Part 36 (1/2)
XXVII
DEERING'S PROGRESS
Soon after Deering started from the hotel he met Jardine. Deering knew the shrewd Canadian Scots and thought the rancher a man to trust.
Moreover he had not yet got all the light he wanted. Jardine was on foot and Deering said, ”h.e.l.lo! It's a long hike to Kelshope. Where's your horse?”
”Margaret's got the cayuse at Green Lake. D'ye no' ken?”
”I didn't know,” said Deering. ”But you're coming from the station. When do they expect the construction train?”
”She stopped doon the track for the boys to fix some rails. The operator was grumbling because she'd no' get through till dark and he'd got to block the line for the Kamloops freight.”
”Oh, well,” said Deering, ”since I want to get on board the calaboose, perhaps her stopping in the dark is not a drawback. But what about Miss Margaret's going to Green Lake?”
Jardine looked at him rather hard. ”I alloo ye're Mr. Leyland's friend?”
”Sure thing!” said Deering. ”Jimmy reckons you his friend. Well, I want to know how he got away.”
Jardine told him and Deering pondered. He had undertaken an awkward job, and since he saw some obstacles, he resolved to give the rancher his confidence. Among the trees the frost was not keen and the sun was on the road. Deering indicated a spruce log and pulled out some cigars.
”Suppose we take a smoke and talk,” he said, and when Jardine lighted a cigar resumed: ”Won't Miss Margaret's shooting the fellow's horse make trouble for her?”
”I reckon not,” said Jardine, who had heard the trooper's statement, and when he got a note from Margaret remarked that the narratives did not agree. ”I'm thinking the boys dinna mean to pit it on Margaret and the trooper's no' altogether prood.”
”It's possible. But why didn't _you_ put Jimmy wise?”
”I'd cut my foot chopping, a day or two before.”
Deering rather doubted if Jardine's cutting his foot accounted for all, but he said, ”Let's talk straight! I suppose Miss Margaret is going to marry Leyland?”
”Maybe, but I dinna ken. Jimmy wanted to marry her.”
”Very well,” said Deering. ”I'll tell you all I know.”
He narrated his interview with Laura and Stannard's going to Jimmy's help. Jardine's look got thoughtful and sometimes he frowned. When Deering stopped he said, ”Ye dinna trust Stannard! Ye'd sooner Jimmy hadna gone across the rocks wi' him?”
”I would sooner he had not,” Deering agreed. ”Jimmy trusts Stannard, the others are tenderfoots, and I understand they have not a first-cla.s.s guide.”
”The man they've got is no' a mountain guide ava; Gillane's a packer on the Government surveys. But I dinna see much light yet. Jimmy owes Stannard a guid sum.”
”Leyland insured his life in Stannard's favor and Stannard wants money.
Well, I'm going up the line with the construction gang to follow the party's trail.”
Jardine got up and his look was very grim. ”Just that! I'll join ye.”
”Not at all,” said Deering. ”Your part's to go to Green River depot afterwards and watch out. I expect you're a good bushman, but this is a job for a first-cla.s.s mountaineer. Besides, you cut your foot!”
Jardine gave him a keen glance, but Deering resumed. ”You see, I must hit up the pace and can't boost you along. Can I hire a young man, a prospector if possible, at Green River?”