Page 23 (1/1)

Kent, forgetful of his own i doom, was deeply interested in the thrill of O'Connor's un to visualize the situation More than once they had worked out enigeant saw the old, eager glow in his eyes And Kent chuckled joyously in that thrill of the ga, and said: "Kedsty is a bachelor and doesn't even so much as look at a wo bungalow somewhat removed from the town," added O'Connor

"And his Chinaalow is closed, or supposed to be"

"Except at night, when Kedsty goes there to sleep"

O'Connor's hand gripped Kent's "Jimmy, there never was a tea at Kedsty's place!"

"But why HIDING?" insisted Kent "She hasn't committed a crime"

O'Connor sat silent for athe bowl of his pipe

"It's siot hold of hted a match in the cup of his hands, and Kent saw his face There was more than uncertainty in the hard, set lines of it

"You see, I went back to the poplars again after I left you today," O'Connor went on "I found her footprints She had turned off the trail, and in places they were very clear

"She had on high-heeled shoes, Kent--those Frenchy things--and I swear her feet can't be ht up with her, and the h the poplars, but the girl went on and into the edge of the spruce I lost her trail there By traveling in that tialoithout being seen Itas , why didn't she wear bush-country shoes or moccasins?"

"Because she caested Kent "Probably up fro her, was he? If he had been, that first sight of her wouldn't have shattered every nerve in his body That's why the big hunch won't let loose of me, Kent From the moment he saw her, he was a different ed instantly If he could save you now by raising his little finger, he wouldn't do it, simply because it's absolutely necessary for hier Your confession cairl's unspoken deer, and it was backed up by a threat which Kedsty understood and which terrified hier must have seen him afterward, for he waited at the office until Kedsty came I don't knohat passed between theether for half an hour Then McTrigger walked out of barracks, and no one has seen hi is queer And the queerest part of the whole business is this sudden commission of mine at Fort Simpson"