s. It was
not my wish to force the situation. I knew that my opportunity would
come wherein to spy upon the mind of the enemy. It came. On the evening
that Justine Caron called upon Roscoe, I accidentally met Mrs. Falchion
in the grounds of the hotel. She was with several people, and as I
spoke to her she made a little gesture of invitation. I went over, was
introduced to her companions, and then she said:

"Dr. Marmion, I have not yet made that visit to the salmon-fishers at
Sunburst. Unfortunately, on the days when I called on Miss Devlin, my
time was limited. But now I have a thirst for adventure, and time hangs
heavy. Will you perform your old office of escort, and join a party,
which we can make up here, to go there to-morrow?"

I had little love for Mrs. Falchion, but I consented, because it
seemed to me the chance had come for an effective talk with her; and I
suggested that we should go late in the afternoon of the next day,
and remain till night and see the Indians, the half-breeds, and white
fishermen working by torch-light on the river. The proposition was
accepted with delight.

Then the conversation turned upon the feud that existed between Viking
and Sunburst, the river-drivers and the fishers. During the last few
days, owing to the fact that there were a great many idle river-men
about, the river-driving for the season being done, there had been more
than one quarrel of a serious nature at Sunburst. It had needed a great
deal of watchfulness on the part of Mr. Devlin and his supporters to
prevent fighting. In Sunburst itself, Mr. Devlin had much personal
influence. He was a man of exceedingly strong character, bold, powerful,
persuasive. But this year there had been a large number of rough,
adventurous characters among the river-men, and they seemed to
take delight in making sport of, and even interfering with, the
salmon-fishers. We talked of these things for some time, and then I took
my leave. As I went, Mrs. Falchion stepped after me, tapped me on the
arm, and said in a slow, indolent tone:

"Whenever you and I meet, Dr. Marmion, something happens--something
strange. What particular catastrophe have you arranged for to-morrow?
For you are, you know, the chorus to the drama."

"Do not spoil the play by anticipation," I said.

"One gets very weary of tragedy," she retorted. "Comedy would be a
relief. Could you not manage it?"

"I do not know about to-morrow," I said, "as to a comedy. But I promi