Argosy, Vol. 112, No. 2 — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

278 THE the midst of her belongings, thinking over what she had learned. So that frail, weary- eyed girl was in love with Malison—Mali- son, that beast who had insulted her in the store that morning! Jane shuddered anew at the memory of the encounter. And he was the general superintendent of the Unatika, the man who, in Ma Hea- ney’s estimation at least, knew something of the accidents which had delayed the building of the road! Jane shrewdly sus- pected from the very way in which the buxom landlady had checked herself in the flood tide of her garrulity that she knew far more herself than she was willing to gossip about the machinations of the rival company, yet why she, a townswoman, and unconnected with either outfit, should take sides with the Northern Star remained to be discovered. Of her sincerity the girl had no doubt; honesty shone from her broad, good-na- tured countenance. But how far she might be depended upon in a crisis, or to keep a confidence— Jane shook her head. She must trust no one. Ma Heaney’s sharp eyes had already discerned in spite of her dissimulation that she was not quite the type of girl she pre- tended to be, and her curiosity if not her suspicion was aroused. Jane was none too confident that Peddar would not uncon- sciously betray them both if he were art- fully cross-examined, and she determined to keep him as much under her eye as pos- sible until they had established themselves in a domicil of their own. She heard his voice in the office as she descended the stairs, and the tones in which the response came made her pause. Surely that must be the engineer, Barney Hoyt. Had he recognized her? Was he trying to pump poor old Peddar? She stole softly down. ‘No, sir.” Peddar’s tone had slipped dangerously back into the subservient in- flection of lifelong habit. ‘‘ We are not from New York, sir. I believe a Mr. Mac- Leod engaged my daughter to come up here. She can tell you about that. Did you say up three streets and to the right past the—er—Happy Days Café, sir?” “Yes, but don’t let any of the boys hear ARGOSY. you mention a ‘ café’ in Katalak, or you'll be mobbed.” That laughing voice was unmistakably Barney Hoyt’s, and Jane realized with ex- asperation that he must have taken Ped- dar’s measure; he did not “ Mr.” him. Must she be servile, too, in order that he should not discover the difference in sta- tion between herself and her pseudo father? She tossed her head rebelliously at the very thought. This ‘ workingman” should be put in his place! But she—she was a ‘“‘ working girl” herself now! Why couldn’t she remember? : “Very good, sir.” Jane could have slapped Peddar at that moment! “I shall try to remember, but it is all very different up here from what I expected, sir. I'll go and have a look at the cottage you speak of.” As Peddar crossed the hall and vanished down the rickety steps, Jane descended and entered the office with her chin in the air. “Good afternoon.” Barney Hoyt smiled with frank pleasure. ‘‘ Think you will like your job at the store, Miss Peddar?”’ Was there an ironic emphasis on the last two words? Jane flushed hotly. ‘“T guess so,” she responded cautiously, checking the imperious rejoinder that rose to her lips. She must not give herself away to him, of all men. ‘‘ There isn’t much dif- ference in selling goods over one counter or another.” “You have worked in a store before, then?” He eyed her keenly. ‘If you want my references, Mr. Hoyt, you can get them from Mr. MacLeod in New York!” The retort was irrepressible. “JT should have brought .them had I thought they would be required here.” Hoyt’s face grew grave, but there seemed to be an underlying twinkle in his brown eyes. “1 did not mean to be curious,” he as- sured her coolly. ‘I know that it isn’t quite the thing up here in Alaska to ask personal questions, but since I am in charge of the outfit, I did not think it amiss. And the outfit includes the com- pany store, Miss Peddar.”’ “Over Mr. Pittinger?” she demanded. He nodded. COMMUELXXALS (EO)