Part 43 (1/2)

”Visiting Crowfoot?” exclaimed Cameron. ”Then I was there too soon.”

”That is his present intention, and I have no doubt the program will be carried out,” said Raven. ”My information is from the inside. Of course,” he continued, ”I know you have run across the trail of the North Cree and Salteaux runners from Big Bear and Beardy. They are not to be despised. But Little Pine is a different person from these gentlemen. The big game is scheduled for the early spring, will probably come off in about six weeks. And now,” he said, rising from his chair, ”I must be off.”

At this point Smith came in and quietly took a seat beside Jerry near the door.

”And what's your information for me, Mr. Raven?” inquired the Superintendent. ”You are not going to deprive me of my bit of news?”

”Ah, yes--news,” replied Raven, sitting down again. ”Briefly this.

Little Thunder has yielded to some powerful pressure and has again found it necessary to visit this country, I need hardly add, against my desire.”

”Little Thunder?” exclaimed the Superintendent, and his tone indicated something more than surprise. ”Then there will be something doing.

And where does this--ah--this--ah--friend of yours propose to locate himself?”

”This friend of mine,” replied Raven, with a hard gleam in his eye and a bitter smile curling his lips, ”who would gladly adorn his person with my scalp if he might, will not ask my opinion as to his location, and probably not yours either, Mr. Superintendent.” As Raven ceased speaking he once more rose from his chair, put on his leather riding coat and took up his cap and gauntlets. ”Farewell, Mrs. Cameron,” he said, offering her his hand. ”Believe me, it has been a rare treat to see you and to sit by your fireside for one brief half-hour.”

”Oh, but Mr. Raven, you are not to think of leaving us before dinner.

Why this haste?”

”The trail I take,” said Raven in a grave voice, ”is full of pitfalls and I must take it when I can. The Superintendent knows,” he added.

But his smile awoke no response in the Superintendent, who sat rigidly silent.

”It's a mighty cold day outside,” interjected Smith, ”and blowing up something I think.”

”Oh, hang it, Raven!” blurted out Cameron, who sat stupidly gazing into the fire, ”Stay and eat. This is no kind of day to go out hungry. It is too beastly cold.”

”Thanks, Cameron, it IS a cold day, too cold to stay.”

”Do stay, Mr. Raven,” pleaded Moira.

He turned swiftly and looked into her soft brown eyes now filled with warm kindly light.

”Alas, Miss Cameron,” he replied in a low voice, turning his back upon the others, his voice and his att.i.tude seeming to isolate the girl from the rest of the company, ”believe me, if I do not stay it is not because I do not want to, but because I cannot.”

”You cannot?” echoed Moira in an equally low tone.

”I cannot,” he replied. Then, raising his voice, ”Ask the Superintendent. He knows that I cannot.”

”Do you know?” said Moira, turning upon the Superintendent, ”What does he mean?”

The Superintendent rose angrily.

”Mr. Raven chooses to be mysterious,” he said. ”If he cannot remain here he knows why without appealing to me.”

”Ah, my dear Superintendent, how unfeeling! You hardly do yourself justice,” said Raven, proceeding to draw on his gloves. His drawling voice seemed to irritate the Superintendent beyond control.

”Justice?” he exclaimed sharply. ”Justice is a word you should hesitate to use.”

”You see, Miss Cameron,” said Raven with an injured air, ”why I cannot remain.”