Adventure, August 1917 — page 26: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

24 “He has it,” defended Mrs. Knox, “only he shows it differently, that is all. I’m glad he is that way. His father never could have done anything in this case.” ‘“‘When will he be back?” asked Wallace. The women merely shrugged their shoulders. “But you won’t stay here alone while he is gone?” Joan laughed and Mrs. Knox looked at the young man in surprise. “We'll take turns standing guard,” said the girl, and then she added quickly: ‘I know what you mean, but there is no danger. We've been alone together a great many times. We never think any- thing of it, probably because there is absolutely nothing to harm us. In your city it might be different, but there isn’t a safer place in the world than the wilder- ness.” “Then I'll go now,” said Wallace as he turned toward the door, “but I’ll call in the morning to see if there is anything I can do. My camp is just beyond the falls, on the lake shore.”’ “We'll be glad to see you any time, aunty and I.” Wallace was grateful for the invitation, but when he had received it he suddenly wished to make certain a visit to the mission the next day. That desire to see Joan again, which had troubled him after their first meeting at the falls, became greater than ever. He felt that he could not leave with- out knowing that he would surely see her the next day. “There is the squaw’s body,” he ventured. “If Mr. Bancroft does not return, it will be necessary to bury it. I’ll come over in the forenoon so as to be of any assistance if it is needed.” Joan thanked him and stood in the door as he went down the steps and on along the path to the beach. When he had dis- appeared in the darkness she turned back to Mrs. Knox. “Tt is strange that the Story-Book Man’s son should come back after all these years, isn’t it, aunty?” she said. “Maybe that’s why he is here,’”’ was the quick answer. ‘Stan gave him a chance to tell his reason for being in the country and he didn’t take it. If Mr. Bancroft hadn’t been so opposed to wager- ing, I’d be willing to bet that’s exactly why he is here. He’s planning on stealing the Adventure falls and taking it away on wires, like his father said could be done, and he doesn’t want any one to know what he is about.” “But that wouldn’t be stealing. It is done a great deal and wonderful things are being accomplished by harnessing the rivers of the country.” 7 “It’s stealing nevertheless to take a thing like that from Nature. God put those falls there and he never intended that any one should interfere with them. And there'll be bad luck for the man who tries it. “T’d like to see him do it,” replied Joan warmly. “It would mean light and work and happiness for a lot of people who need it.” Mrs. Knox turned to the girl and looked at her sternly for an instant before she spoke. ee “I know education is a great thing, Joan,” she said, ‘but I never have been in favor of your going to Toronto to college. Now I know I was right. It has put ideas in your head that shouldn’t be there. Ask Stanton what he thinks of this stealing the falls. He’ll tell you, and his reason will be happiness and work for a lot of people.” “But Mr. Searles wouldn’t do anything that isn’t right,’”’ protested Joan. “You can see that he is not that sort. And I hope he wins out.” Again Mrs. Knox looked at the girl, this time with a new expression. Her lips were pressed firmly together and evidently she studied her words well before she spoke. ‘Joan, listen to me,” she began. “I’m going to speak once and never again. You and your father and his father have always been of the North country. Yours is another breed of men and women. Just remember that, always.” CHAPTER VII VANQUISHED AND VICTOR IN THE WEEK that followed the fight with the Indian on the beach in front of the mission, Wallace Searles more nearly forgot his father’s dream than at any time in his life. He worked hard every day, made his investigation thorough, guarded carefully against further molestation, but always his thoughts were at the mission, and he spent more and more time there in Joan’s company. cComiclook CO 5}