eted by a gentle voice and given care such as had not been his
since childhood.

CHAPTER XIV

The Hoisting

On the few rests the dogs were compelled to take on their way back to
Carcajou, Dr. Starr again questioned Stefan, carefully. The story
Madge had told him was interesting, it sounded a little like some of
those tales of detectives and plots marvelously unraveled, but the
trouble was that no sleuth was at work and the mystery was as deep as
ever. He inquired carefully in regard to the enemies Hugo might have
made, but struck an absolute blank. Yes, there was one fellow Hugo had
licked, but a couple of weeks later the young man had obliged him with
a small loan, which had been cheerfully repaid, and the individual in
question had moved a couple of hundred miles east. Oh, that was way
back last summer!

Having thus easily eliminated the masculine element of Carcajou, it
took no great effort on the doctor's part to turn to the women. Were
there any who had reason to dislike him; had he made love to any of
them?

"Hugo make lofe to any gals in Carcajou!" exclaimed Stefan, holding a
burning match in his fingers and letting it go out. "Hugo don't nefer
make lofe to nobotty. Dere's McGurn's gal over to the store as looked
like she vanted bad to make lofe to him; alvays runnin' after Hugo,
she vos. Vhen he go in de post-office she alvays smile awful sveet at
Hugo, and dere's dem as say she vere pretty mad because he don't never
pay no attention. Vhat he care for de red-headed t'ing?"

"She looks after all the mail, doesn't she?" asked the doctor.

"Yes, McGurn he too busy vid oder t'ings. De gal tends to all de
letters an' papers."

This seemed an indication worth following. When they reached the depot
at Carcajou, Joe Follansbee informed them that the freight would be
about an hour late. Madge had, during the course of her story, told
the doctor all about the visit of the Carcajou Vigilantes, and from
Stefan he had obtained the names of the people who had made up the
party. Most of them were known to him, since he was frequently called
to Carcajou, especially when the mill was running. From the girl he
had obtained the letters she received from Hugo, as she had formerly
believed. The matter could not be allowed to rest. He must investigate
things further. Meeting old man Prouty, whom he had once cured of
rheumatism, he drew him aside. The old man quite willingly told of his
share in the event.

"We on