Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 19, 1924 — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

AST IES 7 580 gone. Dix had set out promptly in the di- rection of the highroad and was far beyond recall, and Mrs. Dix had evidently not re- turned after the questionable activities of which Archie McKim suspected her. There was no other house within six or seven miles, so far as Archie knew. ‘““T’]l hang round on the chance she comes home before Charlie does, an’ you go on down to the tail o’ the white water agin an’ take another look for the canoe an’ the dunnage,” said Archie. ; Joe went. Archie filled his pipe and smoked it out. Joe returned and reported failure. They entered the hut and built up the fire in the rusty stove. Darkness closed in, and they lita lamp. They made tea and supped off it, and beans which they found in a crock in the oven. The woman with the red head and green eyes did not return; and, upon Joe remark- ing the fact, Archie wagged his whiskers without vocal comment. He had a way of wagging and scratching that suggested a bookful, “ What d’ye reckon she’s up to now?” asked Joe. “The devil only knows!” said Archie. It was past nine o’clock when Charlie Dix arrived home. He made a report to the effect that Mr. Kester had been at Tom Hudson’s place yesterday and had gone on, but he was expected back before long, as the King’s Highway wasn’t must better than a logging road from Burnt Tree onward— unless he left his wagon and continued his journey on horseback. He had asked for information concerning a little boy in a blue suit and a man with eray hair and a scarred left cheek, and had made Tom an offer of liberal rewards for the discovery of either. He, Charlie Dix, had left a message for Mr. Kester with Hudson. - Having delivered his report, Dix sudden- ly realized that he had not expected to see his visitors upon his return. “Fell!” he exclaimed. “ Ye was in a devil of a sweat to keep a goin’ a while back! What’s swung ye? An’ whar’s Effie?” ‘‘ We ain’t set eyes on her since the first meetin’,” replied Archie: “ an’ what’s swung ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, us is that we ain’t got canoe nor dunnage nor grub nor rifle to go on with. We been cleaned out, that’s what! Some one’s done away with the canoe an’ the whole b’ilin’— an’ if he was a man I’d break his cussed neck short off for him!” ~ “Hell!” whispered Dix; and -his lower jaw sagged. “Don’t that beat all! I'd oughter knowed somethin’ would happen when she lit out the minute ye come in. Ye’d ought to kep’ yer mouth shut, Archie.’’ “That’s what I think—but how was I to know?” returned Archie crisply. “ But ye’re right, Charlie. I’d ought to of guessed when I seen that red head an’ them green eyes. She’s a Dudder, ain’t she?” *“'Ye’ve said it. Now looka here! I got a canoe—but it don’t count. It useter be a first rate canoe—seven year ago. But thar’s Tim Leblanc on Kettle Crick—three mile back an’ two mile up the crick. He’s got a slick canoe, winter bark, an’ built only last year; an’ between him and me I reckon we kin fix ye up with grub an’ blankets an’ maybe some kinder old shoot- in’ iron. “T won’t charge ye a red cent, Archie. It ‘ll be pay enough for me if—if ye find him ye’re huntin’. An’ I guess twenty dol- lars will buy Tim’s canoe, for he’s got an- other.” “We'll start,’ said Archie. lantern.” £ They went afoot, and it was rough going. As they reached the mouth of Kettle Creek, Charlie Dix tripped and fell flat with the lantern beneath him. They had to feel the way from there onward, for there was no moon and the stars were dim. Archie Mc- Kim’s remarks appeared to strike a spark now and again, but never bright enough or constant enough to illuminate the footing. Tim Leblanc was not at home, nor was his wife, nor were his children. Dix had an idea that they were farther up the creek laying in a supply of venison and moose meat, and might be gone for days. “ Like enough,” agreed Archie. “ In that case, we'll bust in an’ help ourselves an’ leave the money behind the clock. Where does he keep his canoe—the good one?”’ “Vou don’t know Tim,” objected Dix. “That would go with me, so long’s ye left “ Light yer Eomichbooks:co