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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1937-03-11, Page 6<54, MML THE WINGHAM ADVANCE-TIMES SYNOPSIS: Ellen Mackay, on her way from school at Winnipeg, to join her father at Fort Edson, misses the boat by which she was to travel. Hearing that another boat is to start north in the morning, Ellen goes to the owner, John Benham, and begs him to give her a passage. To her surprise he flatly refuses. Angry and puzzled, Ellen tells Fat McClatchney, a kindly old storekeep­ er of her difficulty, and Pat with the help of one of Benham’s crew, suc­ ceeds in getting Ellen on board as a stowaway. When the vessel is well under way Ellen emerges from her hiding place and faces John Benham, who now cannot help taking her with him, During the voyage Ellen begins to be strongly attracted by John. But when she reaches Fort Edson she finds her father broken, ill and dis­ graced, and learns that his troubles ■are due to one man—John Benham. Instantly Ellen resolves that she will fight for her father. She will re­ instate him with the Hudson Bay Company, his employers, and will show up John Benham for what he really is. 'From Bernard Deteroux, an em­ ployee of the company, who profess­ es friendship for her father, Ellen hears that Benham supplies whiskey to the Lndians. She sets out on a long and tedious journey to obtain proof of this, returns thinking she has ■got it, and gives information to the authorities. Trooper Whitlow, of the Mounted Police, asks her to go with him to find Benham and confront him with her proof of his villainy. It develops that Benham is innocent and the li­ quor is being supplied by Deteroux. "It—it is wonderful,” breathed El­ len estatically knowing what it would mean to Angus Mackay to. have this big shipment of high-grade furs come into his post. “And I pledge myself to see that the tribes are cared for. But how are you going to get the cargoes to the fort?” , "You’ll see,” chuckled Whitlow. He turned to the ’breed again. “Where is Deteroux now?” The breed waved an arm'upstream. “M’sieu Deteroux, she’s at dat Cree Camp on Mink Lake.” Whitlow shot a swift glance at El­ len, who distinctly paled at this in­ formation. “Was John Benham there » also?” demanded Whitlow. The breed shrugged and shook his head. “I no see ’um.” “Very well,” nodded Whitlow curt­ ly.. He unearthed a notebook and pencil from his pack and wrote a swift message to Angus Mackay. This he tore out and folded. Then, start­ ing. with -the ’breed, he went slowly over the entire crew of the boats. Each man he stopped in front of he stared at closely and scribbled swift­ ly in the notebook. The men were uncomfortable, ner­ vous, and they would not meet his eyes. When he had made a complete xound Whitlow came back to the’ ’breed and handed to him the note he had written Angus Mackay. "You will now head directly to Fort Edson,” he ordered. “These furs you will turn over to Factor Mackay 'there, and also deliver this message ROYAL BROTHERS MEET IN VIENNA SPENT 43 DAYS IN SPANISH DUNGEON many, where lie and the Duchess of Kent were visiting the duchess* sis­ ter, Countess Toerring. The Dulce of Windsor Came from Massetieonburg, The Duke of Kertt met his bro thcr, the Duke of Windsor, at Vichrta, Austria, ft few days ago for the first time since the abdication. The Duke of her whereabouts and obtained her release. She is shown In (2) before her harrowing experience and in (1) shortly after, FARE AND ONE-QUARTER for the round trip cr day With an almost incredible story of 48 days spent in. a Spanish duhgeon. She narrowly escaped death at the hands of a firing squad before the United States consulate learned shows the Duke of Windsor, hat in hand, as he ushered his brother into a waiting aufomofiile. MINIMUM SPECIAL FARE — 25c Per fare and information ask any Railway Ticket Agent. Canadian Pacific 'The Marquesa de Ciefifuego, forth- eiHy Jane Anderson, American-born wife of a Spanish nobleman and cor- fcspondent for several London news- papers, arrived in New York the oth- I have given you. Then you will re­ main at the fort until I return, If one fur is missing1 or if any man in your crew is not there to report to me—let him beware.” And Whitlow tapped his notebook. The 'breed ■» nodded vehemently. “She’s been as you say, M'sieu.” “Good, Now start immediately.” The York boats were soon on the way, *the oars flashing in the sun. Ellen watched them until they were around the bend and out of sight. Then she looked at Whitlow. “Do you think they will really de­ liver the furs?” she asked doubtfully. “What’s to keep them from going straight on and never showing up again?” Whitlow laughed. “This. I’ve worked long among the tribes and with the ignorant riv­ ermen, Miss Mackay. If there is any­ thing they fear it is to see you ap­ parently writing down something about them. ’“Perhaps some of the more super­ stitious ones feel you are casting a spell over them. At any rate, they do not understand, and what they do not understand they fear. So they’ll be there—every man jack of them, and the furs will be delivered quite safely. You can depend on that.” “But there still remains . . .” Ellen Deteroux’s steely thumbs dug into Benham’s eyes. ■■ ■ left the sentence unfinished. “Deteroux,” snapped Whitlow. “I’ll tend to him now. Come Moosac, we must hurry. Again the canoe shot upstream, Whitlow and Moosac driving it on­ ward with smooth, powerful, sweep­ ing, strokes. The stout maple paddle blades creaked .and hissed, and the crystal water o f the river surged about the canoe in foaming whirls. Ellen, crouching tensely in her place, thrilled with- a subdued but powerful excitement. She exulted hugely in the knowledge that John Benham was now exonerated from all stigma, and she knew abysmal shame that she should ever have believed him capable of criminal operations. But she was eager to see Deteroux in the custody of the law. Two miles above where the York boats had beer, met, the canoe shot through the last tugging stretch of the river and glided out upon tW em­ erald, flawless surface of Mink Lake- A mile away to the north-east a slop­ ing, tree-clad point jutted- I-n the still air just beyond the point hovered a pale cloud of smoke, Ellen pointed. “There is the camp,” she stated. The cadence of the paddle quick­ ened. Ellen glanced over'her shoul­ der at Moosac, The old Chippewayan had not noticed her survey. His eyes were fixed on that column ofrsmoke, and a strange change had come over him. Expression showed into his Svrink- led, brown face. No longer did it seem flat and stupid. Instead, by some strange force of inner excite­ ment, each feature seemed to have sharpened. There was a new cast to his head. Something of the cruel, ra­ pacious look of an eagle was there. The old man’s lips were moving. He seemed to be chanting silently. Despite heiself, Ellen shivered. It seemed to Ellen that in no time at all their canoe was rounding the point, The hoarse, unrecognizable murmur of many voices reached her ears. Through the intervals of the tepees she caught sight of a surging group. No one noticed them as they land- ed. All eyes were on two crouching men who .paddled about one another on moccasined feet. These men were stripped to the waist, their faces were bloody, their gleaming torsos splotch­ ed and carmined, and they were driv­ ing out terrific blows at one another with knotted fists. One was John Benham—the other Bernard Deteroux! Ellen Mackay never knew how she reached the inner e'dge of that crowd­ ing circle about the two fighters. But she was there, and then it seemed that utter physical paralysis gripped her. Only her eyes were free, and she stared unwinkingly. She saw Benham whip in a slashing punch which made a gory wreck of Deteroux’s lips, and when Benham leaped in to follow up his advantage she saw Deteroux drive him reeling back with a wicked blow ovqr the heart, For q moment they seemed to rest, circling each other, constantly, their eyes blazing with utter hatred; their mashed lips peeled back in animal snarls, Then they closed again with a tattoo of smashing fists. Body to body they stood locked, motionless except for, the knotting and crawling muscles of their shoulders, and their short, deep panting for hard-won breath. They were magnificent brutes. Like his face Deteroux’s torso was bronzed' and coppery, Against it Ben­ ham’s skin was startlingly white, gleaming like marble. Something caught in Ellen’s throat, and her eyes misted as she saw 'the great livid bruises Deteroux’s iron fists had wrought on that white skin. , If anything,, Deteroux held the ad­ vantage of height and bulk. The di­ mensions of his shoulders'were ter­ rifying, and the knotted muscles across the' back of them made him seem almost hunched. On the either hand, Benham’s mus-- ides were long and smooth, and even to Ellen’s tutored eye there was a lithe speed in his movements that his opponent lacked. The fighters ripped apart as though by mutual consent, then stood toe to toe, slugging with a wild, ferocious abandon. The spite of fists <?n hard flesh seemed as sharp and clear as the blows of an axe. The flurry slackened, and it was -John Benham who gave back. De­ teroux, his feet wide apart and leaning slightly forward, seemed as immova(ble as a giant rock. As his opponent slipped away from him, Deteroux gave vent to a rasp­ ing snarl and leaped forward Ben­ ham, poised and ready, drove him back with another crushing blow to the mouth. Again they seemed to rest a mo­ ment, then both sprang anew to the conflict, and again they stood with locked arms, and writhing muscles. Time edged on. The fighters seem­ ed tireless. Their blows were still terrible, club-like. Ellen managed to tear, her eyes away for a moment, and her swift, searching glance saw Whitlow standing at her side, his eyes cold and gleaming with intent on the fighters. At last Ellen managed to shake off the paralysis which had frozen her body. She gripped Whit­ low’s arm. 1 “Stop them!” she cried. “Oh — stop them!” Whitlow did not even hear her. With a little cry of despair, Ellen shrank away, and her eyes went back to the conflict like steel drawn to a magnet. She was just in time to see Deteroux explode into a mad cata­ clysm of ferocious movement. His arms whirled, and he flung Benham from him like a child. Then he charged in with flailing fists. They crashed into Benham’s face and jaw with crushing force'. Benham toppled back, his head roll- ' mg- A sigh went through the watching circle, a circle of savage faces gleam­ ing with the stark madness of com­ bat. It seemed as though Benham could not elude or recover from that beserk charge. He was Jaent back helplessly, and his knees were sag­ ging. Abruptly he caught himself, duck­ ed into a crouch and sidestepped. De­ teroux, unable to halt% his charge, lunged past. And Benham smashed him under,the ear with a blow that whirled the bigger man half off his feet. Now it was Benham’s turn to charge, and this time Deteroux gave way, lunging blindly from side to side in a futile attempt, to avoid the rapier blows that were cutting his face into a bloody mask. Revulsion gripped Ellen. She felt nauseated—sick. The stark' brutish­ ness of it all cast a dreadful spell over her. The hoarse, gasping,, snarl­ ing breathing of the fighters, their grim, hate-filled, blood-rimined eyes — it was a nightmare picture to the sensitive girl. “Stop them,” she cried again, her HOLIDAY FARES Between all points in Canada arid to certain destinations in the United States Tickets good going any time Thursday, March 25, until 2.00 p.m. Monday, March 29, 1937, Return Limit to leave destination not later than midnight Tuesday, March 30, 1937. of Kent travelled from Munich, Get- Austria, for the meeting. The picture Thursday, March 11th, 1937' Business and Professional Directory Wellington Mutual Fire Insurance Co. Established 1840. Risks taken on all classes of insur­ ance at reasonable rates. Head Office, Guelph, Ont ABNER COSENS, Agent. Wingham. DR. R. L. STEWART PHYSICIAN Telephone 29. Dr. Robt. C. REDMOND M.R.C.S. (England) L.R.C.P. (London) PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON DR. W. M. CONNELL PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Phone 19. W. A. CRAWFORD, M.D. Physician and Surgeon Located at the office of the late * Dr. J, P. Kennedy. Phone 150 Wingham voice shrill and hysterical. “Oh — won’t somebody stop them?” One person in all the group heard her. And that person was John Ben­ ham. In the midst of his advantage he stiffened, and his hands dropped .at his sides. His head swung on his shoulders and his bloodshot eyes rest­ ed full on Ellen’s white face. For just a moment the madness of conflict seemed to- fall from him. He relaxed. And in that moment Deter­ oux was upon him like a pouncing panther. Dimly Ellen heard Whitlow’s cry of warning. Then she saw Det'er- oux’s* great paws wrap about John Benham’s head, and saw Deteroux’s steely thumbs dig into his opponent’s eyes. , A gasp of sheer agony broke from Benham’s lips. A shudder rippled V Dr. W. A. McKibbon, B.A. PHYSICIAN And SURGEON Located at the Office of the Late Dr, H, W. Colbome. Office Phone 54. Nights 107 HARRY FRYFOGLE Licensed Embalmer and Fimeral Director Furniture and Funeral Service Ambulance Service. Phones: Day 117. Night 109. 1W. BUSHFIELD Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Etc. Money to Loan. Office — Meyer Block, Wingham Successor to Dudley Holmes. THOMAS FELLS AUCTIONEER » REAL ESTATE SOLD A Thorough knowledge of Farm Stock. Phone 231, Wingham, J. H. CRAWFORD Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Etc. Successor to R, Vanstone. Wingham Ontario It Will Pay You to Have An EXPERT AUCTIONEER to conduct your sale. See *•» T. R. BENNETT At The Royal Service Station. Phone 174W. R. S. HETHERINGTON BARRISTER and SOLICITOR Office — Morton Block. Telephone No. 66 J. ALVIN FOX Licensed Drugless Practitioner CHIROPRACTIC - DRUGLESS THERAPY , RADIONIC EQUIPMENT Hours by Appointment. Phone 191. Wingham F. A. PARKER OSTEOPATH All Diseases Treated. Office adjoining residence next to Anglican Church on Centre St. Sunday by appointment. • Osteopathy Electricity Phone 272. Hours, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. A. R. & F. E. DUVAL CHIROPRACTORS CHIROPRACTIC and ELECTRO THERAPY North Street — t Wingham \ Telephone 300. through his body ,and he gave way slowly, tearing frantically' at Deter­ oux’s wrists. Someone was shouting in Ellen's ear. It was Whitlow, and his face was white and accusing, “You little fool!” lie raged. “Now, Deterqux will blind the boy — he’ll blind him! And it’s your fault,” Ellen’s world reeled. John Ben­ ham’s eyes, those clear, flawlessV.eyes, helpless- now before Deteroux’s fer­ ocious gouging. And her ' cry had made Benham drop his guard. She began to sob, little breathless sobs. “God!” she whispered. "Please — God!” ' t* (Continued Next Week) Grain Bin Cleaned! Out. With wheat at $1.,25 a bushel, it was a sad discovery that Peter John­ ; ■ $ $ ston made the first of the week, when he planned to draw out and sell about 100 bushels, only to find the bin emp­ ty. The grain was stored in his barn on the Gravel Road, a short distance north of the village.—Lucknow Sen­ tinel, Elderly Brussels Resident Passes There passed awjay at her home dn Brussels on Thursday, Rebecca Dark, in her 89th year. Born in Fullarton Township, Perth County, in 1848, she was the eldest child of George Dark and Ann Furzman. In 1853 the fam­ ily moved to Grey Township, Huron County, and. settled on the 11th con. where she lived for many years, com­ ing to Brussels 17 years ago with her brother, William, and sister, Mrs. W. Gordon.