THE LADY OF NORTH STAR

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12688, 9 July 1919, Page 8

THE LADY OF NORTH STAR

By OTTWELL SINKS.

CHAPTER. IX. (Contigiued.)

Reparation 177I 77 exclaimed the other. "Ah! you are thinking of-—Joy—-my wife, aren’t you ?” “Yes, 77 answered the corporal simply. Dick Bracknell's mood changed swiftly. “What’s Joy to you?” he demanded hoarsely. “ You know her, you’vo talked with her, consoled her, I don't doubt. What’s she to you? 7 ’ As he spoke his tones became violent, and he half threw himself out of the bunk, as if he would attack his cousinThe Indian started to his feet, and liis one eye glared at the officer malevolently- The Corporal did not move. As his cousin shouted the question the blood flushed his face, and in his tiesatrG he knew that he could not answer the with the directness demanded. “ Don't he a fool, Dick,” he replied quietly. “I.never saw Joy Gargrave till four days ago, and if I talk of reparation, well, you’ll own it is due to her. 77

Dick Bracknell’s jealous passion died down as suddenly as it had flamed. He threw lumaelf back in the bunk and laughed shakily. “ Perhaps you’re he said, “hut it is one of the things that can’t be done.” "You <Amld let her divorce you!” blurted out the corporal. “It would be a thing to do.” “When did 1. ever do the decent thing?” retorted his cousin sneeringly. "No, Joy’s my wife—and .I'll keep her. It is something to know that there are millions I can. dip my hands In some day, and a. warm breast I can. flee to—— 7 7 '

“Not now at any rate, 11 ■broke in the corporal sharply. Only by an effort restraining himself. " Joy has started for England.” “ For England—when ?’ ’ Dick Bracknell’s face and tones expressed amazement, but his next words were burdened with suspicion. “You’re not me?” “No, it is the truth. Joy started for England yesterday morning. I saw her start.”

“And I can’t follow,” commented the prodigal bitterly. “That’s part of the. price I pay.’’ He did not speak again for a long time, and the corporal charged his pipe, lit it, and. sat smoking, staring into the stove, and reflecting on the mess his cousin had made of his life. At the end of half an hour the Indian went out, and then Dick Bracknell broke the silence.

“I wonder what Joy thinks of me? Did ah© tell you?” “ She knows how she was trapped—you are aware of that, of course? I think she will never forgive you.” “I’m not surprised,’’ was the reply. * 1 and yet, Roger, I think the worm ox her. When I married her I loved her —and I wasn’t thinking of her money overmuch. It was Lady Aloombe who ?ut that rotten scheme in my head, f I’d only been patient, and mu straight, and not been tempted by that agent to sell the secret of the Travel’s gun—but there’s a whole regiment of ‘ifs.’ so what’s the use or passing? Anyway, Joy’s mine—and no man jelse can get her while I live.” It was the last word he said upon the subject, and nearly three, weeks later, having recovered sufficiently to travel, he journeyed with his cousin and the Indian up the Elkhom. On the fourth morning, of that journey Roger Bracknell' woke, to .find, that; preparations were already well advanced for departure. One team was already harnessed with a larger complement of dogs than usual, whilst his own sled, with three dogs standing hy, was still unharnessed. His cousin indicated it with a jerk of his head. “We part company to-day, Roger. I’m sorry to rob your dog team, but Jie insists as he’s afraid you'll geldown to the police post too soon, -for us, if we leave you your full team. Besides, we’re tackling 8, stiff journey, and we shall need dogs, before we’re through. We’re starting immediately,- and you’ll have to breakfastalone, 'and .by the time you’re through TRrlth it your parole is off. You understand?”

The corporal nodded, and hie cousin continued, “ With only three dogs you won’t be such a fool as to try and trail us, and Wve left you enough. grub to get down to North Star comfortably. Your rifle’s there on the top of your sled, and I trust you nob to try and use it on us till ; you’ve eatert your breakfast. . . . So long, old man.” He turned lightly ' away, - without waiting for his cousin to speak, and the corporal heard him humming aa old chanson of the Yoyagpurs—- " Ah, ah, Bahette, We go away; But we will coma Again,' Babette — Again back bora®, On -”

The song failed suddenly, and as Joe the Indian cracked his whip to the waiting dogs, Dick Bracknell looked back over his shoulder. His face was white and twisted as if with pain, and there was anguish in his eyes. The corporal took a-hasty step towards him, but was waved back, and the team moved- forward, the runners singing on the wind-swept--.ice. , For ten minutes the officer stood watching, until the cavalcade passed out of sight behind a tree-clad island, but Dick Bracknell did not look back once. The corporal turned to the fire with a musing look upon his face, and whilst he prepared breakfast, his mind was. with the man travelling up the river. _ The interrupted chanson haunted him and he found himself searching for, the unsung fragrhent. For a time it eluded him, hut”presently he found It and hummed to himself—- .

“ On E«at«r Bay— Baok from home to piny On Banter day, Babette! Babette!” and as he found it he understood to the. full the look of pain upon his cousin’s face. Again he looked up the river. Beyond the island: a line of black dote “appeared, and by them marched two larger dote.

“Poor devil!” he murmured as he turned again to the fire. (To be continued.)

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