were raised
questioningly. "You didn't drive as hard in the trail as folks guess."

His shrewd eyes were twinkling as he watched the shadow of annoyance
pass swiftly across the trader's face. But Murray excused himself, and
his excuse seemed to afford Dr. Bill a certain amusement.

"The trail was fierce," he said, with a shrug. "The devil himself
couldn't have got a hustle on."

"No. We came the same trail."

Kars seemed oblivious to what was passing between the two men. He
seemed to have no concern for any one but Jessie.

"You going right down home now?" he asked.

His eyes were smiling gently into the girl's upturned face, for all
that his mind was full of the tragic news he had yet to convey.

He was so big as he stood there fastening the coat about her neck. His
rugged face was a picture of strength as he searched out the fastening
of the collar and secured it. His fur-lined pea-jacket, stained and
worn, his loose, travel-stained trousers tucked into his heavy knee
boots. These things aggravated his great bulk, and made him a very
giant of the world it was his whim to roam.

The girl's moment of fear had entirely passed. There could be no
shadow for her where he was. Nor had the rapid beatings of her heart
anything to do with the scene through which she had just passed. It
was the touch of his great hands that stirred her with a thrill
exquisite beyond words.

"Why, yes," she answered readily. "I've got school at the Mission. I
came up to get Murray's plans he needed to fix. He's going north, as
he said, and guessed I ought to help mother right here while he's away.
You see, we haven't got Alec now."

"No."

The smile passed out of Kars' eyes. The girl's final words shocked him
momentarily out of his self-command. There was one other at least who
held his breath for what was to follow that curt negative. But Bill
Brudenell need have had no fear.

"But you'll be through after a while," Kars went on with a swift return
to his usual manner. "I'll be along down to pay my respects to your
mother. Meanwhile Bill and I need a yarn with Murray here. We're
stopping a while."

While he was speaking he accompanied the girl to the door and watched
her till she had passed the angle of the building in the direction of
the gates of the stockade. Then he turned back to the trader, who was
once more seated at his desk.

His whole manner had undergone a complete change. There was no smile
in