Part 34 (1/2)
It was a strange cous Fitzpatrick, in the deserted camp of the Hudson Bay Company, had risen fro him on, and, in the face of death itself, had come down at the command of his hated ene disciplinarian,The coht it best to secure Fitzpatrick's story while he yet retained his reason, and addressed him first
”When did you first learn of this scandal concerning me, Fitzpatrick?”
he demanded ”No, lie down!” he commanded, as the other attempted to rise
”In the middle of last summer, sir Maria, the squaw, came to me with certain proof that made the evidence incontrovertible”
”What proof?”
”A signed state that he had united you in e”
For an instant, there was the absolute silence of a and chuckling of Maria, who rocked herself back and forth on her haunches, like so over an evil brew
”Where is that statement?” demanded the commissioner
”Maria had it the last time I knew of its whereabouts” Fitzpatrick closed his eyes, wearily
”Maria!” The coust
The withered squaw suddenly stopped her rocking, and opened her little, fire-shot eyes steadily for ahis first name with careless familiarity
Fitzpatrick, at this breach of ceremony, rose, furious, on his pile of blankets, inarticulate
But McTavish waved him back
”Where is that certificate?”
”I have it,” replied Maria, sullenly
”Let me see it” Not many people resisted that tone of McTavish's
”I refuse,” she said
”You refuse, eh?” The blue eyes darkened to ominous black ”If you repeat that, old wo to-morrow, and you spend the rest of your life in jail You have done ive you another chance Let me see that paper And no funny business I mean what I say, and you know it We're at the point nohere you, or I, win forever Co up, and be quick!”
Perhaps, the flinty hardness, the indifferent crispness, of that voice raised dilance wavered, for the first time
”Come on, Maria,” interposed Donald, as the old wo reply, ”the paper is in thataround your neck I know, because I've seen it”
She turned upon hiry cat
”Yes, and be quick, or you'll have help you don't want,” added the commissioner, coolly
With a snarl, Maria thrust her hand into her s Under the fascinated eyes of the group, she opened it, and carefully extracted the worn paper
”Please identify it, Fitzpatrick,” ordered the commissioner, and the factor of Fort Severn took the sheet in his hands
”It's the same she showed me last summer,” he said, after a careful exa of Burns Riley, the missionary, anywhere”