Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 21, 1922 — page 153: what you’re looking at

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

WHERE ALL but embarrassed by the sight of you two. When we have received a similar promise from him we shall hand over our arms and become your prisoners, or rather Captain Farley’s, as he will be in command. “Captain Farley!” exclaimed Dave in astonishment. ‘“‘ You don’t mean to say you’ve caught him? Good Lord!” “ He will be getting lonely, so we’d bet- ter hurry back. You men will walk ahead. Follow those tracks to the next clearing.” The procession moved in single file along the trail that led upward through the brush and past the spot where Dave Barker had been ambushed. Dave was in the lead with John Starling five paces behind him. Close to the tails of John’s snow-shoes walked Victor, still carrying his two rifles. Flora followed beside the lead dog of the team which drew the loaded sled.. Ten minutes later they emerged into the clearing where the camp was located. At a word from the girl Dave and John seated themselves upon the sled. She remained standing, and both men knew that her watchful blue eyes were upon them. They sat stiffly at attention and made no attempt to communicate with each other. The knowledge that his superior officer, Captain Farley of the Junction Post, had by some trick fallen into Kent’s hands, and was therefore in the same equivocal position as himself, relieved John of the last of his lingering doubts as to the acceptance of the terms of Kent’s surrender. It took the responsibility from his shoulders. It was one thing for the deputy sheriff to yield to the demands of necessity, but consider- ing himself the representative of the force, John had been sorely troubled in mind. Yet he had seen no alternative to the acceptance of the plan which would bring about a suc- cessful termination to the long pursuit— save, possibly, a bullet in the head. He wondered greatly what purpose had actu- ated Kent’s request for the seven days’ delay in the return to Mooseyard. Victor continued on to the camp in the snow, and the interview with Fraser Far- ley. The friendship that had existed be- tween the two men had been genuine, but passive rather than active in its nature. He wondered whether his understanding of the TRAILS END. 148 captain’s personality was as comprehensive as he had believed it to be. He found Farley staring blankly before him at the snow wall of his prison. Polite greetings were exchanged, and Victor bent forward to give the smoking fire a moment of necessary attention. Farley had been very silent since his capture the afternoon before. He had answered any attempts at conversation politely bus laconically, and appeared deeply depressed over his misfor- tune. | Passion and_ self - condemnation still smoldered within him, but his voice was cold and his face a pale unlined mask. Perhaps Flora understood Farley’s emo- tions better than did her husband, but she had not detailed to Victor the conversation that had transpired when Farley had found her alone in the camp after many days of searching. She had quietly done all that was possible to relieve him of the discomforts of captivity. Occasionally she had felt his eyes upon her, but she had not lifted hers to any trespassing upon the pri- vacy of his thoughts. Farley accepted, without enthusiasm, Victor’s offer of a cigaret. When Victor had lighted it for him and taken a few deep puffs upon his own he proceeded to state his proposition. He could see that Farley was puzzled and that his interest was aroused. ““T promise you that there shall be no attempt at escape,” he said. “I know that it is not usual for the ‘criminal’ to ar- range the details and time of his capture, but this has been an unusual case from Start to finish, and it is only up to you to decide whether you wish to remain our prisoner for as long as I may consider necessary, or whether you would reverse the positions for the fortnight.” “You're a strange fellow, Kent,” said Farley, his eyes searching the smiling, open face of the other in an attempt at analysis that his weary brain was unable to second. “Perhaps you’re insane—you don’t look it.” ‘* At least there is a sound method in my madness. No, there is a very good reason behind my present request, and there was a very good reason for everything I did comiclboooks C©