e. A revolver clattered to the floor from under his coat.

CHAPTER XLIII.

NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS.

The following is taken from the Prince George _Star_, January 19, 19--.
Extra.

NOT GUILTY!

At 7.53 P.M. the jury in the trial of Ambrose Doane for treason-felony
returned a verdict of not guilty without leaving their seats. This was
a foregone conclusion. Upon issuing from the courthouse the acquitted
man received an immense ovation from the waiting crowd.

From the Prince George _Star_, January 24, 19--: Editorial.

THE REAL CRIMINAL!

Now that the trial of Ambrose Doane is a thing of the past, a tragic
miscarriage of justice happily averted, and the excitement abated, it
is time for the thoughtful to examine into the underlying causes of the
trouble at Fort Enterprise.

That there was serious trouble no one denies; but the general
disposition is, since the innocent man is free and the guilty one dead
by his own hand, to forget the whole matter. Now is the time to take
measures to make it impossible for anything of the kind to occur again.

Granting that Gordon Strange, that extraordinary character, played for
high stakes, lost and paid--was he the sole criminal? What sort of
conditions were they up there that made it possible for him to engineer
his unique schemes of villainy?

For years the arrogant policy and the unscrupulous methods of the great
corporation that holds the north of our province in thrall have been
matters of common gossip in the streets. But no man has dared to raise
his voice.

"They say" that the mighty corporation rides over the helpless redskins
roughshod. "They say" that the Indians are charged exorbitant prices
for the necessities of life, while a mere pittance is given them for
their valuable furs.

Is it true? Who knows? No news comes out of that sealed country save
by the pleasure of the great Company. Certain aspects of the testimony
given in the Ambrose Doane trial leads us to suspect that these charges
are not without foundation.

Parliament should investigate. The question is, does the Province of
Athabasca control the Northwest Fur Company, or does the Company run
the province?

From the Prince George _Star_, January 27, 19--.

GAVILLER IS OUT!

At the head offices of the Northwest Fur Company it was given out this
morning that the resignation of John Gaviller, the Company's trader at
Fort Enterprise, had been accepted to take effect immediately