Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 25, 1924 — page 154: what you’re looking at

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

144 “Well, I’d hardly care to pass judgment on him, or on any one, for that matter. He is not all bad, of that I am certain. He was very kind to me while you were gone. Given a chance—” “Given a chance he would perhaps crawl over the snow and pick me off with his rifle. You heard what he said to me only a minute or two ago. Common sense tells me that if I let him go, he will not come back. I'll have to go after him.” ‘““He may, perhaps, surprise you,” she murmured. “I wish I shared your confidence in him,” I answered skeptically, “for I am going to abide by your wishes. If I had only myself to think of, Ledoux would stay here. In my judgment it is a mistake to let him go; but I’m going to do as you ask, I hope to God it works out all right.” I called Ledoux over to us. ‘““] want you to hear, too, Wageesh,” I said. She nodded her head ever so slightly and moved across the room in our direction. Ledoux was just behind her. I glanced from one to the other as they came toward us. The woman’s eyes were as deep and in- scrutable as ever, but Ledoux was patently well pleased with himself. I did not doubt but what his keen ears had overheard what I had said to Sheila. Of course it wasn’t that at all. I didn’t know that he was already picturing me crushed, humiliated, my air castles crash- ing down on my head, gr that even then he was gloating over the revenge which would be his to-morrow. Even less did I suspect that in consenting to go with Wa- geesh he knowingly put his head into a noose that he might strike me down. “Tm going to let you go, Ledoux,” I began, not realizing how completely my words conviaced him that I had delivered myself into his hands. He rewarded me with a smile of utter contempt. Wageesh started to thank me. I stopped her abruptly. “Thank this lady, not me, if it pleases you to do so. It is because she wishes it that Ledoux goes with you.” I glanced at him. ‘I want you to understand that, too,” I went on. “I am not going to ask a single promise of you, but if you want to ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. play square with me, let me hear from you every ten days or so.” To his credit, he laughed. I can appre- ciate now what a joke it must have been to him, my asking him to report to me every ten days, when he believed he would no sooner reach the camp than his punishment would commence. Wageesh raised her eyes to his, and as I remember the look in them, I suspect that she came near to reading his thought. ‘“‘T have taken the responsibility for this on my shoulders, Ledoux,” said Sheila. “TI have faith in you. I—TI hope you will not disappoint me.” : The expression on his face changed as he looked at her. He shook his head re- gretfully. “T guess you never forget your dog- man, huh? Me, I don’ forget either.” He raised his head and stared at me for a sec- ond. ‘“ An’ you, Deveraux,” he went on, “1 sen’ you a little token of my regard to- morrow. Jus’ little souvenir from Ledoux.” - Of course Sheila understood what he meant. She went to the door and opened it, that I might not notice her nervousness. The storm had passed. The Northern Lights were dancing in the heavens. Le- doux was ready to leave presently. geesh called her team. The dogs were buried in the snow where she had left them. Ledoux got them straightened out. To my surprise, then, Wageesh got in the ko- matik and he mushed trail for her. I had often seen them in the past. In those days Ledoux had ridden and Wageesh had mushed. Charged as the moment was, I could not help smiling. I explained my amusement to Sheila. “You evidently taught her a lesson,” I said. 7 “ Evidently,” she murmured, pointing to the whip which Wageesh raised and cracked about Ledoux’s ears. We stood there until they were lost to sight. Even then Sheila seemed reluctant to go inside. I saw that her eyes were wet with tears. “Oh, you brave, wonderful woman,” I exclaimed, ‘‘ I don’t see how you are able to stand up as you do under all this. I’m almost glad Ledoux is gone. Ber now A COMMICOOOKS Wa- | ‘eth ee =