his feet, holding him dangling--head pressed -back against the frame of the door. For a brief moment the body of the -recluse remained pinioned there, then was suddenly released and fell -with a muffled thud across the threshold. - -Dick and Sandy, who had been silent witnesses of the drama unrolling -before their eyes, caught their breath in anger. Much as they despised -and feared Creel, the unwarranted brutality of the tall man caused them -to experience a feeling of sympathy for the helpless old recluse. Dick's -hand flashed to the revolver at his belt, and he had half-started to his -feet, when Sandy drew him back. - -"Don't be foolish, Dick," he trembled. "Keep out of this. We can -accomplish more by remaining right here where we are. Look!" - -Creel had stumbled dazedly to his feet, gripping the door for support. - -"Now," declared the little man grimly, "I guess yuh understand. Bring it -out." - -Creel staggered inside and appeared, a short time later, carrying the -box. Both men made a grab for it, but the smaller was the quicker of the -two. He flung open the lid of the small treasure-chest and both he and -his companion pawed through it excitedly, their faces distorted with -greed. - -Dick and Sandy, who were watching events with wide-open eyes, were -wholly unprepared for the next step in the little drama. In a sudden -fury of disappointment, the little man raised the box and sent it -crashing to the floor. His expression was awful to behold, his eyes like -two bright coals of fire. Nor did his companion contain himself much -better. With an oath, he spurned the box at his feet, sending it flying -within the room. His cheeks were livid. - -"It ain't here, Emery!" he almost screamed. "It ain't here! That squaw -lied to us. We're done for. MacGregor got it after all!" - -But the other was not so easily discouraged. - -"It is here!" he fairly howled in his rage. - -With a lightning motion, he turned upon Creel, advancing with -outstretched hands--hands that looked like the talons of some huge bird; -hands that worked convulsively as they floated toward Creel's throat. -Before the little man's advance, the old recluse tottered back, throwing -up his arms in a defensive gesture. - -"I'll give yuh jus' two minutes tuh bring out that poke," the words came -screaming at him. "Yuh got it. I know yuh got it. If yuh don't want to -make food fer the crows, yuh better trot it out." - -"Gentlemen--" began Creel, his voice deathly calm. - -The little man's right hand flashed out and for the second time Creel -measured his length across the threshold. This time, however, he did not -rise. In falling, his head had struck the sharp edge of the doorway, -rendering him unconscious. Without even as much as a glance at him, the -two men stepped over his prostrate body and disappeared into the room. -For a space of nearly five minutes they remained inside, while Dick and -Sandy sat in a sort of stupor and blankly regarded each other. - -Then abruptly, Creel's assailants re-appeared and from their expression -and behavior, the boys realized instantly that the search had been -successful. The big man guffawed loudly as he pushed Creel's body to one -side with his foot and stepped out into the pale light of that Arctic -summer night. - -"We got it," gloated the little man. "That was a stroke o' luck, -pardner. The squaw was right. We got it!" - -As he spoke, he drew from his pocket a small object and fondled it in -his hands. Again the loud guffaw rang out, penetrating the silence. -Chattering and exulting, the pair made their way through the lush grass -that overran the clearing. Then, suddenly, they stopped. At the edge of -the clearing there had sprung up a frail but defiant figure. - -"Stop!" cried a voice. "Put 'em hands up or I shoot you quick." - -Creel's assailants, looking straight at the muzzle of Toma's revolver, -had no other alternative. Their hands went high. Dick thought the pair -looked very foolish standing there. And he could hear very plainly their -astonished, burning oaths. He and Sandy leaped to their feet and hurried -to Toma's assistance. They came up from behind and, with a nod to their -chum, quickly disarmed the murderous pair. But though they searched -everywhere, they could not find the poke. Dick paused in consternation. - -"Big fellow got it in his hand," said Toma. - -"Give it to me," Dick turned upon the outlaw. - -The big man's eyes gleamed with hatred, but with Toma's revolver -threatening him, he was forced to obey. - -"Take it," he growled out an oath. "But I bet yuh don't keep it long, -stranger. Yuh won't never get away with it. Jus' mark my words." - -Dick stepped back, laughing. - -"That remains to be seen," he answered the outlaw. "You fellows can go -now. If you know what's good for you, you'll leave this neighborhood as -quickly as you can. I have the description of both of you and will -notify the mounted police of this night's affair." - -The partners struck off through the underbrush, calling out their -taunts. It was not long before silence came again. The three boys stood -in a little circle, looking at each other. Now that the tension had -relaxed, they were all more or less bewildered. Dick still had the small -poke in his hand, and as yet had scarcely deigned to give it a second -glance. Suddenly, Sandy's voice rang out: - -"Well, if you ask me, this is a peculiar night's business. I'm almost -stunned. We're indebted to Toma for the way everything has turned out. -Let's see what's in that poke, Dick. Why don't you open it?" - -Dick looked down at the small object in his hand. He turned it over and -over thoughtfully. - -"No," he said, "you can open it, Sandy. I'm too shaky." - -With the poke held firmly between two fingers, he reached out to hand it -to his chum. But in that moment a strange thing happened. A crackling of -brush, a lightning leap forward, a snarl like that of a beast--and the -thing was whisked from his fingers as it dangled there in the air. Then -a figure darted past them and disappeared in the darkness of the forest -beyond. - -The three chums gaped at each other. - -"Who was that?" gasped Dick. - -Toma was the first to speak. - -"I see 'em," he spoke dolefully. "It was Frischette." - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - CORPORAL RAND TAKES CHARGE - - -Sandy rubbed his eyes. - -"I don't know what to make of this. Frischette has the poke now. In a -way I'm glad that he has. It's better for us, Dick. I'd hate to have -another encounter with those two prospectors. Wonder what Frischette -will say to us when we return to the road-house." - -"Don't worry," said Dick, "we've seen the last of him. He won't come -back." - -"You mean he'll leave everything?" - -"Yes, that's my opinion. I don't know what the poke contains but it must -be something of immense value. Just stop a moment to reason it all out, -Sandy. First of all, the poke belonged to Dewberry. MacGregor tried to -get it, but was thwarted in his purpose either by Frischette or Creel. -Creel had it in his possession until those two prospectors came along -and took it away from him. Now it's in Frischette's hands again. If he -returns to the road-house, he'll be afraid that we'll get it away from -him. After what happened tonight, he'll take no chances. He'll not even -consider his partner, Creel. He has a fortune in his hands and will -attempt to keep it." - -"What's to be done now?" asked Sandy. "Do you think we ought to set out -in pursuit of Frischette?" - -For a time Dick stood undecided. - -"No," he answered, "we haven't time. Tomorrow Corporal Rand will return -to Fort Good Faith. He has asked us to meet him there. We'll have to -follow his instructions: Go back tonight." - -"But what about Creel? We can't leave him here." - -"That's right. Let me see," Dick scratched his head in perplexity. - -"Tell you what we do," Toma suddenly broke forth. "One of us stay here -look after Creel an' other two go back to Fort Good Faith. If you like, -I stay here myself while you, Sandy, you, Dick, go on see Corporal Rand. -After while I get Fontaine an' Le Sueur to help me. Soon they come back -from Grassy Point Lake." - -"Your plan is a good one," approved Dick. "It's the best thing to do. If -Sandy and I start at once--go over to the road-house and get our -horses--we can reach Fort Good Faith shortly before the corporal -arrives. What do you think, Sandy?" - -"We ought to go, of course. The way things have turned out, we need -someone to take charge and straighten out this tangle. Corporal Rand -will know what to do. I expect his first move will be to set out in -pursuit of Frischette. The sooner we get Rand back here the sooner he'll -be able to follow and overtake him. Yes, we'd better start at once." - -"All right, we'll walk over and get the horses." - -Toma gave a little start of dismay. - -"I jus' happen think, Dick-- By Gar-- Make me feel like silly fool. What -you think I do?" - -"What did you do?" Dick asked kindly. - -"Yesterday I turn ponies out to eat grass." - -"Hang the luck!" exploded Sandy. "That means we'll have to walk. We -might have to look around all night before we find 'em." - -"I very sorry," began Toma. "I--" - -Sandy cut him short. - -"Forget it! I don't blame you, Toma. It's just a bit of bad luck, that's -all." - -"An' you don't feel mad at Toma?" inquired that young man plaintively. - -"Certainly not," Dick assured him. "Either Sandy or I might have made -the same mistake. It's all right. We'll walk." - -Without even returning to the cabin to determine the extent of Creel's -injuries, they shook hands with the young Indian and quickly departed. -Their hurried trek back to Fort Good Faith long remained in the boys' -memory. Dick struck out with Sandy at his heels, and hour after hour -they pushed on without even a pause for rest. - -Both were swaying on their feet from weariness as they entered the broad -meadow, surrounding the fort, and came finally to the well known trading -post. - -Factor MacClaren looked up from his work as the two youths entered. - -"Why, hello," he exclaimed in surprise. Then: "Whatever has happened to -you. You both look as if you'd been stuck in a swamp somewhere for the -last day or two. I wish you could see yourselves." - -The boys looked down at their mud-spattered garments. Sandy's eyes were -bloodshot and his shoulders drooped. Dick's face was scratched with -brambles. He had lost his hat and his hair was rumpled and streaked with -dirt. Each flopped into a chair and breathed a sigh of relief. - -"We made record time from Frischette's stopping-place," Sandy announced -finally. - -Sandy's uncle laughed. "I can well believe that from your appearance. -Have you been travelling all night?" - -"Yes," answered Dick, "all night. By the way, is Corporal Rand here?" - -Factor MacClaren nodded. - -"Arrived last night. Got in sooner than he expected. He's waiting for -you. Went out to the stables just a few minutes ago." - -"Uncle Walter," Sandy requested wearily, "I wonder if you'll be kind -enough to notify him that we are here." He sprawled lower in his chair. -"I'm so tired that I don't think I could walk out there. Also, while -you're at it, I wish you'd tell Naida, the cook, to prepare a good -breakfast for two hungry men." - -"Men!" grinned the factor. - -"Yes, men. At least, we're doing men's work." - -Chuckling to himself, Sandy's uncle departed upon his errand. Not long -afterward Corporal Rand himself appeared in the doorway and came eagerly -toward them. - -"Well! Well!" he exclaimed. "So you're back. What luck did you have?" - -"Great!" replied Dick, too weary to rise. "If you'll sit down for a -moment, corporal, we'll tell you everything." - -When Dick and Sandy had completed their narrative, Corporal Rand sat for -a long time in thought. His fingers drummed on the table. - -"You've done much better than I expected," he complimented them. "And to -be perfectly frank, I don't know what to think of it all. Those two men -you spoke of, who attacked Creel and secured the poke, I can't recall -that I've ever seen them. However, your description tallies with that of -two prospectors I met one time at Fort MacMurray. But that's hundreds of -miles from here. It hardly seems likely that it would be the same pair. -But that is neither here nor there. You boys have practically -established Frischette's guilt. If he didn't actually take the poke from -Dewberry himself, he must have induced Creel to do it. Probably when I -have seen and talked with Creel I can force the truth from him." - -"Will you place Creel under arrest?" asked Sandy. - -"Not unless I can get him to confess. As yet we can prove nothing -against him." - -Naida appeared at this juncture to announce that breakfast was ready, -and Corporal Rand accompanied the two boys to the dining room. Dick and -Sandy applied themselves with such diligence to the feast before them, -that Rand refrained from asking any more questions just then. When the -boys had pushed back their chairs, sighing contentedly, Rand took up the -subject anew. - -"I'm glad you came when you did. I'm anxious to go out on the trail -after Frischette. Just now Frischette holds the key to the riddle. If we -can catch him, I think our troubles will be at an end." - -Dick looked across at the policeman. - -"Your suggestion, then, is to return immediately to the road-house?" - -"If you boys are not too tired, I'd like to start at once." - -"Now that we've had something to eat, I'm ready to go," said Sandy. "I -feel a lot different than I did when we arrived here a short time ago." - -With one accord the three rose to their feet, and not long afterward -secured their horses and departed. Following a hard but uneventful ride, -they reached the scene of the events of the night previous. They met -Toma just outside the door of the road-house. He greeted them with a -cheery smile, striding forward to shake hands with Corporal Rand. - -"Glad you come so soon, corporal. I get 'em Creel over here last night. -Him pretty near all right now." - -"Did Frischette come back?" asked Sandy. - -The young Indian shook his head. - -"He no come. Creel no think he come either." - -They found Creel a few moments later, sitting, with bandaged head, in a -chair near an open window. At sight of the mounted policeman his eyes -dilated perceptibly. Yet otherwise he showed little of the emotion and -fear the boys had expected. - -But if Rand had hoped to secure information of value from the old -recluse, he was disappointed. When questioned about the events of the -night before, his answers were evasive. He knew nothing about the poke. -He had seen no poke. The money-box, slightly battered, which Toma -brought forth as evidence, belonged to him, he admitted. Why the thieves -had not taken the box, Creel could not understand. It contained upward -of five thousand dollars in currency. - -"If this box and money belongs to you," Rand demanded, "what was -Frischette doing with them? The boys say that Frischette had this box in -his possession here only two days ago. What was he doing with it?" - -Creel met the policeman's eyes unflinchingly. - -"The boys must be mistaken," he wagged his head. "The box is mine. Until -last night no one has seen it. People call me a miser. Those men, who -came last night, were disappointed because they expected to find more." - -Rand scowled. He saw the uselessness of further questioning. Though -Creel might be aware of Frischette's treachery, it was evident that he -had no intention of attempting to obtain revenge upon him. To -incriminate his confederate, would be to incriminate himself. Both would -go to jail. Creel was wise enough to see that. - -"Perhaps," said Rand grimly, "you'll have more to tell us when we bring -your friend, Frischette, back and obtain possession of that poke. You -could save yourself a lot of trouble by giving me a confession now." - -"I have nothing to confess," Creel declared obdurately. "I do not -understand Frischette's disappearance. But even if you do find him and -bring him back, you'll learn nothing of value. Frischette is my friend -and I know that he is not Dewberry's murderer, that he is innocent of -all wrong." - -The policeman rose to his feet, walked over and looked down at the old -recluse. - -"I didn't say that Frischette murdered Dewberry. I'm convinced that -MacGregor did that, just as much as I'm convinced that either you or -Frischette secured the money and poke that belonged to the murdered -man." - -Thus openly accused, Creel shrank back. His hands trembled. Yet, in a -moment, the weakness had passed. Again, unflinchingly, he met the gaze -of the man opposite. - -"You are mistaken," he declared in a clear, steady voice. "You will find -that you are mistaken. Events will bear me out." - -Rand suddenly drew back. Footsteps sounded outside. Voices, scarcely -distinguishable, floated to their ears. More scuffling of feet, and then -the door opened. Dick, Sandy and Toma darted to their feet, staring -wildly at the two newcomers: - -Creel's assailants of the night before! - - - - - CHAPTER IX - UNEXPECTED NEWS - - -For a full minute no one spoke. - -It was a question who was the more astonished--the prospectors or the -three boys. Corporal Rand turned his head as the two men entered and -regarded them steadily. Creel had half-started from his chair, then -quickly sat down again, while a queer smile puckered the corners of his -mouth. If Dick had expected that Creel's assailants of the previous -night would show fear at sight of the mounted policeman he was greatly -mistaken. To his surprise the big man nodded in a friendly way toward -the corporal, then advanced to confer with him. - -"This sure is a piece of luck," he exclaimed, extending a grimed and -hairy hand, which Rand totally ignored. "I hadn't expected to find yuh -here. Most allers when yuh want a policeman, there ain't one within -fifty miles." - -This statement, apparently, did not wholly please Rand, for he scowled -lightly, his sharp blue eyes full upon the other. - -"What business have you with the police?" he demanded. - -"It ain't nothin' that concerns us," the little man cut in, in his -attempt to smile looking more repulsive and ferocious than ever. "It's -like this, constable--" - -"I'm a corporal," interrupted Rand severely. - -"A' right, corporal. As I jes' started out tuh say Burnnel an' -me--that's him there. He's my pardner--is a hoofin' it along on our way -to Deer Lick Springs, when sudden like, in a little clearin' in the -brush 'long side the trail, we comes upon the body of a man." - -The prospector paused, rubbing his chin with the sleeve of his coat. - -"He was dead, corporal," he went on, "--dead as a dead crow he was, sir, -a lyin' there all stiff an' cold with a bullet through his head. - -"Fer more 'n a minute Burnnel an' me we couldn't speak, we was that -surprised, corporal." - -"My pardner has told yuh right," the big man hastened to confirm the -other's story. "He's back there now, jes' like we found him." - -During the short announcement by the two men, Rand's expression had -grown severe, as was always the case when he was thinking deeply or when -he had suddenly been made aware of some new and unexpected happening. A -deep pucker showed between his eyes. He motioned the partners to be -seated, produced a notebook and fountain pen. - -"Now just a moment," he began, glancing sharply across at the two tale -bearers. "Answer my questions as I put them to you. First of all, just -where did you find this body? How far from here?" - -Burnnel scratched his head. - -"Le's see--I reckon, corporal, 'bout twenty miles from here, southeast -on the trail tuh Deer Lick Springs. It was on the right side o' the -trail, wa'n't it Emery?" - -"It was," Emery corroborated the other. - -"On the right side o' the trail," continued Burnnel, "close to a willow -thicket." - -"In what position was the body?" Rand next inquired. - -"The man was a lyin' stretched out a little on his left side, one arm -throwed up like this:" The speaker imitated the position of the body by -putting his head forward on the table and extending his arm. "It was -like that, wa'n't it, Emery?" - -Again he turned toward the little man. - -"It was," came the ready rejoinder. - -"And you say there was the mark of a bullet on the man's forehead?" - -"Yep," Burnnel answered, "an' a revolver in the hand what was -outstretched." - -"In other words," Rand's tone was incisive, "it looked like suicide." - -Both the men nodded emphatically. - -"Yeah, that's what it was. Suicide. An' it happened not very long afore -we had come. Yuh could see that." - -The policeman tapped softly on the back of his hand with his fountain -pen. For several minutes he did not speak, then-- - -"You say you didn't disturb the body?" - -"No," answered the little man, "we didn't touch him." - -"Did you, by any chance, examine the contents of his pockets?" - -The big man flushed under the direct scrutiny, while his partner, Emery, -suddenly became interested in the fringe of his mackinaw jacket. - -"Well, yes," drawled the big man. "Yuh see," he attempted to defend -their actions, "Emery an' me thought that mebbe we could find a letter -or suthin' in his pockets what would tell who the fellow was." - -"Quite right," approved Rand. "And what did you find?" - -"Nothin'," stated Emery. - -"Nothin'," echoed his partner. - -"Absolutely nothing?" Rand's eyes seemed to bore into them. - -The partners exchanged furtive, doubtful glances. Then the face of Emery -darkened with a sudden resolve, and he thrust one hand in his pocket and -brought forth--to the boys' unutterable amazement--a small moose-hide -pouch, scarcely more than two inches in width and three inches in -length--a small poke, identical to the one Dick had held in his own -hands less than twenty-four hours before. Seeing it, Dick had taken in -his breath sharply, while Sandy and Toma rose excitedly to their feet -and crowded forward. - -"You found that?" asked Rand, wholly unmoved. - -"Yes." - -"Let's see it." - -Emery tossed it over and it fell in Rand's lap. The corporal picked it -up and examined it closely. He untied the cord at the top and opened it. -He thrust two fingers inside. - -"Empty," he said. - -"Yeah. Empty." - -Both Burnnel and Emery wagged their heads. Corporal Rand favored them -with a keen, searching look. - -"You're sure about that. You didn't take out its contents?" - -The partners denied the implication stoutly. Their denials and -protestations were so emphatic, that neither Corporal Rand nor the boys -could believe that they spoke anything but the truth. - -"And this was all you found?" Rand continued his questioning. - -"Nothin' else," grunted the big man. "There wasn't even a pocket knife -or a comb or a watch, or anything like that. His pockets was absolutely -empty." - -The sight of the moose-hide pouch had produced a strange effect upon -Dick. His eyes kept returning again and again to the mysterious object -Rand still held carelessly in one hand. Improbable as it seemed, Dick -could not shake off the belief that the poke was the same one that had -been taken forcibly from Creel the night before. He wondered what the -old recluse thought about it all. Turning his head, he glanced sharply -in his direction. - -To his surprise, Creel sat unmoved, apparently uninterested. His round, -staring eyes, which somehow reminded one of those of a cat, were set in -a fixed stare. Occasionally, Creel's long hand stole to his bandaged -head. It was evident that nothing was to be gained here. Then Dick -became conscious of a question that Rand had just asked the two men: - -"You found the body along the trail, twenty miles from here. Deer Lick -Springs is only ten miles farther on. What motive prompted you to return -here? Wouldn't it have been much easier to go on to your destination?" - -"We thought about that," the little man answered without a moment's -hesitation. "Burnnel an' me we talked that over when we was standin' -lookin' down at that man's body. I was fer goin' on tuh the Springs, but -Burnnel he says no. Wouldn't hear to it. He insists on comin' back all -this way tuh Frenchie's stoppin'-place." - -"Why?" asked the policeman, turning upon Burnnel. - -The big man drew a deep breath before he answered. - -"It's like this, corporal," he finally declared. "Yuh see I had a notion -that I had seen that man before. He looked like somebody I knowed what -lives over this way. I wa'n't sure, o' course, but I had a suspicion. It -sort o' bothered me. I says to Emery: 'We'll go back an' find out.'" - -The pucker came back between the corporal's brooding eyes. He looked -upon Burnnel with suspicion. Dick wondered if Rand believed, as he was -somewhat inclined to believe himself, that the partners were the man's -murderers. - -"What did you intend to do when you arrived here?" Rand asked. - -"We was plannin' to send word tuh the police. We thought they ought tuh -be notified. But afore God, corporal, we didn't have no idea that yuh -was here. Mighty lucky, I call it. Saved us a hull lot o' time an' -trouble." - -"Yes, it was lucky," the corporal averred grimly. "Rather fortunate for -me too. You may consider yourselves under arrest, at least until I have -investigated this case. You and your partner will lead me to the scene -of the tragedy." - -"A' right," agreed Emery, his face more repellent than ever, "me an' -Burnnel'll go with yuh. It won't take long. If we had some horses now--" - -"I'll supply the horses," Rand informed him. - -"That's fine!" Emery's smile expanded into a leer. "We can go an' get -back afore night. Ain't that right, Burnnel?" - -"Yeah," agreed Burnnel, "an' when do we start, corporal?" - -"Right away." - -"That's a' right with us," said the big man, "only--" - -"Yes," insisted Rand, "Only--" - -"Yuh see, me an' Emery ain't had nothin' tuh eat fer a long time. Soon -as we get suthin'--jes' a bite, corporal--we'll be ready tuh start. -Ain't that fair enough?" - -Rand nodded. His brow had contracted slightly, deepening the pucker -between his eyes. - -"There's one thing you've forgotten to tell me," he informed them. -"Burnnel, you said a moment ago that the man out there reminded you of -someone. Who?" - -"Yes, yes," said the big man eagerly, "I was a comin' tuh that. It'll -explain, corporal, why we drifts back this way 'stead o' goin' on to -Deer Lick Springs. Yuh see, the man out there looked," he paused, -wetting his lips, "looked like this here fellow what runs this -stoppin'-place--this here Frenchie Frischette." - -The three boys bounded from their seats. Corporal Rand himself started -visibly. With one exception every one in the room showed his -astonishment. That exception was Creel. The old recluse sat perfectly -unmoved, as though he had expected, had been prepared for the strange -denouement. - - - - - CHAPTER X - CONFLICTING THEORIES - - -Soon after the departure of Corporal Rand, Burnnel and Emery, the boys -sat in the big, cheerful room of Frischette's road-house and discussed -the latest episode in the chain of mysterious events. - -"I never expected to encounter anything like this," Sandy was saying. -"Honestly, Dick, it gives me the shivers just to think about it. If I -were called upon to express an opinion, I'd say that the farther we get -into this case, the more muddled and difficult everything appears to be. -For one thing, whoever would have guessed that this sudden tragedy would -have overtaken Frischette. What is the reason for it? Do you really -believe the story about the suicide?" - -"It sounds plausible, the way they tell it, but to be perfectly frank, I -think it's a deliberate lie. Why should Frischette take his own life? It -would be rather difficult to supply a motive." - -"That's what I think. But if he didn't take his life, how--I mean, what -happened?" - -"Simple enough. Burnnel and Emery met Frischette on the trail, -discovered that he had the poke and murdered him. Then, having committed -the crime, they became afraid. In order to save their own necks, they -devised a scheme so that it will appear that the Frenchman had taken his -own life. They probably arranged the body to bear out the story, placing -a revolver in Frischette's hand. They emptied the poke, hid its -contents, and then came back here, intending, as they both openly -admitted, to get in touch with the police." - -"Well, that is a lot more plausible than the suicide story. Do you think -that Corporal Rand was taken in by it?" - -"No; not in the least. They won't be able to fool him for a minute. When -they return here tonight, I'll be willing to wager every cent I have -that Burnnel and Emery are still under arrest." - -"I won't take your bet," said Sandy. "That's my belief too." - -Imagine their surprise, therefore, less than four hours later, to -witness the return of Corporal Rand and to perceive that he was -unaccompanied. Burnnel and Emery were not with him. The horses which had -borne the two prospectors to the scene of the tragedy, trotted behind -the policeman's horse at the end of a lead-rope, saddled but unmounted. - -It seemed incredible to the boys that Rand, usually so careful and -cautious in matters of this kind, should permit the two miscreants to -slip out of his hands. It was not like him. What could be the reason for -it? They could hardly wait for the policeman to dismount. - -"I found everything," said Rand a few minutes later, "just as Burnnel -and Emery told us. It is unquestionably a case of suicide. Everything -pointed to it. The revolver gripped in Frischette's hand, the position -of the body and the wound in his forehead. But what caused him to commit -such a rash act, is a problem which we may never solve." - -While the corporal was speaking, Dick could scarcely contain himself. On -two or three different occasions he started to interrupt the policeman. -At the very first opportunity he broke forth: - -"Corporal Rand," he began earnestly, "you have made your investigations -and, no doubt, are in a better position than we are to form an opinion. -But has it occurred to you that there is something unusually mysterious -about the whole affair. Sandy and I were talking it over just before you -came in. And no matter from what angle we look at it, we can draw but -one conclusion." - -"And what is that?" Rand was smiling. - -"That Burnnel and Emery killed Frischette, afterward making it appear -that the road-house keeper took his own life." - -Corporal Rand moved over to where Dick stood and patted that young man -on the back good-naturedly. - -"Splendid! You've both shown that you know how to use your heads. And -now, I'll make an admission: That was exactly my own estimate of the -case up to a few hours ago. To use a well known expression, the thing -looked like a 'frame-up,' very carefully planned by Monsieurs Burnnel -and Emery. I could have sworn that they were guilty. I was absolutely -sure--as sure as I am that I'm standing here--that Frischette had not -committed suicide at all, but had been murdered. There was pretty strong -circumstantial evidence to bear out this belief. The two men had gone to -Creel to obtain the poke, and had secured it, only to lose it again -through your intervention." - -The corporal paused, clearing his throat. - -"Then Frischette got it from you. Now, I ask you, what would be more -likely than that the two prospectors and Frischette should meet each -other, that Emery and Burnnel should learn that the Frenchman had come -into possession of the poke and eventually murder him in order to get -it. As I have said, that was the reasonable and logical deduction, and -you can imagine my astonishment to discover, almost beyond the shadow of -a doubt, that such a deduction was entirely wrong. Motive or no motive, -the Frenchman took his own life. I have proof of that." - -"What is your proof?" asked Sandy. - -"Well, I made a search of the body and found something that both Burnnel -and Emery had overlooked, a note in the inner pocket of Frischette's -coat. I know his handwriting and I am positive that the note is not a -forgery." - -"What did it say?" Dick asked breathlessly. - -By way of answering, Corporal Rand produced a wallet and extracted from -it a small, soiled slip of paper, handing it over to the boys to read. -For a moment they found difficulty in deciphering the sprawling, almost -illegible script. But presently Dick read aloud: - - "To whom it may concern: - - "I, Louis Frischette, am about to kel myself because I am veery much - desappoint. I write thes so no other man be acuse an' put in jail for - what I do. - Signed: - "Louis Frischette." - -Dick's hand shook as he handed the paper back to the policeman. - -"I'm not convinced yet," he declared. - -"But here's the evidence--the proof right here." Rand patted the slip of -paper. - -"It might be explained," Dick pointed out. - -"What!" The corporal looked startled. - -"How do you know that Emery and Burnnel did not force Frischette to -write that note before they murdered him?" - -Rand did a peculiar thing. He stared at Dick for a moment in absolute -silence, then turned without a word and walked back into the stable and -led out his horse. Not until he had sprung into the saddle did he trust -himself to speak. - -"I'm going back. I ought to be jerked back there by the nape of my neck. -What have I been dreaming of? Dick, I'll take off my hat to you. It's a -fortunate thing that one of us, at least, has not been wholly deprived -of the faculty of sober reasoning." He smiled grimly. "If this ever got -to Cameron's ears, I'd be fined six months' pay." - -"But I may be wrong," Dick flushed at the other's compliment. - -"Right or wrong, we can't afford to take any chances. In any event, I'm -going back before Emery and Burnnel slip out of my hands." - -And, in an incredibly short space of time, he was gone. A turn in the -woodland path shut him from view. But, even long after he had gone, Dick -and Sandy stood looking down the trail, across which laggard twilight -had flung its darkling banners. Sandy broke into an amused chuckle. - -"That's one on the corporal. He won't be in a very pleasant frame of -mind for the remainder of the evening, will he?" - -Dick scowled. - -"You must remember, Sandy, that we all make mistakes. Rand's oversight -is excusable. He's been working on this case day and night for the last -six months. He's tired out, and sometimes so sleepy that he can hardly -stick in the saddle." - -"Yes, that's right." The laugh died on the young Scotchman's lips. "He's -had a lot to contend with. And perhaps he hasn't made a mistake after -all. Frischette may have committed suicide. The note might not have been -forced from him. Who can say?" - -"Yes," said Dick, "who can say? Why don't you put on your thinking cap, -Sandy, and find a motive for Frischette's act?" - -"That's a bargain. We'll find the motive. We'll go over the details -carefully in our minds and try to come to some conclusion." - -Sandy grinned. "And tomorrow morning we'll compare notes." - -They were interrupted at this juncture by the appearance of Toma. They -could see at once, from that young man's expression, that something -unusual had happened. His face, sober at all times, was unusually gray -and depressed. As he came forward quickly, he kept glancing from one to -the other interrogatively. - -"Have you seen 'em fellow Creel?" he asked anxiously. - -"Why, no, Toma," Dick answered. "What makes you ask that?" - -"Little while ago," the young Indian enlightened them, "I think mebbe I -change bandage on that fellow's head. I look everywhere. I no find." - -"Come to think about it," Sandy made the assertion, "I haven't seen him -myself since lunch." - -Toma's face darkened. - -"I 'fraid mebbe he run away." - - - - - CHAPTER XI - FINDING A MOTIVE - - -The disappearance of Creel caused the boys a lot of worry. He had left -the road-house without a word to anyone and had slipped away without -being seen. It occurred to Dick to question Fontaine and Le Sueur, in -the hope that they might be able to throw some light on the matter. But -neither of the two young half-breeds could supply any information. - -"He must have gone back to his cabin," guessed Sandy. "He's a queer old -duffer in some ways, and probably prefers to be alone. No doubt, we'll -find him there." - -But such did not prove to be the case. Creel's cabin was empty. When the -boys entered, the place was strangely silent and eerie. It was so dark -within, that at first they could see nothing. It was damp and musty, and -their footsteps echoed cheerlessly through the gloom. - -"Strike a match," said Dick, "and we'll see if you can find a candle. -Although he isn't here, I'd like to look around a bit." - -The boys fumbled in their pockets. No one had a match, apparently, but -finally Toma found a broken stub of one and a tiny glare flickered -through the room. In its light, Sandy discovered a short piece of candle -on a soap box near the fireplace and carried it triumphantly over to -Toma before the match sputtered out. - -It was well that the boys had decided to look around before pursuing -their investigations further. The room was in complete disorder. -Confusion was everywhere. Toma, who had been the last person to leave it -on the previous day, was astonished at the change which had been brought -about there. - -"What you think about that?" he exclaimed excitedly. "Yesterday, when I -leave this place, everything all right. Somebody him come an' make -trouble here." - -"Creel must have come back," Sandy decided. "I wonder where he went to -from here?" - -"That seems hardly likely," Dick spoke up. "Everything here belongs to -Creel and he wouldn't be apt to throw things about like this. It isn't -at all reasonable, Sandy. Even if he was planning to leave this place -for good, he wouldn't do this thing, unless he had suddenly gone mad." - -"Yes, that's right. Just look at things! It's more reasonable to think -that someone came here with a grudge against Creel and proceeded to do -as much damage as possible." - -The boys spent a few more minutes in looking about. A tall cupboard, at -one end of the room, had been completely emptied. Its contents--parcels, -packages, cans of fruit and an occasional dish or granite plate--had -been swept to the floor. Chairs had been overturned. A small trap-door, -entering upon a tiny cellar below the rough, board floor, gaped open. -Looking at it, Dick came to a sudden conclusion. - -"Do you know what I think?" he began hurriedly. "This isn't a case of -wanton revenge. There's a reason behind it all. In Creel's absence some -person has been ransacking this place in the hope of finding something -of value." - -"You guess right that time," Toma nodded. "That's what it look like. -Somebody, not Creel, come here. Mebbe he look for box, where Creel keep -all his money." - -Sandy turned upon the young Indian. - -"By the way, Toma, what became of that box, the night we left here and -you took Creel over to the road-house?" - -"He take box with him." - -"Whoever came here," reasoned Dick, "must have thought that Creel's -treasure had been left behind." - -Sandy scratched his head. - -"Look here, Dick, do you think it _was_ the box? Was it the money he -came after? Why not that mysterious poke?" - -Dick slapped his chum on the back. - -"You have it," he exulted. "We're getting closer now." - -"And the plot thickens," grinned Sandy. - -"A few more tangled threads," Dick answered, smiling. "Perhaps we'd -better give up. This case is too deep and complicated for us. We haven't -the ability to solve it." - -"I quite agree with you. Not one of us is a Sherlock Holmes or an expert -from Scotland Yard. We're out of our natural element." - -"Just the same," Dick's enthusiasm was contagious, "we'll have lots of -fun in trying to figure it all out." - -"What we do about Creel?" Toma wanted to know. - -In their interest in the new development, Dick and Sandy had completely -forgotten about the old recluse until thus reminded. Where had he gone, -and what was his purpose in going? - -"No use in trying to do anything more about him tonight," Dick came to -the obvious conclusion. "It would be foolish to start out now to look -for him. We don't know which way he has gone." - -"Perfectly true," said Sandy. "He has given us the slip and, even in -broad daylight, we'll probably have plenty of trouble in picking up his -trail. We've been careless. I dread to think of what Corporal Rand will -say, when he hears the news." - -Dick righted an overturned bench and sat down upon it. - -"Let's rest here for a moment and then go back to the road-house." - -Toma, who had been carrying the candle about in his hand, moved forward -and placed it upon the table. Sandy drew up a chair. A short silence -ensued. Outside they could hear the plaintive whispering of the pines, -the rustling of leaves near the open window. - -Suddenly, Sandy sat up very straight on the bench, then leaned forward -eagerly, his merry blue eyes now serious. - -"I've just had a real inspiration," he announced. "Incidentally, I've -fulfilled my part of our agreement. I've found the motive for -Frischette's suicide." - -"Tell us." - -Dick's face lit in a half-smile. At the moment he did not take Sandy -seriously. He doubted very much whether Sandy would be able to advance -anything of value concerning the Frenchman's untimely end. Yet he was -mildly curious to learn what the other had to say. - -"What is your motive?" - -"Before I tell you," Sandy's eyes were sparkling now, "I want to ask you -a question. Please comb that old wool of yours and help me out as much -as you can." - -"Fire away," smiled Dick. - -"The other night when we took the poke away from Burnnel and Emery, can -you remember what it felt like?" - -Dick broke into a roar of laughter. - -"Felt like? What do you mean, Sandy?" - -"The poke, of course," scowled the young Scotchman. "I'm perfectly -serious. It's important. For nearly a minute you held that poke in your -hand. Didn't you feel it? Didn't you look at it? What were your -sensations?" - -"Why, why--I was too excited at the time. I had it in my hand, of -course. I remember it sort of fitted nicely in my hand--a little, flat -poke, made of soft leather, that was somehow pleasant to the touch." - -In his excitement, Sandy rose to his feet. - -"There! That's what I've been driving at. Didn't it occur to you at the -time that the poke was curiously light?" - -"No, I can't remember that it did. On the contrary. I have a sort of -hazy memory that, although the poke was somewhat flat, it did contain -something." - -Sandy sighed. "Well, if that's the case, I guess my theory is already -exploded." - -"What were you trying to deduce?" - -"You can have it for what it's worth. You will recall that after Burnnel -and Emery had spurned the money-box, and had knocked Creel flat across -the threshold, they went inside and found the poke--the thing they had -come after. They weren't inside that room more than a few moments. I -don't believe they opened the poke inside the room, and I know they -didn't open it outside. They were probably satisfied that it contained -what they had reason to believe it contained--I mean, weren't -suspicious." - -"I don't understand you." - -"Well, it's just a possibility, of course, yet it seems quite -reasonable. Anyway, for the sake of argument, we'll say that Creel had -removed everything of value from the poke. Not suspecting this ruse, -Burnnel and Emery took the poke away with them. A few yards away from -the cabin they are confronted by Toma, and then we relieve them of that -mysterious poke. We have it in our possession only a short time. -Frischette snatches it away from you. Believing that he has a fortune in -his hands, he decides to make his escape, leaving Creel, his -confederate, in the lurch." - -Sandy paused for breath, smiled soberly, then went on again: - -"Let us say that he puts the poke in his pocket and hurries along, -gloating over his good fortune. At first, he's so busy endeavoring to -put distance between him and the rest of us, that he doesn't find it -convenient to open the poke and examine its contents. - -"After a time, he slackens his pace. He pulls the poke from his pocket, -opens it, and, to his horror, discovers that it is empty. What is he -going to do? He dare not turn back. He has no money. You will remember -that Frischette was a person of sudden moods and emotions. He was -violent in everything--violently happy or utterly dejected. He feels -that there is nothing to do but to take his own life. A few hours later, -Burnnel and Emery came along and find his body and the empty poke. Now, -what do you think of that for a theory?" - -"Sandy," said Dick, in tones of deep admiration, "you've done well. -Splendid! Very logical. I've almost begun to believe in your theory -myself." - -"The trouble is," sighed Sandy, "it has one very weak point." - -"What is it?" questioned Dick. - -"You said just a moment ago that you were under the impression that, -when you had the poke in your hand, it contained something; wasn't quite -empty." - -"No," remembered Dick, "it wasn't." - -"So all my clever reasoning has been in vain." Sandy looked despondent. -"The circumstances do not fit my theory." - -Another long silence. - -"Let's not discard your theory altogether," said Dick at length. -"Perhaps I can help you out a little. Two minds are better than one, you -know. Permit me to offer a suggestion. From what you have said, I gather -that your inference is that Creel removed the contents of the poke. -Well, perhaps he did." - -"Yes, yes," said Sandy. "Go on." - -"And made a substitution. Put something of no value, whatsoever, in the -poke. That will bolster up your theory." - -Sandy's eyes gleamed. - -"You're right. If we keep at it, Dick, we'll soon be as proficient as -the great Sherlock Holmes himself." - - - - - CHAPTER XII - "RAT" MACGREGOR'S WIFE - - -Before the lunch hour on the following day, Corporal Rand and his two -prisoners returned to Frischette's road-house, only to discover that -Creel and the three boys were gone. However, Fontaine had a letter, -which he pressed into the policeman's hands. It was from Dick, a short -note, scrawled hastily over the discolored surface of a torn piece of -wrapping paper: - - "Dear Corporal: - - "Creel disappeared yesterday and we have set out this morning in an - effort to find him. If our search is not successful, it is doubtful - whether we will return to the road-house before tonight--and it may - possibly be sometime tomorrow. Very sorry this had to happen. - "Sincerely, - "Dick." - -Rand looked up, after perusing the short missive, and pursed his lips. -Then he made a swift calculation. If Dick and his two chums had -contrived to pick up Creel's trail, and had travelled steadily in one -direction, they were not more than twenty or thirty miles away at that -precise moment. They were on foot, while he had the choice of three -tough, sturdy horses. It would be possible to overtake them and assist -in the search. He wondered if it would be advisable to leave Burnnel and -Emery locked up in a room at the road-house, awaiting his return. - -He thought the matter over carefully. He hated to risk the chance of -losing his prisoners, yet it was very important that Creel should not -escape. The recluse, as the boys had ascertained a few days before, had -been associated with Frischette in a number of robberies, including that -of Dewberry. - -Dewberry's poke had been in the possession of Creel until the coming of -Burnnel and Emery. No doubt, Creel knew all about the murder as well. In -any case, he was too dangerous a character to be permitted to run at -large. The policeman roundly upbraided himself for his negligence in -failing to instruct the boys about keeping close watch over the man -during his own recent absence. - -After much thinking, pro and con, the corporal came to a decision. He -would go. Fontaine would watch over the prisoners. Just as soon as he, -Rand, could feed and water his horse and get something to eat himself, -he would immediately take the trail south--for that undoubtedly was the -direction in which the wily old recluse had gone. - -Having made his plans, the policeman proceeded to put them into -execution. He cared for his horse, had lunch, gave Fontaine final -instructions, and, just before starting out, locked Burnnel and Emery in -the room, which formerly had been the private chamber of the road-house -keeper himself. He led out his horse, saddled and bridled, and was in -the very act of mounting, when a sound came from the opposite side of -the road-house. It caused him to hesitate, one foot already in the -stirrup, then presently, with an exclamation of surprise, to withdraw -that foot and place it firmly on the ground again. - -A half-breed woman, quite young, sitting gracefully on a pinto pony, -guided by a rope bridle, came around the corner of the house and drew -up, less than twenty feet from the spot where the corporal stood. - -Seeing a woman there, was not what had interested Rand so much as the -fact that he had immediately recognized her. It was "Rat" MacGregor's -wife! - -If he had suddenly been brought face to face with her like this at any -other place except here, at Frischette's road-house, he would have -thought nothing of it, would have continued about his business, -untroubled by a single suspicion. - -But here it was different. What was the woman doing here? Surely it was -for no good purpose. Her coming had induced a perplexing train of -thought in the corporal's mind, and had made necessary a complete -revision of his plans. - -Shaking his head, he led his horse back into the stable and advanced to -question the woman. Removing his hat, he bowed politely. - -"Madam is a long way from home," he remarked. "May I ask which way you -are going?" - -"Rat" MacGregor's wife threw back her head haughtily. - -"Police! Bah!" she sniffed. - -"You have been released on probation," the policeman reminded her, not -unkindly. "Inspector Cameron has asked you to remain at home. What are -you doing here?" - -The woman sniffed again, but did not answer. She turned her back and -began fumbling with the cinches of the saddle. - -"You will return home at once," Rand instructed her, endeavoring to keep -his temper. - -She turned her head and looked over her shoulder, her face set and -determined. - -"Why you say where I go?" she broke forth passionately. "What business -you have tell me go home? I go, I stay where I like. First, you keel my -man, then you put me in jail, then you say I no go where I wish. Police -pretty big fool, eh?" - -"Mrs. MacGregor," declared the corporal patiently, "we have been more -than kind to you. We released you from jail and placed you on probation. -All that we have asked is that you remain at home and be good, attend to -your own affairs. If you will do that, we will not put you back in jail -again." - -"Bah!" snorted MacGregor's wife, sticking out her tongue and defying -him. - -"You must promise to go back," said Rand. "You must be good. You must -not try to anger the police. If you will go back this afternoon, I will -not mention this matter to the inspector. He shall know nothing about it -and will not ask me to put you back in jail." - -For a moment the policeman believed that he had won his point. Her -manner changed suddenly. - -"My horse he is very tired." - -"I will take him in the stable for you and give him something to eat. He -can rest there for a few hours and then you can start back." - -The corporal advanced, pushed her gently aside, loosened the cinches and -swung the saddle from the back of the pinto mare. As he did so, -MacGregor's wife withdrew a few paces. The policeman had his back to -her, and, therefore, did not see the swift movement of her right hand -toward her blouse. But he did see, when next he chanced to turn his -head, the small revolver nestling in her hand--pointed straight at his -head. - -"I didn't think you'd do a thing like that," declared Rand, -reproachfully. "You'll only get yourself in more trouble. Put it down." - -"You keel my man," the young barbarian declared spitefully. "Now I keel -you." - -"That's your privilege," answered the policeman, quite unmoved. "But if -you do, you'll hang for it. Be reasonable, and put down that gun." - -"Rat" MacGregor's wife possessed the black, beady eyes of a snake. They -were unrelenting, wicked, revengeful. Her staring gaze never left the -policeman's face. Eight feet away--it would not be possible to leap -suddenly forward and disarm her. His best chance was to endeavor to get -his own gun. - -But how could he get his gun, when she was watching him like that? He -knew that if he moved his hand a single inch, her weapon would explode -in his face. Hers was no idle threat. She really intended to kill him! - -There was a chance, very remote, of course, that Fontaine or Le Sueur -might come to his assistance. Look out of the window. See him and the -woman there. - -"Look here," said Rand, fighting for time, "I think you are making a -very serious mistake. You'll have to answer for it in the end. Inspector -Cameron will be sure to get you. You can't possibly escape. While there -is still time, you'd better put down that gun." - -"If I do," her eyes glinted, "will you promise not put me in jail?" - -The corporal did not hesitate. - -"A while ago I could have given you my promise. But not now. It is too -late, madam." - -The policeman was afraid that he had sounded his own death-knell. Well, -he had told the truth, anyway. He had not lied to her. He had not -stained his honor or violated the code. He wondered why he could feel so -calm with those eyes blazing at him and the knowledge that he was about -to die. Calm!--when he could see that the index finger of her right hand -was beginning to press slowly but determinedly against the trigger. - -"Time's up!" thought Corporal Rand. - -And then--like the sound that comes out of a dream--the opening of a -door. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - ON CREEL'S TRAIL - - -The search for Creel had taken the boys southward. They were not sure -that he had gone that way; it merely seemed the most likely direction. -He had taken the contents of his money-box and had decamped, leaving no -trail. Just before starting, they had found the empty chest in the room -which he had occupied. - -Being a fugitive from justice, and with a considerable amount of money -in his possession, the natural deduction was that he was making his way -out to Edmonton. His chance of escaping was good. He had at least six -hours' start. He was not known to be a criminal. Almost anywhere he -would have passed unchallenged. As yet, the police had had no -opportunity to telegraph ahead in an effort to secure his apprehension. - -The boys had discussed his probable route, deciding that he would go by -way of Peace River Crossing. Boats of the Hudson's Bay Company plied up -and down the river during the spring and summer months, and it was only -reasonable to suppose that he would secure passage on one of these, -ascend the river to Peace River Crossing, where he could purchase a -ticket to go by rail to Edmonton. - -All this, of course, was mere conjecture. They had no real assurance -that it was the route that the old recluse would take. For all they -knew, he might still be in hiding somewhere in the vicinity of the -road-house. The only way to determine whether or not he was on his way -south, was to set out along the trail, making inquiries wherever -possible. - -Dwellings were few and far between. Sixteen miles due south of -Frischette's, they arrived at Meade's Ferry, where there was a -road-house and small trading-post, conducted by Hampton Meade, a kindly -veteran of the North. Here Fortune befriended them. They learned that -their assumption had been correct. Creel had spent the night there. - -"And he left early this morning," Meade's son, a handsome young man of -about Dick's own age, informed them. "Queer old beggar, isn't he?" - -Dick nodded. - -"Did he leave here on foot?" - -"Yes." - -Dick considered for a moment thoughtfully. - -"Would it be possible to obtain a horse or two? Are there any here? We -had our own ponies when we arrived at Frischette's stopping-place. We -turned them out to graze and they have disappeared. If you have any, I -will pay you handsomely." - -"There are two ponies," answered the young man,"--one of them mine, the -other, father's. You may have the use of them." - -The boys were overjoyed at this unexpected stroke of luck. It would be -necessary, of course, for one of them to remain at Meade's, while the -other two went on after Creel. They drew straws. It fell to Sandy's lot -to wait at the road-house until his two chums returned. - -"I don't expect we'll be away very long," declared Dick a short time -later, as he and Toma mounted the two borrowed steeds. "We ought to be -back before night." - -Creel had a few hours start of them, but he was walking. With light -hearts, feeling confident of success, the boys cantered away. Soon the -miles wound away behind them. They pressed their ponies forward, urging -them to their greatest speed. Time passed quickly. They had now begun to -scan the trail ahead, in the expectation of seeing the queer, shambling -figure of the old recluse. They galloped past a party of Indians, then -two prospectors, trudging along, weighted down by heavy shoulder-packs, -and finally drew up at a wayside cabin, inhabited by a half-breed -trapper. Dick questioned him: - -"Did an old man stop here not so very long ago? Walked with a stoop, -face covered with a heavy beard, hair straggling in his eyes. Did you -see him?" - -"_Oui_, m'sieur. I see him two, three hour ago. Him ver' fine fellow. -Plenty money. I have nice horse. He buy et." - -Dick had not expected this. The news had come as a shock. He blinked. - -"Rotten luck!" he exclaimed irritably. - -"What you say, m'sieur?" - -Dick did not answer. He was making a rough calculation. They had already -come fifteen or sixteen miles at top speed. No longer were their ponies -fresh. Creel had the advantage. It would be absolutely impossible to -overtake him now. Apparently, Toma held the same opinion. - -"No use go on now," he declared grimly. - -Dick turned to the half-breed. - -"You haven't any more fresh horses?" - -The half-breed looked surprised. - -"Know where we can get any?" Dick persisted. - -"Not many ponies 'round here," explained the trapper. "Why you no like -those pony there?" - -"Tired out," answered Dick. "And we want to go fast." - -He relaxed in the saddle, and just then an idea came to him. - -"How far is it from here to Fort Wonderly?" - -"'Bout twelve mile." - -Dick thanked the half-breed, motioned to Toma, and they set off again. - -"Well," announced Dick, "we're going over to the fort." - -"Why you go there?" Toma stared blankly. "Fort Wonderly off trail. Creel -him no go that way. I no understand why you do that." - -"I'll tell you, Toma," Dick spoke despondently. "We haven't a chance now -to overtake Creel. But at Fort Wonderly there's a government telegraph -office, and I'll give a message to the operator, warning everybody along -the route. There is another detachment of the mounted police at Peace -River Crossing, and they'll send out a man to intercept him." - -So it was late that night when Dick and Toma returned to Meade's Ferry -and reported the outcome of their journey. - -"It's too bad," Sandy commented, "I was sure that when you got back -you'd have Creel with you. But you showed a lot of good sense when you -sent that message. If Creel manages to slip through the police lines -farther south, he'll be a wizard." - -"I've been thinking about Creel all day," said Dick. "I've been blaming -myself continually for my negligence. We should never have permitted him -to escape. I'm positive now that your theory is correct, and that he's -going south, not only with the money that was in that box, but the -contents of Dewberry's poke as well. I really believe that if we had our -hands upon him now, and searched him, we'd find everything." - -"No doubt, you're right. Well, I suppose there's only one thing to do -now: Return to Frischette's road-house. Corporal Rand must be back by -now. He'll know what to do next." - -The two boys were joined later by Toma, Meade and his son. The -free-trader, a tall, imposing figure, complacently smoked a pipe and now -and again engaged the boys in conversation. - -"I understand that you've come from Fort Good Faith," he said. - -"Well, not exactly," Dick replied. "We live there. Factor MacClaren is -Sandy's uncle; but for the last few days we've been stopping at -Frischette's roadhouse." - -Meade's clear blue eyes shadowed. - -"Friend of his?" - -"Not exactly," answered Dick evasively. - -"Queer character," commented Meade. - -"He's dead," said Sandy. - -"Dead!" The free-trader straightened in his chair, removed the pipe from -his mouth and stared. "What happened to _him_?" - -"Took his own life." - -Meade received this information with a slight raising of his eyebrows. - -"Queer! That road-house will soon have an evil name. First Dewberry and -now Frischette." - -For a time conversation languished. Everyone seemed to be occupied with -his own thoughts. - -"I was interested in the Dewberry case," Meade finally broke the -silence. "You see, I knew him; knew him better probably than most folks. -Sort of unusual fellow, Dewberry was. One of the quietest, queerest men -I have ever met." - -Dick locked across at Meade sharply. - -"Not very many people really knew Dewberry," he stated. - -"I knew him," said Meade, "and I was sorry to hear of his death." - -"Where do you suppose Dewberry was going?" Sandy spoke up. "I mean just -before the tragedy. No one seems to know." - -Meade smiled. "There's no secret there. Dewberry often passed along the -trail, and sometimes remained here for several days at a time. He was a -queer duffer. But once you got to know him, his eccentricities passed -unnoticed. Not many folks knew it, but Dewberry's time was divided -between this country and Peace River Crossing. Usually, about six months -of the year, he lived at the Crossing. He owns property there. Has a -little house, overlooking the Hart River, and for weeks at a time he'd -shut himself up in it. A lot of folks couldn't understand why he chose -to do that. Neither could I, until one time, when I happened to be in -Peace River Crossing, I met him on the street." - -For a time Meade lapsed into silence, gazing reminiscently away in the -direction of the river. - -"He invited me up to the house," he continued. "Tidy little place, I -found it. Nicely furnished. Piano, violin, books. Books!--there were -rows upon rows of books. Special bindings, shelf upon shelf, I tell you, -and strange old volumes, musty with age. He loved them. That's where he -spent most of his time. Read from morning 'til night, and when he wasn't -reading, he was fiddling away on the violin or thumping on that piano. I -stayed there two days, and I want to tell you that I've never enjoyed -anything more. His company. His talk about the books. The music he made -on that piano." - -"Too bad he's gone," said Sandy. - -The free-trader nodded. - -"He was reputed to be very wealthy," said Dick. - -"I guess that is true," Meade answered thoughtfully. "You see, he was -one of the best prospectors that ever came into the North. There are -some folks who say that his luck was phenomenal. At any rate, he had no -occasion to worry. In recent years, it was more for the love and -excitement he got out of the game than the necessity of making more -money that induced him to take those long, lonely treks out there in the -foothills." - -"After what you have told us about him," puzzled Sandy, "there is one -thing rather difficult to understand. Why did a person of his -intelligence carry so much wealth about his person." - -"I don't think he did," declared Meade. - -"If that is so," persisted Sandy, "why did they follow him and plan the -robbery and murder at Frischette's?" - -"Well, there is no doubt that he had a considerable amount of money and -gold with him, but no more, probably, than the average prospector. I am -positive that he didn't carry his entire wealth with him. 'Rat' -MacGregor, or whoever it was that committed the robbery, merely -suspected that such was the case." - -Sandy abandoned the issue. Yet neither he nor Dick was convinced. There -was that tell-tale poke. - -As they sat there, watching the shadows steal out from the darkening -woodland beyond, they were presently made aware of a newcomer. - -An Indian pony, a pinto mare, left the turn of the trail near the fringe -of trees, bordering the river, and came slowly forward. A woman sat -astride the pony--a young woman, unmistakably an Indian or half-breed. -Meade rose as she reined up in front of the cabin and slowly dismounted. -The boys were not particularly interested. They had never seen the woman -before. - -"Who is that?" Sandy inquired listlessly. - -Both boys started at the unexpected answer. - -"Heaven help me," growled Meade, "if it isn't 'Rat' MacGregor's wife!" - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - A MEETING IN THE WOODS - - -Scarcely had the boys recovered from their astonishment, when they were -treated to a still greater and more breath-taking surprise. Meade's son -was the first to draw their attention. In their interest in the -newcomer, they had entirely overlooked the approach of two others. - -These two were Burnnel and Emery. They rode up to the accompanying -thump, thump, thump of three wildly beating hearts. Astride two horses! -Stolen horses! In his agitation, Dick rose and gripped the back of his -chair. He recognized the wiry little ponies, and rubbed his eyes. Less -than twenty-four hours before he had ridden one of them himself. The -other belonged to Sandy. - -In truth, Dick had become so excited that for the next few moments he -was barely aware of what was taking place. He was confused and -befuddled. He saw Sandy and Toma shoot to their feet in sudden dismay -and shrink back toward the open doorway. Not knowing that anything was -wrong, Meade and his son had gone forward to bid the new arrivals a -hearty welcome. And it was probably well that they did, for it gave the -three boys time to slip within the log building, hurriedly cross the -room and pass out of the door at the opposite side. - -All three were trembling with excitement. Below his shock of bright -yellow hair, Sandy's forehead was ashen. The boys hoped that they had -not been recognized. Undoubtedly, while making their approach, Burnnel -and Emery had seen them, but Dick recalled that in the position in which -they sat out there on the front porch, they had been hid somewhat by the -figures of Meade and his son. - -The coming of the two malevolent prospectors had placed them in a rather -awkward, if not dangerous position. It would be impossible for them to -remain at the road-house while the partners were there. Burnnel and -Emery had not forgotten the encounter of two days before in front of -Creel's cabin. No doubt, they would take a great deal of pleasure in -evening the score. Both were remorseless, savage, vindictive. Neither -would hesitate for a moment to take any advantage offered, any -opportunity for reprisal. - -"No, it will never do for us to remain," Sandy trembled. "You and Toma -can stay here if you like, Dick--not I. If we stay here, we'll be -compelled to fight it out." - -"I willing fight," Toma announced darkly. - -"It wouldn't be fair to Meade," Dick objected. "There's sure to be -trouble. Anyway, there's nothing to be gained by remaining here." - -"The thing to do," said Sandy emphatically, "is to get out--go somewhere -and make camp for the night. Either that, or start back at once for -Frischette's road-house, which we had planned to do tomorrow anyway. -I'll repeat that I don't care to show my face around here--at least, not -until Burnnel and Emery have gone." - -They were standing just outside the door on the side of the cabin -opposite to the one, where they had previously been sitting talking to -the free-trader and his son. They were safe from detection here only for -a few moments. As soon as Burnnel and Emery and "Rat" MacGregor's wife -put up their horses, they would enter the cabin. Then the boys would be -seen, for not only the door but one window overlooked the space there on -the west side of the house, where they were now standing. - -Toma pointed to a line of brush two or three hundred yards away, and -they proceeded hurriedly toward it. In leaving thus surreptitiously, -they had been forced to abandon part of their equipment--their rifles -and shoulder-packs, and a small roll of Hudson's Bay blankets. - -"What will Meade think?" Dick inquired anxiously, as they plunged into -the dense thicket and commenced picking their way ahead. "He won't -understand our sudden disappearance. I'm afraid he'll be anxious about -us." - -"Worse than that," Sandy struck out at a branch directly in front of him -before taking his next step. "He'll be sure to give us away. Emery and -Burnnel, if they don't know it already, will learn from him that we were -at the road-house when they arrived." - -"It can't be helped. I don't think they'll follow us." - -"What beats me," Sandy stopped altogether and turned to face his two -companions soberly, "is how they managed to get away from Corporal Rand. -You don't suppose he turned them loose again, do you?" - -"It seems hardly likely, yet--" Dick paused. - -"Yet they're here," the young Scotchman finished the sentence for him. -"Either they escaped, or he gave them their freedom. If he gave them -their freedom, Rand has proved to his own satisfaction that Frischette -really committed suicide. Then, of course, he wouldn't have any reason -for detaining them any longer." - -"Perfectly true. But that doesn't explain about the ponies. Rand may be -kind-hearted and all that, yet he wouldn't deliberately lend them the -ponies, would he? We need them ourselves." - -"They might have stolen the ponies," reasoned Sandy. - -"That seems more probable." - -"Well, what we do now?" Toma had grown impatient. "I think it be foolish -to stay here in brush all night. Better we start right back an' see if -we find 'em Corporal Rand." - -"But suppose the corporal didn't release Burnnel and Emery?" Dick asked -perplexed. "We'd be foolish to run away then. The least we could do, -would be to keep in sight of them. Remember, Creel has already escaped." - -In exasperation, Sandy strode over to a fallen tree trunk and sat down, -moping his perspiring forehead with short, angry jabs, a scowl on his -face. - -"O pshaw! What's the use? Everything's turning out all wrong. We're -getting deeper and deeper and deeper into trouble every minute. I'm -through! I'll never become a policeman or a good detective--I know I -won't. I'm growing tired of all this, Dick. It's wearing on my nerves. -It is, I tell you." - -Dick and Toma both laughed. - -"Nonsense, Sandy! This is a game of wits. I like it." Dick made a -comical gesture with his hands. "All you have to do is to out-guess the -other fellow. We'll win in the end. We're bound to." - -"Oh, is that so. A guessing contest!" The other's tones were deeply -sarcastic. "Well, if that's the case, we're at the losing end right now. -How many of your guesses have been correct?" - -Boy-fashion, Dick strode over and placed a hand on his chum's indignant -shoulder. - -"Forget it, Sandy. This isn't a bit like you. Come on!" - -"Come on where?" - -Thus put to it, Dick found himself in somewhat of a predicament. The -question required an answer. - -"Why--why--well--" he began. "You see, Sandy--" - -"It's a contest," Sandy reminded him scornfully. "All you have to do is -to outwit the other fellow. You like it. Now tell me, please, what is -your guess?" - -Dick flushed, but contrived to keep his temper. - -"I haven't quite decided yet. There are two courses open to us. We can -stay here and keep an eye on Burnnel and Emery, or go back to meet -Corporal Rand." - -In such a mood, Sandy got a good deal of enjoyment in tantalizing his -friend. - -"All right. I'm waiting. Why don't you guess?" - -Dick looked about him in desperation. Then gradually out of his -perplexity there sprang a solution to his difficulty. It came like the -sudden glimmer of inspiration. - -"We'll have to do both," he stated positively. - -"How?" - -"Separate." - -"I don't quite understand." - -"One of us can go back to meet Corporal Rand, the other two remain here -to watch Burnnel and Emery." - -Sandy rose from his place on the fallen tree, grinning a little -sheepishly. - -"Now you're talking. Why didn't you think of that before? Which one of -us will go to meet the corporal?" - -"You can go if you like, Sandy," said Dick with great magnanimity. - -"No, no; I wasn't thinking about that. You'd better go, Dick. You're the -one that thought of it." - -Dick shook his head. - -"I think I'd rather stay here, if you don't mind." - -"Just as you say." - -Sandy was really pleased. - -"It's a bargain, then, unless Toma--" - -"I like stay here, too," declared Toma. - -The three boys were grouped together, facing each other. For the time -being, they were off guard. Not that they had felt at any time during -the past few moments that danger really threatened them. Although still -fairly close to Meade's road-house, they weren't troubled about Burnnel -and Emery just then. Even if the two prospectors had seen them when they -rode up, it was extremely unlikely that they would attempt anything -until they had fully rested. Immediate pursuit was a thing that had not -entered the boys' calculations, and yet-- - -Dick's first intimation of an attack, or even of the presence of an -enemy, came when he beheld Toma--apparently for no reason at all--leap -straight back, like a deer surprised in its forest haunt, and plunge -headlong into a willow thicket. Sandy's behavior was equally puzzling. -Sandy sat down. He sat down on the seat he had just vacated and stared -wildly past Dick, both eyes and mouth open wide. Whirling about, Dick -blinked and caught his breath. A familiar pair confronted him. - -"Don't move," said a heavy voice. "We got yuh!" - - - - - CHAPTER XV - A DESERTED ROAD-HOUSE - - -Frischette's road-house was quiet. A casual passer-by, threading his way -along the shadowy forest trail, a trail arched by the branches of tall -poplar trees, might have thought that the place was deserted. There was -no sign of life anywhere, although a door and several windows stood -partially open. A young Indian, who approached the familiar landmark, -was struck by an overwhelming feeling of presentiment. - -The morning was well advanced and yet there was no evidence of life -here. No smoke issued from the tall mud-chimney, which rose like a bleak -sentinel at one side of the building. Sitting on the projecting end of -the center ridge-pole, a hawk basked in the sun. Intense quiet reigned, -a funereal silence, that was broken only by the faint rustling of the -leaves and the nervous stirring of the tall grass, which encroached up -to the door of the cabin itself. - -Toma rubbed one hand across his brow wearily. For four hours he had -walked steadily with this place as his objective, and in the hope of -finding his friend, the mounted police corporal. He knew that Rand ought -to be here. That had been their agreement, the understanding between the -policeman and the three boys. - -When he had approached to within thirty or forty yards of the house, -Toma's spirits fell. He was sure now that the road-house was untenanted. -No occupied dwelling, he reasoned, could be wrapped so deeply in that -tragic, sombre silence. The door stood invitingly open, yet Toma knew -before entering that no person recently had left it thus. He paused on -the threshold, staring into the room. It seemed to mock him. Except for -the few bare furnishings, it was entirely empty. With a quaking heart -and a trembling step, he passed through the main front room to the -kitchen at the back. - -No one was about. In the kitchen there had been stacked up, on a long -work-table opposite the stove, a pile of dirty, unwashed dishes. He -glanced at them casually, then passed on out of the back door and made -his way over to the stable. Like the cabin, the stable was unoccupied. -Disconsolately, Toma walked over and, climbing up, sat down on the top -rail of the six-foot-high corral fence. - -He didn't know what to make of it all. The absence of Corporal Rand -might, of course, be accounted for. But what about Fontaine and Le -Sueur, his two friends? Since the death of Frischette, these two last -named young men had taken over the management of the road-house. They -had entered upon their duties with a good deal of enthusiasm, and it -seemed unusual that they should both be away now, neglecting their -business. - -It was true, of course, that summer visitors were few. The bulk of -Frischette's trade had come during the early fall and winter and just -before the spring break-up. However, even if there were no guests at the -road-house, there was always the chance that one might come--an -occasional straggler--and it was not reasonable to suppose that both -Fontaine and Le Sueur would leave the place for any length of time. - -Yet, that was exactly what they had done. They were neglecting their -business. Toma scowled at the ground, and one moccasined foot beat an -impatient tattoo along the surface of the rail beneath him. He decided -after a time that, low on supplies, they had gone over to Fort Good -Faith to replenish their larder. But the absence of Rand was not so -easily explained, unless he was out searching for Burnnel and Emery. - -Shaking his head, Toma hopped down off the corral fence and strode back -in the direction of the house. This time he had a purpose in mind. He -would enter the kitchen and prepare himself a belated breakfast. He had -not eaten since early the night before and was tremendously hungry. He -entered the kitchen, kindled a fire in the large iron cook stove and -methodically set about his task. - -In the middle of his preparations he paused, pricking up his ears. Had -he heard something--a slight scraping sound? He stood perfectly still, -listening patiently. Then, as the sound was not repeated, he decided -that he had been mistaken. He returned to his task, and in a short time -breakfast was ready. He set a place for himself on the table in the -adjoining room, and was returning to the kitchen for his rasher of bacon -and pot of coffee, when he heard the sound again. - -This time there was no doubt in his mind. He had heard aright. The sound -issued from the room which had formerly been used by Frischette for his -office and private sleeping apartment. It was the only room in the house -that he had not explored. He bounded quickly forward, seizing the knob -of the door. He bent his weight against it. - -He stood back, scratching his head in perplexity. It was locked. -Something or someone was inside there. He called out softly. But, -although he imagined he heard the faint, scraping sound again, no voice -answered him. - -Toma was not long in deciding upon his course of action. He hurried into -the kitchen, passed through the door at the back, picked up a small log, -about four feet in length and six inches in diameter and, returning with -it, he applied himself to the door. - -At the first blow from his heavy battering-ram, the lock gave way. A -splintering and cracking of wood, and the door swung back. Looking -inside, Toma dropped his battering-ram. - -Closest to the door, lay Rand, gagged, bound hand and foot. A few feet -farther on, sprawled the youthful figures of his two friends, Fontaine -and Le Sueur. - -Following a little gasp of amazement, Toma strode into the room. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - TRAPPED! - - -Burnnel and Emery had appeared so unexpectedly before the boys, opposite -Meade's road-house, that resistance was useless. Dick and Sandy had no -chance, whatever, to raise a hand in their defense. Of the three, Toma -had been the only one at all fortunate. His sudden leap backward into -the brush made possible his escape, but Dick and Sandy were powerless. -The young Scotchman, shrinking with terror, still sat on the fallen -tree, while Dick, no less overcome with fear, stood motionless, as the -two men drew closer, flourishing their guns. Emery's face was malignant -but triumphant. - -"So you thought you'd bust into our little game, eh?" he snarled, as he -relieved Dick and Sandy of their revolvers. "Yuh thought yuh was pretty -smart back there at Creel's a few days ago, didn't yuh? Well, yuh can -pay fer that now. Time we get through with yuh, yuh won't be so willin' -to meddle in somebody else's business." - -Dick found his voice. - -"We didn't harm you." - -Emery's scowl darkened. He was on the point of making some sarcastic -reply, but Burnnel cut in sharply: - -"Save your gab, both o' yuh. Too bad that other feller got away." - -Dick hoped that their captors would take them back to Meade's -road-house. It would be the best thing for him and Sandy. Their chance -of getting away would be better. They would feel safer there. Meade, no -doubt, would interfere and gain their release. - -Sandy had sunk into deep and utter dejection. He recalled, with little -shivers of apprehension, the treatment which had been meted out to Creel -a few days before. He was not buoyed up by any false hopes. He could see -in Burnnel and Emery's actions only an effort at reprisal--revenge for -their previous humiliation. Unlike Dick, he did not believe that they -would be taken back to Meade's road-house. In fact, such a thought had -never entered his mind. The partners were too shrewd for that. No, he -and Dick would be mistreated and tortured merely to satisfy their -craving for revenge. Besides, it would not suit Burnnel and Emery's -purpose to be encumbered with two prisoners. They had other business to -attend to. - -And, in a way, Sandy was right. Shortly after the boys had been relieved -of their guns, Burnnel straightened up, his mouth twisted in a venomous -leer. - -"Turn out your pockets," he ordered. - -The boys obeyed hastily, their hands nervous and trembling. Emery stood -over them, watching like a hawk, seizing from one or the other the -miscellaneous assortment of things that were brought to light. Dick, who -had acted as treasurer for the three boys, was relieved of a roll of -bills and a handful of silver. Burnnel's eyes lighted with satisfaction -at sight of the money, but his partner only grunted. Soon the boys had -completed their task. Their pockets had all been emptied. - -"Where's the poke?" - -Dick stared incredulously. - -"Poke? Why--why--what do you mean?" - -"Don't yuh try tuh look so blame' innocent. Yuh got it, one o' yuh." - -"Look here," said Dick hotly, "you know where that poke is--in Corporal -Rand's possession. You had it yourself on two different occasions. Why -didn't you keep it?" - -Burnnel advanced threateningly. - -"Enough o' that! Yuh know what I mean, a' right. We want what was in -that poke an' we want it quick." - -"But see here," protested Dick, "we haven't anything. I tell you, we -haven't. We don't even know what was in the poke in the first place." - -Burnnel and Emery exchanged glances. Then, indignantly, the little man -addressed the other: - -"There, what'd I tell yuh. It's plain they ain't got it. I was right. -It's Creel!" - -The huge bulk of Burnnel stood like a statue. Since questioning Dick, he -had not moved, except to turn his head in his partner's direction. Now -his chin was bent forward, resting upon his expansive, barrel-like -chest. To all appearances, his partner's assertion had given him food -for thought, required deliberate and careful consideration. In a moment -he raised his eyes again, glancing at Emery. With the fingers of one -hand he scratched the stubble on his pocked, scarred face. - -"How do yuh know that? You're jus' guessin'. I'd as soon think these -boys had it as Creel. Fact is, it's a hull lot more likely. How do we -know that this here young tomcat didn't empty the poke t'other night -right after we left an' afore Frischette comes along an' grabs it?" - -Emery darted a quick, insolent, sarcastic glance at his huge -confederate. - -"I don't believe it. Creel's the one what's fooled us. Fooled us in the -first place there at his cabin. It's all your fault, too. Yuh never -looked in that poke. An easy mark you are," he declared scornfully, -"lettin' him put it over yuh like that." - -Burnnel snarled like a bear in a trap. Emery perceived that he had gone -too far. His next words were placating, almost a whine. - -"Now look o' here, Bob, yuh don't need to get huffy. I think you're -wrong an' I'm goin' to stick to it. The only reason I said I'd come over -here tuh question these brats was all on your account. I wanted yuh to -be satisfied, tuh see fer yourself. We're jus' wastin' time. The thing -tuh do is tuh go back, pick up that blame' squaw an' see if we can't run -that worthless ol' rat tuh earth." - -Burnnel hated to admit that he was in the wrong, and in order to cover -his chagrin and disappointment, he flew into a violent rage and for a -period of nearly two minutes cursed wildly and furiously. As he did so, -he paced back and forth, huge fists clinched, swinging his arms -violently. With a final snarl, he cuffed Dick across the head, sending -the young man reeling back dizzily. His large moccasined foot, swinging -up, brushed Sandy's thigh. Then he seized Emery by the shoulder. - -"Come on! Let's get out o' here!" - -The little man's head jerked back with a snap. He, too, became furious. -They were still cursing and storming at each other as they disappeared -from view. - -The boys could scarcely believe their good fortune. They had not -expected to escape from the encounter with so little injury. They had -not even been taken prisoners. Their only loss had been that of their -money and their revolvers--a thing which troubled them little. Meade, -Dick was quite certain, would willingly help them out, as soon as they -explained their predicament. - -Of course, they couldn't go back to the road-house until Burnnel, Emery -and the woman had taken their leave. Tonight they must remain in the -woods, sleeping out under the trees. Also they must find Toma. - -Through the blue, enveloping twilight, they wandered hither and thither, -calling out his name. For hours they searched in vain. In response to -their repeated halloos, no cheery answer came. The deep silence drew in -around them. - -"He's gone for help," Sandy decided, flinging himself down on a soft -carpet of moss and pine-needles, and looking up anxiously into Dick's -face. - -His chum sighed wearily. - -"Yes, he must have gone back to Frischette's in the hope of meeting -Rand. But you may depend upon it, he'll give a good account of himself." - -"Toma's a trump," said Sandy, closing his eyes and speaking drowsily. "I -couldn't help but admire the way he leaped for that thicket at the first -sound from Burnnel and Emery. He's quicker than we are. Pretty hard to -catch him off guard." - -"And yet," answered Dick, "I can't understand why he didn't linger in -the vicinity. That would have been more like him. Waiting and watching -for a chance to get the drop on them, and then rescuing us. Just -thrilling enough to suit him. Funny he didn't do it." - -Sandy sat up, smiling. - -"I think he left his gun behind--over there at Meade's. I'll bet he was -provoked. He must have decided that the best thing to do was to hurry -back to Frischette's and rush Corporal Rand to our assistance." - -Although the days were warm, the nights were invariably cool. It would -not be pleasant to sleep out without blankets. Nor was it possible to -start a fire. Every article they possessed, including a box of matches, -had been taken by the two outlaws. - -They slept but ill. Mosquitos buzzed about them in swarms. They kept up -an incessant fight with these vicious pests, shivering on their bed of -moss, waking every few minutes to wonder if morning would never come. - -Somewhere around three o'clock, they rose and made their way back in the -direction of the road-house. It was too early yet to think about -disturbing any of its occupants. Burnnel and Emery would still be there, -and they had no wish to meet them again. Hungry as they were, and -sleepy, they realized that it would not be advisable to approach the -cabin until after the outlaws had departed. - -"When we get something to eat, and borrow a rifle or two from Meade," -said Dick, "I suppose we'll have to trail on after them." - -Sandy glanced at Dick sharply. - -"But don't you think we ought to wait for Toma and Corporal Rand?" - -"If we do, we'll be apt to lose trace of them, just as we lost trace of -Creel. You must remember that we'll have to follow them on foot. They -have horses." - -Sandy said no more, lapsing into a moody silence. The mosquitos -continued to buzz around their heads. But no longer was it cool. The -sun, an hour high, shed its warm rays to every part of the land. The -moisture, caused by the dew, was soon evaporated. Day had commenced. - -Yet they waited a long time before they were rewarded for their -patience. Smoke curled upward from the rough mud-chimney at the -road-house. Now and again, they could see someone walking about outside. -Another long wait, and they breathed a sigh of relief. Three mounted -ponies came out around one end of the cabin and headed down the trail. A -few minutes more, and they were out of sight. - -"Thank goodness!" Sandy breathed thankfully, parting the screen of brush -in front of him and stepping out into the open. "I thought they'd never -go. Come on, Dick--breakfast!" - -Dick hurried after Sandy, and it was not long before they pushed open -the door of the cabin and entered. Meade was there, and at sight of -them, sprang to his feet. He came forward quickly. - -"Where in the name of Old Harry have you boys been? We missed you last -night; looked everywhere. I wondered if you hadn't gone suddenly crazy." - -"We didn't want to meet Burnnel and Emery," explained Sandy. - -"You mean those two men, who stopped here last night?" - -"Yes." - -Meade whistled. "Why not?" - -Stammering out something, Sandy looked at Dick. His chum returned the -gaze, then stared straight into the eyes of the pleasant-faced free -trader. - -"Well, I guess it won't do any harm to tell you. Those two men, who -stopped here last night, are in some way implicated in the Dewberry -case. Corporal Rand went out with them yesterday to the place where -Frischette was found. They were under police surveillance. Apparently, -they have escaped. Those two ponies that they were riding belong to us. -We had met Burnnel and Emery before and thought there might be trouble -if they saw us. So we left." - -"And it was a good thing we did," Sandy cut in. "As it was, they -followed us, shortly after their arrival here, and came upon us -unexpectedly. They took our revolvers and all the money we had. Toma -escaped. Then they came back here." - -"And you've been out there in the woods all night?" Meade inquired -softly. - -"Yes, we have, Mr. Meade," replied Dick, "and we're mighty tired and -hungry." - - - - - CHAPTER XVII - A POLICEMAN'S HORSE - - -Toma had never seen Corporal Rand in a rage before. The corporal's face -was flushed with anger and his expressive blue eyes snapped. As yet the -young Indian had received no explanation of how the policeman and his -two friends had been made prisoners. He had been too busy to question -them. Besides they had been in no condition to talk. The first -intelligible word from any of them had been: - -"Water!" - -None of the three could stand. Locked in that hot stifling room, their -suffering had been terrible. For more than an hour Toma had administered -to them, chafing their limbs, bringing them water, making them more -comfortable. After that, he had been compelled to hurry back to the -kitchen to prepare a meal for them. Cared for in this fashion, their -recovery had been rapid. Soon all, except Le Sueur, were able to stand -and to limp about the room. - -It was then that Toma noticed the policeman's anger. His lips were -pressed together tightly, his hands were clinched. The nails of his -fingers dug into his palms. - -"How it happen you get tie up in that room?" Toma asked, his sober dark -eyes gravely regarding the policeman. - -"Burnnel and Emery." The answer came short and terse, with no attempt at -elaboration. - -"How they do that?" - -"I had them locked up here," Rand pointed to the room, "when that woman -came." He paused, while a slow flush of shame mounted to his bronzed -forehead. "It was she, MacGregor's wife, who did it, Toma. Came riding -into the corral, just as I was preparing to start. I led my horse back -into the stable and went over to question her. You see," Rand explained, -"I knew her--'Rat' MacGregor's wife. Wondered why she had come here, -Toma. Surmised, of course, that she was up to some mischief. But I was -wholly unprepared for her treachery." - -The corporal paused again and the flush deepened. - -"What she do?" inquired Toma. - -The policeman's mouth set in a straight hard line. - -"Pulled a gun on me without warning and without provocation. I didn't -have a chance. I knew she'd use it. Fontaine and Le Sueur came out of -the house and she got the drop on them too. Marched us back to the -road-house and forced us to release Emery and Burnnel. - -"As soon as Emery and Burnnel were released, they took charge. We were -thrown into the room, bound, gagged, and the door was locked." - -The corporal paused again, moistening his dry lips. - -"But that isn't all, Toma. I have still to tell you about--about -Inverness. My horse! In my position, lying on the floor, I had a view -through the window, and those fiends," Corporal Rand choked, "brought -Inverness around and shot him before my very eyes. After that I saw them -drag him away. They came back again and I caught a glimpse of them as -they rode off: Burnnel astride Sandy's horse, and Emery riding Dick's, -the woman bringing up the rear on her own pony." - -Toma's face had grown dark with suppressed emotion. - -"Bad thing they shoot your horse, corporal." - -The deep lines about the policeman's mouth tightened. The pupils of his -eyes were like two steel points, hard, glittering. It was not difficult -to see what most aroused his ire. Rand could accept, without -complaining, the indignities offered to his own person. Not so, -regarding his horse. He loved the animal. Through weary, lonesome days -on patrol, it had been his only friend and companion. A strange -attachment had grown up between them. Almost any time, Rand would gladly -have sacrificed his own life to save that of the fiery little steed. - -The wilful, deliberate shooting of this horse was the cause of the -corporal's anger. In his heart, he had sworn revenge. - -"You see, Toma," his voice was strangely calm, "he meant a lot to -me--Inverness. I--I hated to see him go. Poor old fellow! I could see -his pleading look, when they brought him over opposite the window, and -he looked in and saw me." - -Unbidden, a tear came into the corporal's steely eye and trickled down -his cheek. He rose from his chair and strode to the door. - -"Why they shoot your horse like that?" Toma wanted to know. - -"To insure their escape," the policeman answered, not turning his head. -"If I were released, it would be necessary to follow on foot." - -He turned quickly upon Toma. - -"How did it happen," he asked, "that you came on alone? Where are Dick -and Sandy?" - -"Burnnel and Emery get them jus' like they get you. Almost get me, too, -but I jump away from them. I come on here because I think mebbe you go -back an' help." - -"You did well, Toma. Where did this happen?" - -"Near the place where keep 'em house that free trader." - -"Meade?" - -The Indian nodded. - -"That isn't far from here," said Rand. "We'll start at once." - -In admiration, Toma drew in his breath. Well he knew the agony the -policeman must endure from his limbs, still swollen, as the result of -that terrible ordeal. Notwithstanding this, he proposed to start out as -if nothing had happened. It was nearly twenty miles back along the trail -to Meade's Ferry. Twenty miles with legs like that! Twenty miles through -the stifling heat of that summer's day--and over a rough trail! - -"You think you do that?" he asked, his mouth agape. - -"I can do it," declared Rand simply. - -And not long afterward they were on the trail, the policeman walking -with a pronounced limp, yet keeping abreast of his more agile companion. -Mosquitos drove around them in clouds. The hot breath of the sun-steeped -earth rose up about them. It was tedious work, a gruelling, unpleasant -experience. - -Yet the corporal did not complain. When he spoke at all, it was to joke -or jest, to comment lightly upon some phase of their journey. And with -each passing minute, his limp grew more pronounced. He was hobbling now -upon swollen, blistered feet. - -"We better stop rest," Toma advised him. - -"No," said Rand, clenching his teeth, "we'll go on. It can't be much -farther now. Just a few miles more." - -So they went on again, a weary, perspiring pair. Though Toma suffered no -particular physical discomfort, he endured mental torture as he watched -the policeman keep pace with him. He could have cried out with -thankfulness, when at last, through an opening in the trees, he -discerned the low, rambling structure, which served the double purpose -of store and road-house. - -A short time later they entered the building itself and were greeted by -the kindly free trader. - -"Glad to see you, corporal. The boys were expecting you." - -"Where are they now?" - -"They've gone on." - -"And Burnnel and Emery?" - -"The boys are camping on their trail." - -Corporal Rand looked very much surprised and turned upon Toma. - -"I thought you said that the boys had been taken prisoners?" - -"Yes," nodded Toma. - -"Well, how can that be?" - -"I can explain it all," Meade laughed. "Dick and Sandy were taken -prisoners, all right, but were released a few minutes later. They slept -out last night in the open, returning here shortly after the three set -out--Burnnel, Emery and the squaw." - -"How did the boys travel?" Rand asked. - -"I lent them two ponies." - -"Got any more?" - -"Not another one, corporal. I have only the two. One is mine and the -other belongs to my son, Frederick. But where is your own horse, -corporal?" - -Thus reminded of his loss, Rand's face became grim again. - -"They shot it. Back at Frenchie's road-house. That's why I've come on -foot." - -"And you're almost crippled," said Meade, who had observed the -policeman's limp. - -"I can manage somehow." - -"Not until you've doctored up those feet," Meade declared kindly. - -Rand flung himself down in an easy chair, motioning to Toma also to be -seated. - -"You'd better rest while you can, Toma. We'll go on again in a few -minutes." - -Meade had grown thoughtful. - -"I've an idea," he announced at length, "that I can get two horses for -you over at Bonner's Lake from a half-breed there. This man has a herd -of ponies he keeps for Spring and Autumn freighting. They're feeding on -the range now and I'm sure he'll accommodate me." - -Meade smiled, puffing stoutly on his pipe. - -"I'll send my son, Frederick, over there," he resumed. "In the meantime, -you can rest here. He won't be long." - -The kind offer was accepted. In truth, the corporal's limbs were so -badly swollen from the effects of the thongs and the hard trek -immediately after being released by Toma, that he doubted very much -whether he could walk more than a few miles more, anyway. - -"I won't forget your kindness," the policeman thanked him. "It's very -good of you." - -"Not at all! Not at all!" Meade hastened to assure him. "I'd do that -much for the Royal Mounted any time. I've heard about the case you're -working on, corporal, and I'm anxious to have you succeed. Dewberry was -a friend of mine." - -Rand looked up quickly. - -"That's interesting. So few men really knew Dewberry. Queer character, -from what I've heard." - -"A splendid man," Meade declared reverently. "A generous and fine man!" - -"While your son, Frederick, is away after the horses, I wonder if you'll -tell me what you know of him. It has been very difficult to gather any -information concerning him. It might help a lot in this case if you'd -give me a clear insight into his character. There are a number of things -I can't explain." - -Frederick was called and sent after the ponies. Then Meade sat down and -began telling about his friend, the mysterious Dewberry. It was a story -very similar to the one he had told Dick and Sandy. Rand listened -without once interrupting, and Toma also paid close attention until, -growing drowsy, he fell asleep in his chair. When he awoke again, Meade -was still talking, but now occasionally the policeman plied him with a -question. - -Toma yawned, rose to his feet and stalked over to a window. Looking out, -he was surprised to see the free trader's son already returning with the -horses. - -"They come," announced Toma. "The ponies are here." - -Corporal Rand smiled and nodded at Toma, but--a thing the young Indian -could not understand--seemed more interested in the conversation than in -the arrival of the ponies. Nevertheless, a moment later Rand rose and -hobbled to the door. Meade followed him. They went out ahead of Toma, -and, as they did so, the policeman remarked: - -"Your talk has been a revelation. I'm beginning to see a little light." - -Long afterward, when he and the corporal were out on the trail, Toma -studied over that statement. What did Rand mean by that? Hadn't he -always seen the light? - -Then he shook his head and gave up in despair. For Corporal Rand, as -Toma was well aware, had never had trouble with his vision. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII - A RED BLOB - - -Burnnel, Emery and Rat MacGregor's wife set a hard pace. They led Dick -and Sandy far afield and it was seldom that the boys ever came in sight -of them. It was plain that the prospectors intended to force their -horses to the limit in an attempt to overtake the fleeing recluse. - -The trail led south. It was a well known trail, much travelled, -especially in the Spring and Fall of the year. Then, to the boys' -amazement, the outlaws suddenly left it, striking off southeastward -through a country infrequently visited. For a long time Dick and Sandy -could find no reasonable explanation for this, but, finally, the younger -of the two boys, brooding over the strange conduct of the outlaws, -offered an opinion. - -They were crossing a broad meadow at the time, exerting their ponies to -renewed effort. Through the thick, waving grass ahead, almost waist -high, was the faint track made by Burnnel's party. - -"I know now," Sandy's voice was excited. "I've solved the mystery." - -"What mystery?" - -"The reason why they went this way. It's a shortcut, Dick. The main -trail, if you happen to remember, turns straight east about fifty miles -south of here. Burnnel and Emery figure that they can head Creel off by -coming this way." - -"You must be right, Sandy. But I wonder if they've stopped to consider -that they have a river to cross. It's a wide one, too, nearly a quarter -of a mile, I should say. Do you suppose they can swim the horses?" - -"Dangerous, but they must intend to try it. It will be interesting to -watch them. If they can make it, so can we." - -"We ought to arrive at the river some time this afternoon. Hope they -don't see us coming. We must be fairly close to them right now." - -Crossing the meadow, they entered a grove of poplar, through which they -made their way more slowly, emerging, at length, to another meadow, -somewhat smaller than the one they had previously crossed. Here they -paused. On the far side, several miles away, they saw three tiny specks, -which they knew was Burnnel's party. Not wishing to approach any closer, -they rode back to the poplars again, dismounted, staked out their horses -and prepared their midday meal. At the end of an hour, when they resumed -their journey, they knew there would be little danger of drawing within -sight of the outlaws. - -So they pushed on steadily. They left the meadow behind and entered a -woodland, which grew thicker as they advanced. The dim trail ahead -became more difficult to follow. Finally, they lost it altogether, but a -few hours later the trees thinned out and straight ahead of them, a -shining, glistening ribbon in the sun, they saw the broad expanse of the -Hay River. - -They staked out their ponies, and set out on foot to reconnoitre. For -several hundred yards they followed the course of the valley, but could -find no trace of the outlaws. However, continuing eastward, they were -rewarded by the sight of a thin column of smoke, drifting lazily up -through the trees. The outlaws had made camp a few hundred yards below -on the bank of the river. Just now they were engaged, so the boys -surmised, in the preparation of a meal. - -Dick and Sandy crept closer. Nerves taut, they wormed their way ahead. -Then Dick touched Sandy's arm. - -"Look!" he whispered. - -Burnnel and Emery were squatting in front of the fire, indolently -smoking their pipes, while MacGregor's wife busied herself in gathering -wood, laying out the camp utensils and in other ways making herself -generally useful. - -"Lazy brutes!" sneered Sandy. "They don't seem to be in much of a hurry. -Do you suppose they'll attempt to ford the river this afternoon?" - -"Yes, I think so. In spite of their indolence now, they're anxious to -get on." - -"No use staying here," Sandy spoke again. "We'd better get back to our -ponies. We'll bring them over to the top of the ridge, where I think -they'll be safe enough. There's little danger that those lazy beggars -will climb the slope again." - -In returning to their horses, they chose to circle around the outlaws' -camp, went down to the bank of the river and moved slowly along, -conscious of a cool breeze and the close proximity of the water. They -were hot and tired and the water looked inviting. Close to the bank it -was clear as liquid glass. Here and there were the shadows of whitefish -and Northern trout. At the bottom of the river was white sand. Every few -yards or so, projecting up through this white sand, were smooth, -brownish-colored rocks that were surrounded by innumerable tiny eddies. - -In the interest of the moment, the boys almost forgot the grim business -in which they were engaged. Both had an overwhelming desire to linger -here. It was a peaceful, quiet spot. Sandy turned and smiled upon his -chum. - -"That water," he remarked, "looks cool." - -He wiped his perspiring brow. - -"I know what you're thinking," laughed Dick. "You'd like to strip and -plunge in, wouldn't you? I wish we could." - -Sandy stopped and commenced fanning himself with his hat. - -"Why not? It will do us both good. We'd be safe enough, I'm sure. They -can't possibly see us from here." - -Dick was tempted. He looked down at the water. A trout flashed up from -the cold, clear stream. Only for a moment did he hesitate. - -"All right. Come on." - -They threw off their clothes, racing with each other to see who would be -the first to dive in. Sandy won. Both boys commenced swimming about, -diving, floating, frolicking in the water to their hearts' content. So -absorbed were they in the refreshing sport, that they became oblivious -of the passing of time. Had not Sandy chanced to glance across the -river, it is probable that they might have forgotten about their -responsibilities for at least another hour or two. - -But in that glance, the young Scotchman had seen something that quickly -brought him back to the world of realities. He sprang ashore, calling to -Dick excitedly. - -"Look, Dick! What do you make of that?" One glistening wet arm was flung -out in front of him. - -On the opposite side, a few rods up from the water, Dick saw a blob of -red--something that looked very much like a large strip of flannel, -caught against the darker background of green. - -"A red cloth," answered Dick, only slightly interested. "Wonder who left -it there?" - -"It moves! It moves!" - -In spite of the nearness of Burnnel's party, Sandy almost shouted out -the words. - -Both boys stared, as if under some queer mesmeric spell. They watched -the red blob move along the line of brush and disappear with magic -abruptness. It came back again, however, in a very few minutes--only in -a different place. Again it remained perfectly stationary, then -fluttered behind a rock. In its second re-appearance, it moved toward -the brink of the river and, suddenly, instead of being merely a red -blob, mysteriously it formed itself into the unmistakable outline of a -human figure. - -"Some one in a red mackinaw," declared Sandy, laughing. - -"In a police tunic, you mean," Dick corrected him, commencing to hurry -into his clothes. - -"What! A mounted policeman?" - -"Exactly that. Why, you can see his broad-rimmed hat and heavy -top-boots." - - - - - CHAPTER XIX - ACROSS HAY RIVER - - -"I'd like to go over there," said Dick, "but if we do, Burnnel and Emery -will be sure to see us. We don't want that to happen. Our best plan is -to wait until after we ford the river. Then, if he hasn't already left -the vicinity, we'll find out who he is." - -"I know one thing," Sandy declared confidently, "and that is he's not -from the Mackenzie River detachment." - -"I'm not so sure. It may be our old friend, Sergeant Richardson." - -"But that territory, over there across the Hay, is patrolled by men from -the Peace River Detachment," Sandy objected. - -Dick rose quickly to his feet, hugging himself in sheer ecstasy. - -"I have it! I have it!" he cried. "You're right! He's from the Peace -River Detachment. They received my wire. I'm willing to bet on it. It's -someone after Creel." - -For a time Sandy caught the infection of the other's enthusiasm but, -after mature deliberation, he became more serious again. - -"No; you're wrong. The police haven't had time to come up from Peace -River Crossing since you wired them." - -"This man might have been on patrol somewhere between here and the -Crossing. They probably got in touch with him; wired back, I mean. Sent -him out on Creel's trail." - -"A possibility, of course. I wonder if we couldn't signal to him?" - -The suggestion interested Dick for a time. Then caution warned him that -it was not a very good plan after all. It might lead to complications. - -"No, we'd better let things remain as they are. Whatever we do, we -mustn't let Emery and Burnnel know that we are here." - -"Very well, then," Sandy agreed, "we'll go back to our ponies. It -shouldn't be long now before the outlaws commence to ford the river." - -Cheered and invigorated, they made their way up the slope, and not long -afterward came to the place where they had picketed the ponies. Saddling -and bridling their rugged little mounts, they rode slowly along the -ridge to a point above the outlaws' camp. Again they tethered out their -horses and sat down to wait. It was more than an hour later before the -outlaws attempted to cross. The sound of splashing came up from below, -punctuated now and again by sharp voices of the two men. - -The boys bounded to their feet and scrambled down the steep embankment. -Arriving at the abandoned camp, they observed that Burnnel's party were -already more than a quarter of the distance across the stream. The -ponies were swimming bravely, while the two prospectors and "Rat" -MacGregor's wife could be seen in the water beside them, clinging to the -pommels of the saddles. It was an exciting ordeal and the boys watched -the progress of the party breathlessly. Soon they had reached the center -of the river, fighting valiantly. Now they were being carried along by -the swift central current. Gradually, however, they neared the opposite -shore. They made their landing safely, a few minutes later, nearly a -mile downstream. They clambered up the slippery bank, shook then like -rats, and soon afterward disappeared from view. - -The boys waited for nearly an hour, before they made any effort to -follow. Then, leading their horses down, they, too, plunged into the icy -stream. Exultant and happy, ten minutes later they waded ashore and -paused to dry their dripping garments in the hot sun, near the edge of -the river. - -"Now," grinned Dick, "we'll look for that policeman." - -They mounted their horses and proceeded on their way. But, although they -kept the river within view, they could find no trace of the red-coated -figure they had seen only two hours before. He had vanished -mysteriously. Fearing that they had proceeded too far down along the -course of the stream, they turned back, mounting the slope. Twilight had -fallen. The boys were baffled and discouraged. When they made camp for -the night, neither had much to say. After supper they sat gloomily, -looking out across the valley. - -"I'm afraid we've lost out all around," complained Dick. "We may have -some difficulty in finding Burnnel's party now. I wish we had left the -policeman to his own devices and had gone on after them." - -Sandy struck irritably at the mosquitos swarming about him. - -"Think I'll start a smudge," he growled. - -Dick rose to his feet. - -"While you kindle the fire, I'll go along the slope and get an arm-load -of moss." - -Suiting the action to the word, he started away, walking leisurely. He -had gone less than fifty yards, when he drew back, startled. Unless his -eyes had deceived him, he had seen something--a movement in the brush. -Trembling, he took up a position in the deep shadows, close to a willow -copse, straining his eyes through the obscurity. - -"Might be a deer," he thought. - -He had really not expected to see a man. Yet a man it was. Creel! Dick -blinked. The old recluse stood limned in the darkening twilight, -scarcely twenty feet away. His attitude was that of a hunted beast. His -long hair fell over his eyes in straggly disorder, giving him the -appearance of a madman. His long beard fluttered lightly in the breeze. - -Dick's heart leaped. Creel was coming straight toward him. Cold sweat -beaded Dick's brow. He was shaking as if from the ague. Nearer and -nearer came Creel. Only a few feet away now--almost upon him! - -Then, suddenly, for no apparent reason, the recluse paused. Dick could -hear his labored breathing. Some intuitive sense had warned the man of -impending danger. For a full minute he remained perfectly still, his -gaze darting from right to left. He took one step forward cautiously. A -second step. Again he paused. He was so close now, that Dick could -almost reach out his hand and touch him. The young man's mind was -awhirl, dizzy with conflicting impulses. His quarry within his grasp, -and yet he hesitated. Why, he did not know. - -The recluse took one more step and in that instant caught sight of the -crouching form. He attempted to turn, one hand struggling at his belt. -Dick lunged forward, catching Creel around the knees, bearing him down. -The struggle was short but spirited. - -"No use," panted Dick, "I've got you!" - -Creel's struggles subsided. - -"What do you want with me?" choked the captive, as Dick pinioned his -arms. - -"The police are looking for you, Creel," the other breathed in his ear. -"The game's up. You'll have to come along with me." - -Securing the other's revolver, Dick rose to his feet. - -"Come on now," he ordered, "Get up!" - -He drove Creel ahead of him to the place where he and Sandy had made -camp. In the dim light, Sandy saw the approaching shadows, but as yet -was unaware of the presence of a third person. - -"Did you bring the moss?" he inquired petulantly. "What kept you so -long?" - -"Sandy," Dick's voice quavered, "come here!" The young Scotchman put -down the branch, which he had been breaking into short lengths, and -strode forward. His astonishment was unbounded. - -"Creel!" he exclaimed. "Where did you find him, Dick?" - -"Out there," Dick pointed. Then, turning upon the old recluse: "Hand -over the contents of that poke," he ordered, pressing his revolver close -to the man's chest. - -Creel backed away. - -"I haven't it," he whined. "It's gone--gone! Release me, I tell you. I -haven't it." - -"You had it," said Dick. "What did you do with it?" - -"They took it," answered Creel, his voice rising almost to a scream. - -"Who?" - -"Burnnel and Emery. That woman." - -"Where did you meet them?" - -"Back there," the recluse waved one arm. "I came on them unexpectedly." -He shook in his agitation. "Wasn't even thinking about them. I--I-- The -policeman-- He was following me. Ever since last night." - -The story seemed plausible, yet in order to make sure that their captive -spoke the truth, they searched his pockets, which proved to be almost as -bare as their own. - -"Did they take your money too?" Dick demanded. - -"Yes." - -"Where are they camped now?" - -"About a mile from here. They turned me loose less than an hour ago." - -"Creel," said Sandy, "there's one thing I wish you'd explain. What are -you doing here so far from the trail?" - -"Trying to get away from that policeman," came the answer. "I was on my -way south to Peace River Crossing, when I met him on the trail. He had -me cornered. He was sitting there on his horse, waiting for me. I could -see that. But I gave him the slip. I dropped off my horse and ducked -into the thick timber on the left side of the trail. I ran. I was sure -that I could get away from him. I knew that no horse could follow me -there. But he kept on my trail, and several times that night and today, -I caught sight of him following me." - -Sandy's voice broke the next interval of silence. "What's to be done -now?" - -"I'm going over to the outlaws' camp," declared Dick with grim decision. - -"But what will we do with Creel?" - -"You can stay here and watch him." - -Sandy caught his breath. - -"Do you mean to say you'd tackle 'em all alone, Dick? A terrible risk! -They'd be sure to get you." - -"No, they'll be too surprised to do anything. They won't expect me." - -Sandy put one trembling hand to his face. - -"I--I hate to think of it. You'd be all right if only Toma were with -you. But alone--" - -He paused, choking. - -"I'll set out right away," said Dick, "and you needn't worry, Sandy. -I'll promise to be careful. I won't take any more chances than -necessary. Perhaps I'll find them asleep." - -He turned to go. Sandy sprang after him, seizing his arm. - -"If anything happens to you, Dick, I'll--I'll feel that it's all my -fault. But don't forget that I'm with you. If--if they should happen to -take you prisoner, I'll manage your release somehow." - -"I know you will, Sandy,"--in a smothered voice. - -"Good-bye, Dick." - -"Good-bye." - -Dick stumbled forward through the shadows, his heart beating wildly. A -mile to Burnnel's camp. Not far! He'd move cautiously. He mustn't fail -now. Victory was in their hands. - -The shadows were very dark along the ridge, and far below came the -murmur of the river. From its darkened perch, an owl hooted dismally. - - - - - CHAPTER XX - A THRILLING EXPERIENCE - - -Though only a short distance away, Burnnel's camp proved to be hard to -find. It was darker than usual that night, owing to the fact that the -sky was overcast. It is doubtful if Dick would have discovered the camp -at all, had he not, after nearly an hour of beating futilely about in -the underbrush, been attracted by the dull red glow of a dying campfire. - -Stealing upon his enemies with a quaking heart, he had soon advanced -within the circle of light made by the glowing red embers. Near the fire -were stretched the forms of the two prospectors, while thirty or forty -feet away lay the woman. - -The camp slumbered. Conditions could not have been more favorable for -Dick's project. It would be easy to walk over, gun in hand, and awaken -the sleepers. Neither of them would have the least opportunity to offer -resistance. - -"It's dead easy," Dick argued with himself. "I can't fail. It's all as -easy as A, B, C." - -Yet he hesitated. He had planned his approach and knew exactly what he -was going to do and say. But, somehow, it was easier to think about it -than to act. Once or twice he started determinedly forward, but as -quickly checked himself. - -"I don't know what's the matter with me," he breathed. "Any minute they -may awake, and yet I'm standing here." - -He was nervous and shaky; his cheeks and hands were deathly cold. His -right hand gripped his revolver so tightly that the bones in his fingers -ached. A stricture in his throat made breathing difficult. For the -second time, he took a step forward. The fire was slowly dying out. Its -subdued glow was less bright than when he had arrived. If he didn't act -promptly he'd be forced to accomplish his purpose in the darkness and -run the risk of failure. - -He was less than twenty paces from the sleeping forms. Moving very -slowly, it would take less than two minutes to reach the sleeping men. -He realized that to hurry over might be fatal to his plans. The faintest -sound might betray him. He mustn't snap a single dry twig or brush too -hurriedly through the tall grass. He couldn't afford to fail now. - -He negotiated the distance without mishap. Heart in his throat, he stood -with his back toward the fire. Immediately in front of him lay the two -unsuspecting outlaws. Burnnel snored peacefully, while Emery, lying on -his right side, one arm flung out, might have been dead, for all the -sound he made resting quietly there. - -Dick, preparing to shout out to awaken them, checked himself in time. A -cold sweat broke out upon his body. An obstacle had presented itself. -When he aroused Burnnel and Emery, he would awaken the woman too, and he -was too far away from MacGregor's wife to prevent her escape. Or, what -would be more disconcerting or fatal still, she might suddenly determine -to come to the outlaws' rescue. No doubt she was armed. Dick's heart -beat wildly against his ribs and a lump rose in his throat, choking him. -What was he going to do? - -He considered waking the woman first, being as quiet as possible, then -coming back for the two prospectors. But he dismissed this idea almost -as quickly as it had come. Better, far better to start with the outlaws. -He dismissed his original plan of shouting out. That would never do. No; -he would prod them quietly with his foot until they woke up. - -A distance of several feet separated the two sleepers. He stepped -between them. Burnnel lay flat on his back. Dick stooped over and jerked -the big prospector's gun from its holster, expecting of course, that the -man would awake. To his surprise Burnnel slept on. So he turned his -attention to Emery. - -Dick now had a gun in either hand. It gave him more confidence. Emery -stirred, as he prodded him with his foot. He continued until the wiry -little man sat up, rubbing his eyes. - -"A word out of you," said Dick softly, "and I'll blow your brains out. -Hand over your gun, butt forward." - -Emery obeyed. Dick thrust the revolver in his own holster, an awkward -proceeding because he was compelled to keep his opponent covered. - -"Now," said Dick, "wake up Burnnel and do it quietly. Get busy!" - -Emery, who evidently was thoroughly frightened, rolled over and shook -his partner. The big fellow half-awoke, perceived who was shaking him, -thrust out one huge arm petulantly and pushed the little man back with -considerable violence. - -"Shoot me or not," snarled Emery, "yuh kin wake him yourself." - -"Wake him up!" Dick's voice carried a menace. - -This time Emery succeeded. But the big man was noisy and profane, even -after his sleep-stained eyes had caught the glint of Dick's weapon. - -"Keep quiet!" ordered Dick, almost beside himself with fear. "Keep -quiet! If you don't I'll drill you through and through. Give me the -contents of that poke!" - -The campfire glowed an angry red. In its ghostly light the two -prospectors turned out their pockets, defiantly. Dick recovered his own -money, watch and the huge roll of bills, belonging to Creel, Toma's -jack-knife, Sandy's pocket-compass, and two keys on a ring. The articles -were so many and varied that he soon perceived that he would not have -room for them about his person. So he compelled Emery to tie them up in -a bundle, flung over his own coat for the purpose. But where was the -treasure? Nonplussed, Dick stared from one to the other. - -"Where's the contents of Dewberry's poke?" Emery gave Dick a look of -unutterable surprise--and almost choked. Burnnel laughed scornfully. - -"We ain't got it." - -"What have you done with it?" - -"Ain't never had it," said Emery, choking with laughter. - -"You lie!" exclaimed Dick hotly. "Creel told me that you took it away -from him." - -"No, you're wrong, pardner. If Creel told yuh that, he was spoofin' yuh. -We ain't never even seen him." - -"If that's true," said Dick, white to the lips, "how did you manage to -get Creel's roll?" - -Neither of the outlaws attempted to reply. Emery hung his head guiltily. -Burnnel's face was averted. Further questioning proved futile. Both men -persisted that they had taken nothing from Creel except his money. -Angrily, Dick drove them ahead of him to where the woman lay, still -sleeping, and aroused her. Then, forcing the three to saddle and lead -their ponies, they made their way back to Dick and Sandy's camp. - -On his way back, Dick felt that he had been robbed of a complete -victory. His achievement in capturing the outlaws single-handed was -darkened by the knowledge that in some unaccountable way Burnnel and -Emery had contrived to hide Dewberry's much-sought treasure. He decided -that when morning came he would make a more careful search. It was -possible that he had overlooked its hiding place. It occurred to him -that it might be in one of the saddle-packs, or sewed up in the outlaws' -garments. At any rate, he would leave no stone unturned until he had -fully satisfied himself that Creel had lied to him. - -Sandy's joy and astonishment over the safe and successful return of his -chum were unbounded. He clapped Dick on the back, shouting out his -approval. - -"If we're only careful now," he cried, "we'll soon reach the end of our -adventures. We've won. Won't Corporal Rand and Toma be pleased when we -return with all these prisoners." - -For the remainder of that night neither of the two boys slept. They took -turn in replenishing the fire and guarding the prisoners. Dick had -become more cheerful and was confident that when morning came they would -find the mysterious treasure, which had been responsible for so much -trouble and tragedy and waste of human life. - -Yet, when morning came, they were destined to be disappointed again. -They found nothing. Burnnel and Emery watching them, sneered openly. -Creel seemed perplexed. Noticing his expression, Sandy questioned him. - -"Why did you lie to us about the contents of that poke?" - -"I didn't lie to you," Creel retorted. "They've done something with it, -you may depend upon that." - -"Don't bother, Sandy," Dick exclaimed in exasperation, "you're just -wasting time. We might as well start back. Corporal Rand will know what -to do." - -So, a few minutes later, they set out on their return journey. They were -forced to travel more slowly than they had come, owing to the fact that, -on the previous day, while attempting to evade the police, Creel had -abandoned his horse. The boys forced the outlaws to take turn and turn -about walking. - -On the evening of the first day they were treated to a pleasant -surprise. Sitting around the campfire, enjoying their evening meal, the -party was suddenly made aware of the presence of a stranger. He had come -up silently and unnoticed. Presently he stood before them, a trim, natty -figure, the bright crimson of his police tunic contrasting sharply with -the deep green around him. The policeman smiled at their quick start. - -"I'm Constable Wyatt, of the Peace River Detachment," he announced. - -The boys sprang to their feet and hurried forward to greet the -constable. - -"I'm Dick Kent and this is Sandy MacClaren," Dick explained to him. "We -have been helping Corporal Rand, who has been working on the Dewberry -case." - -The policeman smiled. - -"Well, you've been more lucky or clever than I have. From all -appearances, you've made a coup. I see you have Creel, the man they -wired about." - -"I sent the telegram for Corporal Rand," said Dick a trifle proudly. - -"I almost had my hands on him on several different occasions. Perhaps I -would have taken him eventually if you hadn't. Who are these others?" - -"Burnnel and Emery, two prospectors, and she," Dick pointed, "is 'Rat' -MacGregor's wife. All of them are mixed up in the case, constable. We -had reason to believe that Creel had Dewberry's treasure. Creel claims -that Burnnel and Emery took it away from him. Whether or not this is -true, we have been unable to determine. We can't find it." - -And in a few words Dick related their experience of the previous night. - -"You say you've made a very careful search?" asked Wyatt. - -"Yes." - -"The only thing that I can think of," hazarded the police constable, "is -that Burnnel and Emery hid the treasure somewhere near their camp before -they retired for the night." - -"That's possible," said Dick. "It didn't occur to me. Of course, they -wouldn't tell us if they had." - -"Naturally not," Wyatt smiled grimly. - -On the following morning they reached the trail and the first habitation -they had seen for many, many miles. Here they were able to procure -another horse, and thereafter they moved forward more quickly. The next -day, threading their way along through the cool forest spaces, a turn in -the trail revealed two approaching horsemen. Dick and Sandy rose in -their stirrups and waved their hats wildly. - -The two horsemen were Corporal Rand and Toma. - - - - - CHAPTER XXI - THE KEY TO THE MYSTERY - - -Two days later, on its way north to the Mackenzie River barracks, the -party stopped for the night at Meade's Ferry. After supper Toma, Sandy -and Frederick Meade went over to the river for an evening's fishing. The -two policemen and Dick remained behind. Sitting in the large -trading-room, they conversed quietly. - -"There's only one thing that I regret," said Corporal Rand, "and that is -that we have been unable to recover Dewberry's treasure." - -"What is this treasure?" Wyatt asked, then turned his head as someone -came to the doorway. "You--Mr. Meade. Step right in. You don't need to -hesitate. This isn't a private conference." As soon as the free-trader -had taken a seat beside him, Wyatt repeated his question: - -"What is this treasure?" - -"We don't know," replied Rand. "However, it is an established fact that -on the night he was murdered Dewberry had a roll of bills in his pocket -and a small poke, suspended from a cord tied around his neck." - -Rand paused, reached in his pocket and brought to light a diminutive -moosehide pouch or leather sack, which he passed over to his fellow -policeman. - -"There it is. That's the poke. You see how small it is. Nevertheless, at -one time it contained something of great value. MacGregor risked his -life to get it. Frischette or Creel--as I now have reason to -believe--surprised MacGregor in the very act of committing his crime, -and took it forcibly from him. Since that night the poke has had an -interesting history. Creel kept it in his cabin, but one night he was -visited by Emery and Burnnel, who secured possession of it. A few -minutes later Dick, Toma and Sandy took it away from them. But in the -end Frischette got it and escaped. The next day his body was found by -Burnnel and Emery, who reported the news to me." - -"They murdered him." - -"No, it was suicide. I'm almost sure of that. You see, I found a note in -the inner pocket of Frischette's coat. This note was in Frischette's -hand-writing and mentions that he is about to take his own life." - -"Burnnel and Emery might have forced him to write that note. It might be -a case of murder after all." - -"I've considered that too, Wyatt, but--well, to be frank, I have a -theory. My theory is that although this is the poke originally carried -by Dewberry, its contents were tampered with and a substitution made by -Creel at his cabin before Burnnel and Emery came. To make my theory more -clear to you, I'd like to say that I believe that this poke had been -filled with something of no value whatsoever. A clever deception on -Creel's part. Not only did it fool Emery and Burnnel, but it fooled -Frischette himself. When Frischette opened the poke, you can imagine his -rage and disappointment. The treasure was not there. He was a coward at -heart and dared not return. Hopeless and despondent, he shot himself." - -Corporal Rand paused to light his pipe. - -"My theory is strengthened by Creel's subsequent actions," the corporal -continued. "While I was out on the trail investigating the cause of -Frischette's death, he took the opportunity to slip away unnoticed. The -assumption was that he had started out for Edmonton, or some other -point, with Dewberry's treasure. Burnnel, Emery and 'Rat' MacGregor's -wife evidently came to the same conclusion for, after locking me up at -Frischette's road-house," the corporal flushed at the memory, "they set -out to follow Creel. If they didn't suspect him of having the treasure, -why did they follow him? How are you going to answer that question?" - -"Your theory must be correct," said Wyatt. - -"It must be," Meade agreed. - -"It isn't my theory particularly. Young Sandy MacClaren came to the same -conclusion. You have the facts. I needn't go further into detail. You -know what happened over there by the river." - -"They cached the treasure somewhere," declared Wyatt. - -Corporal Rand nodded. - -"It seems to be the only solution." - -Conversation wandered to other things, and Dick soon lost interest. He -yawned, rose from his chair and went outside. It was a lovely evening, -cool and exhilarating. There came to his ears the drowsy sound of the -forest. Birds peeped, preparing to nestle down for the night. The pine -trees droned their incessant chant. Here and there, rabbits scampered -into the open, their curious little muzzles twitching inquisitively. - -Dick yawned again and stretched his arms above his head. It was about -time the boys were coming back. He wondered if their fishing expedition -had been successful. Bored with the inactivity, he decided to stroll -down toward the river to meet them. - -He was twenty yards from the cabin when a voice called him back--the -voice of Corporal Rand. Quickly he retraced his steps. - -"Sorry to trouble you, Dick," Corporal Rand met him at the door, "but -Wyatt and I would like to see that bundle of stuff you secured that -night from Burnnel and Emery. Where is it?" - -"In my bunk," Dick answered, "rolled up in my coat. I'll get it for -you." - -A moment later he secured the bundle, carried it to the table and opened -it. Wyatt, Rand and Meade gathered in a little circle around him. He -took up the objects, one by one, very much after the manner of a person -taking inventory. - -"This is Creel's roll of money. This is mine. These bills and coins -belong to the outlaws. This is my jack-knife and here is Sandy's -compass. This is my watch and this is Emery's revolver." - -There remained a pocket-comb and mirror, a pipe--its bowl somewhat -battered--two hunting knives and the ring with the two keys. As Dick -picked up the last named object, Meade gave vent to a startled cry and -jumped forward. - -"Let's see it! Let's see it! Give it to me!" - -Dick handed it over. - -"Keys," said Rand. "Who owns them?" - -"I think they belong to one of the outlaws," answered Dick. - -"Outlaws!" shrieked Meade, his face distorted. "I should say not! -They're Dewberry's keys. I'd know them anywhere." - -A hush came over the room. An old-fashioned clock ticked loudly. -Presently Meade's feet shuffled away from the table and he went over and -sat down. His head dropped in his hands. For several minutes he sat -there in deep abstraction. He was thinking deeply. Then, with unexpected -suddenness, he bounded to his feet. - -"I've solved your mystery!" he shouted. - -The three other occupants of the room surrounded him in a body. - -"Tell us," cried Rand. - -The free-trader waved them to their chairs. - -"Sit down," he commanded, "and I'll tell you all about it. But I must -begin at the beginning, so that it will all be clear to you." - -"Yes, yes," breathed Rand. - -"Dewberry was my friend. I was his guest one time at Peace River -Crossing. You know where his place is?" He turned to Wyatt. - -"A little cottage on a hill. Overlooks the Hart River," answered the -policeman. - -"Have you ever been inside of it?" - -"No." - -"Were you acquainted with Dewberry?" - -"I knew him slightly," said Wyatt. "But I've seen him often enough. An -unusual character." - -"Exactly. He _was_ queer--queer in many ways. He loved books--scores of -them in his book-cases. A violinist and pianist too! But the most -peculiar thing of all about him was his aversion to human companionship. -He had no real friends. He was shy and reserved. Kept to himself. For -months at a time, he would be away somewhere in the foothills -prospecting. Then he'd return again to Peace River Crossing and become -absorbed in his books; or else he'd go out to Edmonton." - -Meade paused to light his pipe. He puffed reflectively. It was several -moments before he resumed: - -"The minute I laid my eyes on that key-ring with its two keys, I knew -it. I'd seen it many times before." - -As he spoke, Meade exhibited the ring and selected the larger of the two -keys. - -"This," he informed them, "is the key to the front door of Dewberry's -cottage." - -"And the second?" Rand interrupted, unable to check his curiosity. - -"This key, gentlemen," Meade held it up and announced dramatically, "is, -I think, the key to your mystery, the cause of all your trouble. It was -the thing that MacGregor wanted when he murdered its owner, that -Frischette died for, that Creel, Emery, Burnnel and the squaw fought -over. In other words, unless I am very badly mistaken--and I don't think -I am--this key unlocks a large iron chest that stands in the front room -of Dewberry's cottage." - - - - - CHAPTER XXII - DEWBERRY'S TREASURE - - -Peace River Crossing is a growing, bustling town that nestles in the -broad, deep valley of one of the North Country's largest rivers. Until a -few years ago, it was a trading post merely, the stamping ground and -meeting place of trappers, prospectors and adventurers, who, from -various points along the river, and from the wilderness to the east and -west, came here to transact their business or find companionship and -entertainment. - -At the time of this story, the Edmonton, Dunvegan & British Columbia -Railway only recently had been built. Just a few months before his -death, Dewberry had seen the miracle of two lines of steel, supported by -a marvelous system of trestlework, creep slowly into the village. - -Soon after that Dewberry decided that he would go north. Turning his -back upon his cherished books, he went out, locking the door after him -for the last time. The cabin looked very lonely in his absence. Perched -on a hill, overlooking the Hart River, it stood day after day, a sort of -bleak landmark among the other houses in the village. When the sun was -bright, and happened to be shining from the right direction, the two -front windows blinked and glistened like two large human eyes. Indian -and half-breed children, playing in the level fields below, would look -up at them in fear. They were afraid of the house. They were afraid of -the man who lived there. Nothing whatsoever could have induced them to -climb the rocky path and enter the yard, which just now was overgrown -with tall weeds and grass. - -This fear on the children's part was shared to some extent by their -parents. They shunned the cabin. In all the time Dewberry was away on -this last trip, probably not more than three persons passed by the -house, and then only because it was necessary to do so. Not until late -in midsummer, did anyone actually cross the yard and deliberately walk -up to the door with the intention of entering. - -That person was Constable Wyatt, of the Peace River Detachment of the -Royal North West Mounted Police. He was not alone. Another policeman and -three boys accompanied him. The constable strode forward, erect and -graceful, jingling a keyring. He selected one key and fitted it into the -lock. Then he turned, before proceeding further, and smiled at his -companions. - -"The right one. It will work, I think." - -"Open the door," instructed the other policeman, who stood close behind -him, and appeared to be either eager or impatient. - -The key grated in the lock and the door creaked, as Wyatt turned the -knob and pressed his weight against it. Five pairs of eyes stared into -the room. One of the boys--the youngest of the three--drew in his breath -sharply. - -"Great Scott! Books! Look at 'em--just look at 'em, Dick! A thousand or -more!" - -"A piano too," said Dick. "But where's the chest?" - -The small party crowded into the room. A heavy odor assailed their -nostrils. The place was stuffy and close. The blinds, which hung over -the closed windows, shut out most of the light. Not until these blinds -were raised and a window or two flung up, did any of the party do more -than to give the room a curious inspection. - -"According to Meade," Rand spoke calmly, "the chest ought to be -somewhere in this room." - -No chest was visible. Eyes darted here and there, questioningly. Wyatt, -Sandy and Dick hurried into the adjoining room to continue the search -there. Corporal Rand sat down, while Toma still remained in almost the -identical position he had taken up when he had first entered the house. - -At one side of the room a heavy fur overcoat lay in a wrinkled heap upon -the floor. Four feet above it, a long wooden peg projected from the -scored surface of a log. The inference was that the coat had slipped off -the peg at some time or other and that Dewberry, either through -oversight or neglect, had failed to hang it back in its accustomed -place. - -For a short space the young Indian gazed at the garment and then at the -peg. His eyes lit perceptibly. Something told him that the overcoat had -not fallen to the floor from that sturdy peg, and, besides, there was a -suspicious bulge--something underneath. With an amused chuckle, he -darted forward and lifted up the coat. The chuckle died in his throat. -He stepped back. - -The chest was there! - -Corporal Rand's sharp exclamation drew the others quickly. They were -crowded around him and Toma, looking down with bated breath at an iron -box, covered with fantastic scrolls and figures, embellished and -ornamented with metal rosettes and a fret-work of bronze. Neither Dick -nor Sandy had ever seen anything quite like it. It was not an ordinary -chest. It looked old--hundreds of years old--yet it was neither battered -nor broken, nor in any way scarred or defaced. Beautiful though it was, -its beauty produced a strange effect upon them. A malevolent influence -seemed to emanate there. - -Two feet high, three feet in length, approximately twenty in -breadth--the iron box stood there and seemed to defy them. Its -workmanship was superb. Dick guessed that it was of foreign origin, -probably Oriental. He shivered a little as Wyatt gave the key-ring to -Corporal Rand and motioned to him to stoop down and open the chest. - -Rand's fingers fumbled with the ring. A hollow scraping sound followed -the insertion of the key, and, having turned it, the cover--fitted with -a hidden, powerful spring--sprang open so quickly that its outer edge -caught the policeman on the point of the chin and threw him back amongst -his astonished companions. - -Dazed, the corporal scrambled back to a position on his knees and stared -in bewilderment at the chest. There was not a great deal to see. Within, -the chest was fitted with a thin metal lid, which completely hid -everything below. On the inside of the cover, however, was pasted a -heavy label, upon which was the following writing: - -"TREASURE CHEST.--Exhumed in September 1843 from the ruins of an ancient -temple discovered by Sir George Pettibone, English explorer, near -Kaifeng, in the province of Honan, China. Believed to date back to the -Mongol or Ming Dynasty, (A. D. 1260-1368), (A. D. 1368-1644)." - -"Wonderful!" exclaimed Dick, when Corporal Rand had finished reading. - -"It is wonderful," breathed Wyatt. "It would be interesting to know how -it came into Dewberry's possession." - -Sandy was impatient. He had pushed closer to Corporal Rand and was -looking down at the chest over the policeman's shoulder. - -"I can hardly wait until you remove that lid," he broke forth. "Why -don't you lift it up, corporal?" - -Gingerly, Rand placed a thumb and finger in two round holes in the lid -and tugged gently. Slowly, an inch or two at a time, it came up, -revealing an interior space taken up by six square trays of -sandalwood--any one of which contained a fortune. - -Gold! Treasure! The boys caught their breath. There came a concerted -rush around the box. Exclamations of amazement. Not only gold here--but -precious stones. Diamonds! Sapphires! Blood-red rubies! Platinum in -rings and bars. Gold dust! Curios! Priceless antiques! Nuggets! - -Sandy and Dick were shouting and exclaiming like maniacs. Wyatt and -Corporal Rand were talking in excited tones. Toma, less interested than -any of them, after a curious, puzzled glance into the interior of the -chest, backed away, grunting out something under his breath. - -It was Sandy, who presently discovered that the trays were removable, -that underneath them was a shallow compartment, three or four inches in -depth, completely filled with letters and papers and documents of -various kinds. - -"Here!" he shouted, holding it up. "A book! Must be very valuable or -Dewberry wouldn't keep it in here." - -He passed it on to Corporal Rand, then turned again and, with Dick's -assistance, began replacing the trays. The contents of these were, to -the boys, of far more importance and interest than anything else -confined within that ancient, mysterious receptacle. Again they fell to -examining the treasure. - -They were so absorbed in this delightful pastime, that they were wholly -unaware of what was taking place in the room behind them. The two -policemen had drawn up chairs and were sitting opposite each other, -their faces alight. Wyatt, who leaned forward eagerly, was listening to -Rand. Rand flipped the pages and read out of the book: - -"November 20, 1908.--This is my second trip out to Edmonton this year. -Today I met Professor B--, of the University of Alberta, who promised to -secure for me a first edition of Thackeray's _Vanity Fair_. Will send to -Vincent's at Montreal. Ought to have it here next time I come down. -Professor B-- is generous and kindly. Knowing of my interest in -antiques, he sent me, with a letter of introduction to a Mr. Lipton, a -private collector, who occupies a suite of rooms at the King Edward. I -enjoyed this visit and induced Mr. Lipton to part with a very valuable -cameo." - -"Interesting," remarked Wyatt. "Go on!" - -Corporal Rand flipped several pages and resumed: - -"May 6, 1909.--Spent the better part of this week around the head-waters -of the Finley. Gruelling work, but I love it. The mosquitos are savage, -persistent little brutes, and only the fine mesh of my new net, with the -addition of a pair of gloves, saves me from being sucked dry. I'll need -what blood and energy I have to complete my work here. Have been looking -for the famous Crystal Lode, which old Dave Crystal found somewhere near -here in 1890 and subsequently sold, 'unsight, unseen,' to Ben and Gordan -Wilson, who have never been heard from since." - -A slight pause while Rand cleared his throat and turned more of the -pages. - -"December 2, 1911.--I'm happy tonight. This afternoon Lipton agreed to -sell me that wonderful Chinese chest. I paid him two thousand dollars -for it without once blinking an eye. At that, I'm lucky to get it. -Lipton wouldn't have parted with it for twice that sum eight months ago. -I'm afraid he's been buying so much real estate that he's short of cash. -Whatever his motive, I'm exceedingly grateful to him." - -Wyatt slid forward in his chair. - -"Yes! Yes!" he exclaimed excitedly. "Read on." - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII - LEAVES FROM AN OLD DIARY - - -Dick and Sandy turned from their inspection of the treasure. - -"What's that you've been reading?" Sandy demanded. - -"Dewberry's diary." - -"Is that the book I handed you a few moments ago?" - -"Yes," the answer came from Corporal Rand. "I believe it will prove of -invaluable assistance to us in this case." - -The corporal still held the book in his lap, and seemed loath to -discontinue its perusal. The excerpts he had read aloud to Wyatt had -still further excited his curiosity, a curiosity which was shared by the -other policeman. The man from the Peace River Detachment consulted his -watch. - -"It's only three o'clock, Rand," he pointed out. "We still have plenty -of time at our disposal. I'd enjoy hearing more from that book. Why not -continue, corporal?" - -Rand turned the pages at random, his keen blue eyes glancing over the -contents. In a clear, musical voice he continued: - -"November 12, 1912.--Why is it that my chest from Honan continues to -fascinate me? Sitting here at home this evening, my thoughts dwelt upon -it. Twice I opened it and removed the trays, one by one, with the rapt -interest of a child; removed them and placed them on the floor beside -me. How indescribably bare it looks. I'm sure it wasn't like that during -the Ming dynasty. - -"November 17, 1912.--Today I finished reading Marco Polo's wonderful -narrative. Very naturally, it turned my thoughts to the chest. I'm -obsessed with a whimsical fancy. My chest, I am quite sure, was at one -time the depository for the jewels and wealth of the great Ming himself. -I visualize all those mysterious compartments overflowing with the -treasure from seven seas. This one contained diamonds; this one rubies; -this one sapphires and emeralds. In the remaining trays there are -quantities of silver and gold. Just to heighten the illusion, I have -placed the contents of three pokes in one of the trays. Then I locked it -up. I, too, shall have my treasure." - -Corporal Rand ceased reading. Dick and Sandy laughed. - -"Queer old duck, wasn't he?" Dick commented. "Well, I don't know as I -blame him any. It is mysterious." - -Corporal Rand did not reply. He turned a few pages idly, then read -again: - -"June 2, 1913.--I have found the Crystal Lode. Could scarcely believe my -good fortune. Came upon it more by accident than design. Tremendously -rich. Here and there, I found evidences of the workings of old Dave -Crystal. Will be compelled to keep this a secret. Took out over a -thousand dollars yesterday." - -"Whew!" gasped Sandy. - -Rand was excited too. He turned the pages more quickly. - -"October 1, 1914.--I'm back at the Crossing earlier than usual this -year. Brought a good deal of gold with me. Raced it in the chest. It -will soon be filled to overflowing. The depository of the great Ming has -come into its own. - -"November 10, 1914.--Lipton would smile if he knew what I was up to. -Today--the third since my arrival in Edmonton--I converted nearly eight -thousand dollars worth of gold from the Crystal Lode into precious -stones. The jewelers here must think I am mad. Almost overnight, I have -changed my vocation. In place of being a collector of rare old books and -antiques, I have become a connoisseur of gems. - -"November 12, 1914.--Professor B-- of the University of Alberta, had -lunch with me at the Cecil Hotel. Our talk was on various subjects but -finally I led him, rather adroitly, I think, to a topic which, at -present, is my all-absorbing passion. Did Professor B-- know anything -about jewelry, precious stones? He did. I have yet to touch upon a -subject he is not interested in. During our conversation, he happened to -mention casually that the Dalton's, who are very wealthy people here, -possess what is undoubtedly the most valuable sapphire in this country. -I think I must have pricked up my ears at this information. During the -rest of the day, I could think of nothing else. Perhaps tomorrow I shall -pluck up enough courage to go and see Dalton. - -"November 13, 1914.--The Dalton sapphire is mine. Paid forty thousand -for it. Dalton is not an agreeable person to deal with. I almost came -away without it. Was forced to draw on my account at the Bank of -Montreal. Dalton demanded a certified check and made a number of -pertinent inquiries over the telephone. In spite of his haughty manner, -he must need the money. Didn't even offer to shake hands with me at -parting." - -Rand closed the book, pointing at the chest. - -"It's easy to see now where he got those things. For years he's been -converting the gold from the Crystal Lode into precious stones." - -"Merely to satisfy a whim," smiled Wyatt. - -A moment later Rand resumed reading: - -"August 8, 1915.--What an inconceivable ass I am. Yesterday in some -unaccountable manner, I lost my note-book. I have been in the habit, -while away on these prospecting trips, of writing each day's events in a -note-book, and later copying them in my diary at home. Hope no one ever -finds it. 'My thoughts are precious things' and I wouldn't care to have -some fool laughing over them. Also, I fear that in the book I made -mention of the chest. Worse luck!" - -A sudden silence followed the reading of this last excerpt. Then Wyatt -rose to his feet and began pacing up and down the floor. - -"That has a direct bearing on this case," he announced suddenly. -"MacGregor must have found that note-book--or Creel or Frischette.... -Any of those scoundrels. It's the only possible way they could have -learned of the existence of this chest and the two keys Dewberry carried -with him. I am as sure of that as I am that I am standing here." - -"Extremely likely," admitted Rand. - -"Of course. And if we can determine which one of those men found the -note-book, we'll have some valuable evidence." - -"It may force a confession from them," said Rand. "Just before we came -down here, as you remember, Inspector Cameron endeavored to -cross-examine them. It was useless. Well, I haven't lost hope that we -may succeed next time. I'll take this diary with me." - -"May I look at it?" requested Sandy, holding out his hands. - -"What about the treasure?" asked Dick. "What will we do with the chest?" - -"Our inspector will attend to that," answered Wyatt. "Probably will be -removed to the new Bank of Commerce, just recently established here." - -"There are two likely places, where one might find that note-book," -mused Rand, "--at Creel's and Frischette's." - -"We can stop at both places on our way back," suggested Dick. - -"A good idea. Then there's MacGregor's shack too, I--" - -"Listen to this," interrupted Sandy, waving one arm about excitedly. - -In his haste to open it, the diary slipped from his trembling fingers -and fell to the floor. Picking it up, he experienced some difficulty in -finding the right page again. The others waited impatiently. Finally, -Sandy read: - -"September 28, 1915.--The first heavy snow of the season has come early -this year. Imagine my surprise this morning to wake in a blinding snow -storm. It is driving me away from the Crystal Lode. After breakfast, I -made haste to set out with my two pack-ponies, and arrived at Carson's -cabin shortly after two. I have always made it a point to stop at -Carson's whenever possible. They are friendly people. Mrs. Carson is an -Indian, but exceedingly pleasant and well educated. A cook too! I can't -understand why a couple like that should be afflicted with such hopeless -offspring. Their daughter, about fifteen, is vicious, while their son, -Reynold, two years older, is a young cutthroat, if ever there was one. -This afternoon I found him in my room, quite brazenly going through my -things. It caused me to wonder if, after all, Reynold doesn't know -something about that lost note-book. I recall that I stopped here just -the day before I discovered it was gone. - -"September 29, 1915.--I am almost sure that Reynold has it. Today he was -copying something out of a book--a black leather note-book--that looked -suspiciously like mine. He rose when he saw me and beat a hasty retreat. -I can't accuse him openly just yet, but when I come back this way in the -spring, I intend to lay a trap for him. That young scoundrel really -ought to be put in jail, although I am afraid I never would have the -courage to do it myself. It would break both Mr. and Mrs. Carson's -hearts." - -Sandy paused. - -"Have you finished? Is that all?" - -In his eagerness, Corporal Rand stepped over behind the young Scotchman -and looked down at the open book. - -"No," answered Sandy, "it is not all. Here is another paragraph, dated -September 30--just a day later." - -"I purposely remained at Carson's one more day. Thought I might be able -to keep an eye on Reynold, catch him again with the book and this time -positively identify it. Unfortunately for me, nothing happened. Carson -sent his son out with an armload of traps in the forenoon, and after -lunch, two prospectors, Emery and MacGregor, stopped for an hour or two -on their way east to Fort Good Faith. Carson introduced both men and we -conversed for a few minutes. Can't say I liked either one. If I were -forced to choose a person to hang me, I think I'd name MacGregor. -Emery's face is too vile--even for a hangman's." - -"Ugh!" Dick's voice trembled. "If only he had known!" - -"October 1, 1915," Sandy read on. "I can scarcely believe it yet. -Perhaps there is a redeeming trait in the boy after all. At any rate, -Reynold came to me this morning, as I was preparing to leave, and gave -me my book. I was so astounded that I simply stood staring at him. -According to his story--which, of course, I accepted, although I knew it -was a lie, 'trembling unto heaven'--he had found the book after my last -visit here. He found it in my room, he explained, 'just where I had -dropped it.' I breathed a sigh of relief that was almost a gasp, thrust -the accursed thing hastily into my pocket and departed thence--_sans_ -two nuggets (worth about twenty dollars) which I had given him as a -reward for his honesty." - -"The brat!" choked Wyatt. - -"Yes," stormed Rand, "that young scoundrel concocted a devil's mess -indeed. He's the one that ought to be hanged for Dewberry's murder." - -"But why?" Dick asked innocently. - -"Why? Can't you see. It's as plain as the nose on your face. He copied -the contents of the note-book and gave it to Emery and MacGregor." - - - - - CHAPTER XXIV - CARSON'S SON - - -Several weeks had passed. They were back in the North Country again--all -except Wyatt. Outside the door of the trading room at Fort Good Faith, -Sandy and Toma were bidding Corporal Rand and Dick good-bye, and wishing -devoutly that they too might have been permitted to accompany the -policeman on this--the last stage of a memorable journey. - -Dick had been more than fortunate, they considered, in receiving -official sanction to be in at the finish. He had earned this privilege, -to be sure, but for that matter, hadn't they? For weeks now they had -been pursuing what had at first appeared to be a phantom. The phantom -had taken form. The mystery had been uncovered. Step by step, day by -day, slowly and inexorably events had moved to an ultimate end. The -guilty were about to be punished. A few more things to do, then-- - -"Hang it all," thought Sandy, "the real work is over anyway. I've done -my part. They can't say I haven't. This case is run to earth. What -little excitement remains, Dick is welcome to. Toma and I both need a -rest." - -Thus philosophically dismissing the matter, he and Toma went fishing; -and Corporal Rand and Dick made their way on horseback to the foothills, -arriving at the Carson cabin one evening before dusk. - -Mrs. Carson met them at the door. She smiled her greeting and led the -way into the house. A sort of motherly person, Dick thought. - -"I hadn't expected anyone at this time of the year," she told them -laughing, at the same time brushing back a dark wisp of hair that had -fallen over her kindly forehead. "I'm afraid you'll find everything in -disorder. We've been drying saskatoons for the winter. Mr. Carson is in -the kitchen helping now. He'll come right in." - -True to his wife's prediction, Mr. Carson came right in and, looking at -him, Dick became heartily sick of the whole business. Carson was the -sort of man one couldn't help but like instantly. A much older man than -Dick had expected, yet agile enough in spite of the white crown of hair, -and handsome in a dignified way. He shook hands and took a seat -opposite. - -"Everyone is welcome here. You're tired, I expect." - -"And hungry," Corporal Rand amended. - -"Mrs. Carson will soon attend to that," her husband smiled. "She'll have -something ready in a few minutes. Have you come far?" - -"From Fort Good Faith." - -A girl appeared in the open doorway, having come noiselessly, and stood, -staring at them. The young lady mentioned in Dewberry's diary, Dick -surmised. She continued to stare as the now somewhat bashful young man -stole a glance in her direction, then quickly dropped his gaze. - -"Gertrude," expostulated her father, "that isn't nice. Either come -forward and be introduced or return to the kitchen. My daughter," he -explained, turning his head and speaking to Rand. Gertrude made a wry -face, shrugged her pretty shoulders and returned to the room, where her -mother was preparing the evening meal. Her place was immediately usurped -by a tall youth, older than Dick, who took up the business of staring -with considerably more energy and effect, adding a dark scowl or two for -good measure. As this was the young man he and Corporal Rand had come -all that way to interview, Dick lost no time in giving him a careful -appraisal. - -Reynold Carson's appearance was not prepossessing. He resembled neither -of his parents. Unlike his sister, he was not good-looking. His mouth -turned down at the corners. An unpleasant habit of scowling had etched -two deep lines across his narrow forehead. - -"A young cutthroat and no mistake," mused Dick, remembering Dewberry's -verbal picture of him. - -It was not until after supper that Rand stated his errand. All except -Mrs. Carson were in the room. The boy and girl sat in one corner and -conversed in low tones. Rand and Carson had pushed back their chairs -from the supper table and had lit their pipes. - -"Came over from Fort Good Faith," said Rand, endeavoring to keep his -voice steady, "to see your son. There's a certain matter Mr. Carson, -that I'd like to discuss with him. It's important." - -"Yes, yes--" Carson removed his pipe and seemed to exhale the words with -the smoke. "Reynold--" he trembled. "What--what has he done?" - -The policeman placed one hand on the old man's shoulder. - -"I--I hate to do this. I wish it wasn't necessary to tell you. You--you -understand my position. It's hard for me--hard for all of us." - -Dick choked and turned away his head. His heart had gone out to this -poor old man, and he just _couldn't_ look at him now. And then, too, -there was the boy's mother. Thinking about her-- It was terrible! She -mustn't come into the room. She mustn't hear what Rand was saying. - -"It's in connection with Dewberry's murder. Indirectly your son is -implicated. I--I--" - -Carson shrank back in his chair, threw up his hands in front of his face -and moaned in misery--in terror. Reynold, who had heard his name -mentioned, and perceived his father thus afflicted, got unsteadily to -his feet and came stumbling across the floor, glaring at Rand. - -"What you doing to dad?" he demanded. - -Carson sat up, endeavoring to get a better grip of himself. Almost -fiercely he turned upon his son. - -"Reynold, you're in trouble. The police have come for you. What have you -done? Speak up, boy; speak up! My God!--this will kill your mother." - -"He lies! He lies!" stormed the boy. "I've done nothing. He lies!" - -The corporal held up his hand, commanding silence. - -"Sit down, Reynold--and keep quiet. You probably don't know what it's -all about--yet. Listen to me. Answer my questions. No! Don't try that," -he warned, as Carson's son reached for his knife. "Sit down!" - -"You're lying," whimpered the boy, taking a chair next to his father. - -"Reynold, I wish you wouldn't say that," pleaded the old man. "He may be -mistaken, but--but he isn't lying." - -"I haven't done a thing," protested the boy. - -"Perhaps you've almost forgotten the incident," Rand cleared his throat, -"but there was a note-book. You found a note-book belonging to Dewberry. -Isn't that right?" - -"Yes," Reynold acknowledged. "I did." - -"I remember that too," said Carson brightening a little. "Reynold said -he found it in Mr. Dewberry's room. The prospector had--had mislaid it, -I believe." - -"I gave it back to Dewberry," stated the young man defiantly. "You don't -think I stole it, do you? I gave it back to him." - -"Quite right," said Rand. "But is that all?" - -"All! O' course, it is. What you tryin' to insinuate?" - -"I'm trying to insinuate," the policeman was very deliberate in his -choice of words now, "that you read the book, copied something out of it -and afterward sold that copy to two men--Emery and MacGregor. You did -that, didn't you?" - -Reynold seemed to sink into his chair. His lips were white. Either he -could not or would not answer. Feeling faint, Dick looked out of a -window. Shadows were falling everywhere outside. The trees were black -silhouettes. Night was shaking out its mantle from a metal-colored sky. -There was no brightness or radiance anywhere except a single orange -streak in the west, a sinister orange streak that marked the place where -the sun had gone down. - -"If he doesn't confess," thought Dick, "and have this over with, I'll go -crazy." - -A voice, trembling but defiant, broke across the silence. - -"Yes, I did do that. What was wrong about it? Tell me--what was wrong -about it? I didn't commit no crime-- It wasn't a very bad thing to -do--you can't make me believe that. Just sold a copy of something that -was written in that old book." - -"Reynold!" cried the old man. "Reynold!" - -"Listen, dad, it wasn't so terrible wrong. I didn't touch anybody an' I -didn't steal nothing. All I did was to sell what was in that book to a -few men for just a few dollars." - -"To a few men!" gasped the corporal. "Who--beside Emery and MacGregor?" - -"I sold one copy one day when Dewberry was here--before I gave him back -the book. I made a second copy, but I didn't sell it for months -afterwards. Dad and I had a quarrel and I ran away. I played cards and I -lost money--all I had. I tried to sell the copy. I showed it to a few -men, but they laughed at me. Then one night, when I was at a road-house -a queer looking chap, named Crane, gave me ten dollars for it." - -"Are you sure his name wasn't Creel? Stop and think a moment." - -"Creel! Creel! That's it." Reynold looked at the policeman in surprise. -"How did you know?" - -"I found out," answered Rand. - -"So you see, dad, it wasn't anything so very terrible," Reynold ran on. -"I--" - -"Can you repeat what you copied from the book?" Rand interrupted. - -"No, not word for word. It was something about an old chest that -Dewberry had at his home at Peace River Crossing--full of money; about a -key that he carried around his neck." - -"Would you remember if I read it to you?" - -"Yes, I would," answered the boy. - -Corporal Rand crossed the room, knelt down, and opened his saddle-pack. -A moment later he returned, carrying Dewberry's diary, resumed his seat, -and began thumbing the pages. It was several minutes before he found the -right place. Then he read: - -"May 13th, 1915. That chest is an obsession. Even out here in the -wilderness away from it, it seems to haunt me night and day. Sometimes I -call myself a doddering old fool. To buy it was a waste of money, an act -of folly. That were bad enough, but this thing I have been doing lately -is madness itself. In a thousand years, if God gave me that long to -live, I could never restore that chest to its original glory and -splendor. I'm sure that I haven't put into it one infinitesimal part of -the wealth and treasure that he did. If he were living now, Ming would -laugh my diamonds and rubies and emeralds to scorn. I'm afraid he'd -spurn my gold too. Cheap stuff! Trash! Where I have thousands he had -millions. Folly to pit the Crystal Lode against the resources of an -empire. Yet here I am, walking about with the key around my neck, trying -to emulate an emperor." - -Corporal Rand closed the book. - -"Is that what you copied?" he asked. - -"Yes, that's it," answered Reynold. - -"I wonder if you realize what you've done," Rand spoke softly. "When you -sold those copies you signed Dewberry's death warrant. You must have -known that one of those men, to whom you sold that information, would -try to obtain Dewberry's treasure." - -"I didn't think much about it," the boy declared doggedly. - -"Dewberry is dead. MacGregor murdered him. It's your fault. MacGregor -never would have murdered him, if--if it hadn't been for you. I want -that fact to sink in. You know now why I've come to get you." - -"I'll be hanged," blubbered the boy. - -Rand walked over and put his hand on the young man's shoulder. - -"No--not that. We'll do what we can for you. You have a wonderful father -and mother. For their sake--and for your own--we'll be as lenient as -possible." - -The young man's body shook with sobs. - -"Hush! Hush!" whispered Carson, wiping away his own tears. "I think I -hear your mother coming." - - - - - CHAPTER XXV - PIECING THE THREADS - - -Creel was the first to confess. Sitting in the office of the commandant, -in the presence of Inspector Cameron, Corporal Rand, Reynold Carson and -Dick, he poured out his story. Confronted by Carson, who identified him -as being one of the men to whom he had sold Dewberry's secret, Creel saw -that only the truth could help him. His deep-set eyes glowed dully. He -moistened his lips. - -"It's true," he began. "Frischette and me robbed Dewberry. Took his -money and his poke. For months, we'd been waiting our chance. Dewberry -stopped at the road-house several times, but nearly always it was during -the middle of the day. Usually he'd hit our place about noon and stay -not more than an hour. He preferred to go on and spend the night with -Meade, who was his friend." - -The sun, shining in through the window, bothered the old recluse and he -hitched back his chair. Not until he became comfortable again did he -resume: - -"Our chance come finally. Dewberry, delayed in a storm, drifted in one -afternoon late--about four o'clock. He hadn't time to make Meade's that -night. It was a cold day and miserable. A blizzard out. You could -scarcely see ahead o' you. I was surprised when Frischette come over and -notified me that Dewberry was there. I hadn't expected to stir out of my -cabin. I didn't want to walk back through the storm with him, but -Frischette said it was the best time for our plan, that we'd have to -strike that night if we ever intended to. After while I agreed and we -walked over and I hid in Frischette's room. - -"Neither one of us had any idea that that man MacGregor was playing the -same sort o' game as us. He was stopping at Frenchie's that night, along -with a lot of others, and, of course, we thought nothing of it. You see, -we was sure that we was the only ones 'in' on the secret. We had got the -dope from the kid and had made our plans." - -"Was a part of your plan to kill Dewberry?" Inspector Cameron -interrupted. - -Creel nodded. - -"Wasn't any other way our plan would work out. We simply had to do it. -We was compelled to put Dewberry out of the way, else he'd sound the -alarm and prevent us from getting into his cabin at Peace River -Crossing. - -"About nine o'clock Frischette come into the room where I was, bringing -my supper. Then the two of us sat there talking. We had decided that it -wasn't much use to try to do anything until along about midnight. So we -waited there in the dark. When the bunk-hall began to get a little quiet -we stopped talking ourselves for fear we might keep someone awake. It -was exactly twelve by my watch, when we stole out of that room." - -Creel paused reflectively, his eyes half closed. He remained motionless -and silent so long that Dick began to wonder if the man had lost his -power of speech. Suddenly he sat up straight in his chair and continued: - -"We was both in our stocking-feet and we moved as quiet as ghosts -between the rows of sleepers. Nobody could have heard us. Men was -snoring all around us. It was dark in the room, almost black, but we -knew exactly where to go. All the details had been planned out in -advance. Yet, as I said before, we hadn't figured on MacGregor, and on -that account we nearly got tripped up. We didn't know nothing about him -until we was directly over him." - -Again Cameron interrupted: "Directly over him? What do you mean? Had you -made a mistake and gone to MacGregor's bunk instead?" - -"No! No!" the old recluse spoke impatiently. "He was on his knees, -stooping over Dewberry, with the poke and money in his hands. Dewberry -was dead! - -"MacGregor hadn't even heard us come up. I was carrying a knife in my -right hand and I pushed it against his throat. I whispered that if he -made a sound I'd kill him. In fact, I thought I would anyway. I was so -frightened I could hardly stand on my feet. But if I was frightened, -MacGregor was worse than that. He was frozen like a block of ice. I -don't think he had more than strength enough to hand over the poke and -the roll of bills. After that we took him back into the kitchen and told -him we would give him his life if he'd promise to leave the place at -once and make no effort to get back the poke." - -"He was glad of the chance, I guess," a smile twisted Creel's lips. "We -were pretty sure that we'd never see him again. We weren't afraid that -he'd squeal, because he was the one that had committed the murder. Our -hands was clean. Things had worked out better than we could have planned -ourselves." - -"You didn't worry?" asked Cameron. - -"Yes, we did worry--some. We knew that MacGregor wouldn't say a word -about us unless he was placed under arrest for the murder. We didn't -think you was going to get him, and you wouldn't either if it hadn't -been for Fontaine. We had no idea that Fontaine knew anything about -MacGregor until he blabbed out that he had seen MacGregor dope a drink -he was mixing for the prospector. We could have killed the kid for that, -but if we had, you'd have known right away that we was the ones that had -done it and was implicated in some way in the other murder. There wasn't -a thing for us to do but just sit and wait. - -"We didn't have to wait very long either. MacGregor gets himself killed -in a scrap with the police. And lo and behold!--the 'Rat's' wife won't -talk. She wouldn't tell you a thing and she knew _everything_. You can -bet MacGregor told his wife all about us. But why didn't she squeal? She -could have got revenge on us good and proper. She had us right where she -wanted us. When she wouldn't give evidence, we knew what was in that -lady's mind then and there: _She was planning to get back that poke!_" - -"Have you any more to say for yourself?" asked the inspector, following -a long interval of silence. - -"No, sir, not a thing." - -"If you don't mind," said Rand, addressing his superior, "I'd like to -ask him a question." - -"Very well, corporal." - -"What was in the poke the evening Emery and Burnnel came to your cabin?" - -Creel's laugh sounded like the cackle of a madman. - -"A rusty nail and a piece of broken string, taken from an old alarm -clock. That's what I call a clever piece of work. It was my idea. -Frischette didn't know a thing about it. It fooled everybody. I buried -Dewberry's keys in a hole I dug in the cellar. When I got the chance, I -came back and dug them up. It was the same day that you went over to -investigate about Frischette. You thought he had committed suicide." - -"Well, wasn't I right?" - -"No." - -"If he didn't commit suicide, what happened to him?" - -"The squaw shot him--MacGregor's wife." - -One might have thought that Rand had been shot himself. He jumped. It -was several moments before he fully recovered from his surprise. - -"How do you know that MacGregor's wife shot him?" - -"She told me so herself." - -"When?" - -"The night her and Emery and Burnnel took the keys away from me, that -night across the Hay River. Flew into a rage and spilled everything. I -guess she'd have shot me too, but Burnnel wouldn't let her." - -"If what you say is true, how can you account for the note I found in -Frischette's pocket?" - -"She made Frischette write it before she shot him. Then she came back to -my cabin and searched everywhere for the keys. They were there, but she -couldn't find them. My place looked like a wreck. After that she met -Burnnel and Emery who had come back to try to get the poke again. The -next morning she stayed out there in the woods while them two -prospectors went over to see you." - -"And did she stay in the woods until the afternoon of the next day?" - -"That's exactly what she did." - -Corporal Rand turned to Inspector Cameron. - -"I guess that's all, sir. I'd suggest that you verify the prisoner's -last few statements by questioning Mrs. MacGregor herself and Burnnel -and Emery. However, I believe that they are true. Shall I take Carson -and Creel to their cells, sir?" - -The commandant nodded absent-mindedly, waved one arm in a gesture of -dismissal. Dick started to file out with the others, when he heard -Cameron calling his name. Turning sharply upon his heel, he strode back -to the inspector's desk and saluted. - -"Dick, you young rascal," began the mounted police official, "I've been -wanting to have a talk with you for a long time. You see, I have -received a letter concerning you and Toma. It came from the Commissioner -of the Canadian Royal North West Mounted at Ottawa." - -"I received a letter from him, too," said Dick, "about a year ago. In -this letter he said that he had considered favorably my application to -join the mounted police, and that I should hold myself in readiness to -report at the barracks at Regina." - -"And you've heard nothing from him since?" - -"Not a word, sir." - -"Didn't you ever think that this was a little strange?" - -"Well--er--" Dick flushed. "As a matter of fact, inspector, I've been so -busy--we've all been so busy--that I haven't had much time to bother my -head about it." - -Inspector Cameron laughed and nudged Dick slyly. - -"Would you care to hear a paragraph or two from the letter that _I_ -received?" - -"Yes, sir. That is, if you'd care to read it, sir." - -"I do wish to read it. Here it is." Cameron picked up a typewritten -sheet on the desk in front of him. "Now prepare yourself for a shock." - -"Regarding your request," read the commandant, "that Recruits Kent and -Toma should be retained at your detachment for special police service, I -wish to say that although such an arrangement is not usual and often not -advisable, we have decided to make a concession to you in this -particular case." - -"Great Scott!" exclaimed Dick. - -"So you see it was my fault that you didn't go to Regina. You boys are -too valuable to lose." - -Dick's face beamed like the sun. He felt that some great force -underneath him had lifted him up and that now he was being whirled -around and around the room in a rose-tinted cloud. He couldn't speak -because he was so happy. - -"Don't stand there looking like a ninny. Compose yourself, my boy. -Here's your first month's salary check. Here's another one for Toma. -Came direct from the paymaster at Ottawa. I haven't one for Sandy -because he didn't put in his application. You tell him he'd better--if -he wants to work for me. And while you're telling him that, you might -slip this bit of paper into his pocket with my compliments. Drawn from -my own personal account." - -Dick recalled afterward that he had thanked the inspector, but he never -could quite remember how he had gotten out of the room. He often -wondered if he hadn't floated out in triumph and in regal state on that -rose-tinted cloud. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVI - DICK REJOINS HIS COMRADES - - -Three boys sat on the edge of a huge raft that drifted lazily over the -clear, cool surface of Whitefish Lake, near Fort Good Faith. It was a -hot day in late summer. Heat waves danced across the water. There wasn't -a speck of a cloud anywhere in sight. Neither was there another craft on -the lake. With the exception of the three young sportsmen, no person -might have been found within a radius of ten miles, which was fortunate, -else it might have been discovered that not one of the trio wore any -clothes. Naked as on the day they were born, they sat and dangled their -feet in the water. "Mr. MacClaren told me that you were here," Dick was -saying. "I stopped just long enough to have something to eat, then I -came right over. I was so anxious to tell you how everything came out." - -"How long did you remain at detachment headquarters?" asked Sandy. - -"Four days," replied Dick. "It was longer than I should have stayed, but -I was anxious to learn what they were intending to do with young Carson. -Inspector Cameron gave his case a special hearing the day before I left. -You can imagine how pleased I was at the outcome." - -"What was the outcome? Let him off with a light sentence, I suppose." - -"You couldn't guess. He's out on probation. Inspector Cameron would have -sent him to Edmonton for trial, along with the rest of them, if it -hadn't been for Corporal Rand. During the hearing Rand proved to -everybody's satisfaction that Reynold hasn't full control of his mental -powers--in a way almost an idiot. He doesn't fully realize yet what he's -done." - -"So they sent him home," said Sandy. - -"I took him home." - -"Great Scott! How did that happen?" - -"Inspector Cameron asked me to," answered Dick. "I couldn't very well -refuse, could I? I didn't really want to go--but I'm glad now. Sandy--if -you could have seen Mr. and Mrs. Carson's faces when we walked through -the door, you'd have felt repaid a million times." - -"I can believe that. What did they say?" - -"I can't remember all they said. At a time like that, things people say -don't count. It's what they do and how they feel that really matters. I -can't explain exactly what I mean. But if you'd been there, you'd -understand." - -"I think I understand now, Dick," said Sandy softly. - -"That experience will make a man of him. He's changed already. And the -girl, too. It was a lesson for both of them." - -Toma dropped off the raft a moment later, during a lull in the -conversation, and swam in widening circles around them. For a short time -the two boys watched him, then suddenly, with a little start, Dick -seized his trousers and plunged one hand in a pocket. - -"There! I'd almost forgotten. Here's a check for both of you from -Inspector Cameron. Toma," he called, "come back!" - -Toma swam back to the raft, and then Dick told them of his interview -with the commandant, not forgetting to mention the letter that had been -read to him. - -"Wish I'd put in my application too," sighed Sandy. - -"It isn't too late yet. Inspector Cameron told me to tell you." - -"I'll write one out this very day," decided Sandy. - -Toma regarded his check thoughtfully. - -"How I spend all this money?" he wanted to know. - -"A new saddle," suggested Dick. - -"Got 'em good one now." - -"A rifle then." - -"Plenty rifle." - -"Tell you what," impishly advised Sandy, "tell you what, Toma, you can -save your money and later on purchase a Chinese chest." - -"One that dates back to the Ming dynasty," Dick elaborated. - -"Ugh!" said the young Indian. - - - THE END - - - - - Footnotes - - -[1]Author's Note: An expression frequently heard in the North. It means - here "beyond the borders of the wilderness." - - - - - Saalfield Books - - - BOYS FICTION - - SUBMARINE BOYS SERIES - _The Submarine Boys on Duty_ - _The Submarine Boys' Trial Trip_ - _The Submarine Boys and the Middies_ - - NORTHLAND SERIES - _Dick Kent, Fur Trader_ - _Dick Kent with the Malemute Mail_ - _Dick Kent on Special Duty_ - - BLACK RIDER SERIES - _In the Camp of the Black Rider_ - _The Mystery at Lake Retreat_ - _Tom Blake's Mysterious Adventure_ - - - GIRLS FICTION - - MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS SERIES - _The Meadow-Brook Girls Across Country_ - _The Meadow-Brook Girls Afloat_ - _The Meadow-Brook Girls in the Hills_ - - LINDA CARLTON SERIES - _Linda Carlton, Air Pilot_ - _Linda Carlton's Ocean Flight_ - _Linda Carlton's Island Adventure_ - - ADVENTURE GIRLS SERIES - _The Adventure Girls at K-Bar-O_ - _The Adventure Girls in the Air_ - - - - - Transcriber's Notes - - ---Copyright notice provided as in the original--this e-text is public - domain in the country of publication. - ---Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and - dialect unchanged. - ---Added a Table of Contents based on chapter headings. - ---In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the - HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.) - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Dick Kent on Special Duty, by Milton Richards - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DICK KENT ON SPECIAL DUTY *** - -***** This file should be named 50275.txt or 50275.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/2/7/50275/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Rick Morris -and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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