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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1937-03-18, Page 6Spy g>X /THE WiaGHAM aDVANCE’TIMES Thursday, March J Sth, 1937 E&atqiXS-C Hth. MML ’- 'i:PAS •SYNOPSIS: Klien, Mackay, on her Way from school at Winnipeg, to join liter 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 lad faces John Benham, who now cannot help ’ taking her with him. During the voyage Ellen begins to he strongly attracted by John. But when she reaches Fort Edson she hinds 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 areally 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 jgot 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. A desperate battle between Benham .and Deteroux is taking place in an Indian camp when Whitlow and Ellen arrive. now/’ was Whitlow's jubilant cry. Swiftly alive to his advantage, Ben­ ham tore at his opponent, a merci­ less, implacable machine. Setting himself, he ripped sledge-hammer blows into Deteroux’s sagging Slowly, ponderously, the big seemed to crumple. His eyes rolling and glassy, his mouth and his lips peeled back in a grimace of fading consciousness. Like an executioner before the block, Benham cut Deteroux down. Bit by bit he beat him Deteroux’s body was crouch and his nerveless helplessly at his sides, There was something almost mag­ nificent in the manner that Deteroux called upon his great strength and vitality to stave off defeat. Out on his feet he refused to fall, his mus­ cles subconsciously holding his body from utter Abruptly tack. His fell to his gesture he a look to right or left pushed through the crowd and was gone. And in that moment of magnanimity John Benham was also unconsciously mag­ nificent. By all rules of conflict he was en­ titled to go with his triumph until human resistance could no longer ex­ ist, and Deteroux should lie supine at his feet. But he, too, could ap- chin, man were open lower until bent in a arms swung collapse. Benham stopped his at- bloody, tight-locked fists sides, With a shrugging turned away, and without Timidly Ellen approached the pair. The old squaw looked at her in frank hostility. Then she turned again to her ministrations, crooning with pag­ an gentleness. Finally Benham look­ ed up. His eyes wei‘e terribly blood­ shot and swollen. Ellen gasped with pity, and her hands fluttered to her throat, It was Benham who spoke, "Yes?” he queried, his voice slight­ ly thick. He was still panting from his exertions. Many words trembled on Ellen’s lips, strange, hot, thrilling words — but somehow she them. Yearning swayed crouch '-at his side, tered head in her arms and spread the balm of love on every bruise and cut. But there was a certain hardness in Benh,am’s expression which her off. Now he laughed, harshly, may have him,” he muttered, paid to me, the dog.” “I may have him?” stammered El­ len. "I don't know what you mean." "You should,” was Benham’s curt reply. "When the fight was coming my way you cried for me to stop. I did, and it gave him a chance to get the upper hand for a time.” He point­ ed to his eyes. “He did his best to blind me—and nearly succeeded. But I beat him—with these," and he lifted two hard fists. "It was a satisfaction long over-due, but it was worth the could not utter her, yearning to to take his bat­ fended "You "He’s * * * Her gaze was drawn again to the terrible drama before her. Uncon­ sciously she started forward. Whit­ low’s hand locked on her arm and dragged her back. “Wait!” he rasp­ ed. “Wait!” .Benham hands, locked about De­ teroux’s wrists until the backs of them were bloodless and ridged like .steel, seemed to be dragging some of that awful pressure from his tor­ tured eyes. He seemed to be gath­ ering himself for super-human effort. Abruptly one knee drove upwards into Deteroux’s body. A gasp broke 'from the bigger man. slightly, and. Benham free. Benham’s eyes were most shut. For a split men seemed- to pause themselves. Then Deteroux charged again, snarling like a wolf to the kill. With one lithe, twisting movement Benham bent sharply at the waist and hurled himself forward, his right arm shooting out, a hard driven, mus­ cle-ridge piston. Just below che arch of Deteroux’s lower ribs the blow landed, and the "thock” of it was awesome. A hoarse, ^blubbering cry of pain erupted from Deteroux, his knees wobbled, and his head dropped forward. He retched ■violently, and blood-stained saliva seeped through his lips. "He’s got him—the boy’s got him sional Directorychest and shoulders gleaming wetly. “Coipe> mother,” he said to the old squaw. And the two of them walked away. When Ellen Mackay finally went back to the scene of the fight she was again weary and apathetic. Her facei was pale, and her eyes were lack-lustre and subdued, She moved slowly* Deteroux was sitting with his back to a tree. His hands were clasped between his knees, and Ellen could see the gleam of polished metal en­ circling hi$ wrists, He flashed ‘a quick glance at her, and then his gaze went to the ground again. His face was sullen and defi­ ant. Old Moosac was crouched pear hjm, his beady eyes inscrutable. Ellen looked around for Whitlow, and discovered the trooper in animat­ ed conversation with several sullen, frightened Indians. His pencil and notebook were at work again. Whitlow spied her, put his note­ book away, and came hurrying up. His face was glowing with satisfac­ tion, "My lucky day," he announced triumphantly. "I’ve got Deteroux where I want him now, and no mis­ take. Where is Benham?” "In one of the tepees, I imagine,' she answered dispiritedly, can we leave for Edson?" "In an hour or two. I get Benham’s evidence also my case against Deteroux able." ' Whitlow went away on his search, and Ellen moved down to the canoe and crouched in it, her back to the camp, her brooding eyes1 sweeping across the shimmering waters of the lake. ! iA great bitterness gnawed at her —a tremendous disappointment. She was not angry at John Benham. She knew no shame over the fact that he had virtually dismissed her. She had gone to him in all hones­ ty, intending to apologize fully for the wrong she had done him, and he, in equal honesty, had repulsed her. The blame was hers. She knew it, and admitted it fully. In some ways triumph also was hers. Her father’s future and repu­ tation were assured. The facts were clear jn that respect. She had the satisfaction of knowing that her ef­ forts had indirectly moved to this cul­ mination. That those same efforts had- mov­ ed to render her the possessor of un­ requited love, merely proved the ir­ ony of life. And there lay the great hurt. Ellen went back in memory to her first meeting with Benham. How ar­ rogant and sure of herself she had been in approaching the free-trader with her request to be taken along on the trip north. And how hurt and humiliated she felt .when Benham curtly refused. It was hurt pride as much as anything that had caused her to seek old Pat McClatchney’s help in stowing away on the Benham boats. Ellen, for whose favor men had vied with one another in jump­ ing to her bidding, now had to plead for the favor of this man and was compelled to force herself upon his care when the favor was refused. Slie remembered her tremulous fear when they'’had passed the cas­ cades and she had brazenly revealed herself, certain in the knowledge that Benham could not return her,to Ath­ abasca Landing without serious delay and loss to himself. Benham had been very kind and a gentleman when he discovered how she had thwarted him through the help of Pat McClatchney and Pierre Buschard. He had said no words of blame and had not scolded or raged at her as many others would have done. She had offered to pay for her transportation and he had apruptly refused. She remembered now that certain glint of triumph that shone in his eyes as he told her, “My pay­ ment is assured. I’ll exact my pound of flesh.” Ellen had not understood then but she did now. Benham’s pound of flesh had been paid by the flare of anger and the deep humiliation of her father when the old factor learned of Wellington Mutual Fire Insurance Co, Established 1840, Risks taken on all plasses of insur­ ance Head ABNER at reasonable raves, Office, Guelph, Ont, COSENS, Agent 'Wingham. DR. R. L. STEWART physician Telephone 29. n "When want to to make unshak- 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. u n<t W. A. CRAWFORD, M.D. Physician and Surgeon Located at the office of the late Dr. J. P, Kennedy. Phone 150.Wingham I his indebtedness to the man he hat­ ed most in all the world—John Ben­ ham, the free-trader. That had been the payment Benham expected, his re-, venge for her impertinence in stow- in away on his boats, but the pay­ ment had been far heavier than that since she had discovered in her heart n« Dr, W. A, McKibbsn, 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 Funeral Director Furniture and Funeral Service Ambulance Service, Phones: Pay 117, Night 109. J. W. BUSHFIELD Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Etc. Money to Loam Office — Meyer Block, Wingham THOMAS FELLS AUCTIONEER REAL ESTATE SOLD’ A Thorough Knowledge of Farm Stock. Phone 231, Wingham. - -- - - - ■ - W - - J. H. CRAWFORD Ct’ , Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Etc, Successor to R, Vanstone. Wingham Qntario It Will Pay Yop to' Have An EXPERT AUCTIONEER to conduct your sale. See T. R. BENNETT At The Royal Service Station. Phone 174W. t ■ ■ ......■ ......... R. S. HETHERINGTON BARRISTER and SOLICITOR Office — Mprbon 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 — Wingham Telephone 300. £ the deep regard she held for him. It was love . . . love almost at first sight, she now realized. Benham had-leaped ashore to se~« cure birch boughs and fashion a small enclosure on the boat to give her Shelter and privacy. She had been touched by his consideration and thoughtfulness then, and again when they stopped for the night and she had carelessly gone for a walk in the wild, uncharted wood and Benham, fearful for her safety, had waited for her return in spite of the fatigue from the heavy day’s work. Continued Next Week) ACTOR MISSING FROM SHIP AT SEA swollen, al- second both and gather He cringed tore himself gently sponging his battered face and ' words.” body with the icy lake water. | He stood erect now, his splendid Russia Attracts Thousands of Tourists him. FARE AND ONE-QUARTER for the round trip preciate sheer, dogged courage, even in a man like Deteroux, who had not hesitated to take unfair advantage. In that refusal to batter further a helpless man John Benham left be­ hind him a white glow of sportsman­ ship which seemed to dissipate the blood-red. haze of conflict. Ellen, saw Whitlow step forward, grip Deteroux by the arm and force him to the ground. The milling crowd of Indians closed about them, and El­ len found herself alone. Drawn by what seemed a resistless force, she moved in the direction John Benham had gone. She peered into tepees as she went, but nowhere did she see him. Unconsciously she hurried her pace. And then, below the camp at the edge of the lake, she found him. He was crouched low, and beside him was the same ancient squaw, waiting. Yes—I’m through with And he’s yours." Ellen’s thoughts were chaotic. What madness was this? True, she had cried out when Benham was win­ ning, but she had not meant it to save Deteroux from punishment. It was just the eternal woman in her voicing an overwhelming repugnance to the utter brutality of it all. And —and Benham thought she had cried out to save Deteroux. Again Benham looked at her. "Was there anything else?” he asked curt­ ly. “Despite your scorn and pride you have not hesitated to accept fav­ ours from a — a half-breed. Remem­ ber that all your life, will you? That even a half-breed can be generous.” "You—you don’t know what you’re saying,” Ellen sobbed. “I ought to.” He laughed grimly. “I’m giving you back your own HOLIDAY FARES Between all points in Canada and to certain destinations in the United States .Tickets good goifig 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. Frank Vesper, 37-year-oId British actor and dramatist, was reported to have disappeared from, aboard the ing a gay farewell party in the cabin of Muriel Oxford, 22, “Miss Great „— Britain" of 1936, when he is said to French Hucr Paris ,two hours out of have walked out on a balcony off the I- cabin where the party was being held and did not come back. Miss Oxford is shown LEFT and Frank Vospcr, RIGHT. Plymouth, Ettglando He was attend- MINIMUM SPECIAL FARE — 25c For fare and information ask any Railway Ticket Ageht Canadian Pacific More than 1.00,000 foreign visit­ ors have travelled through the new Russia under the care and guidance of "Intourist", the State travel agency. This season notably increased interest in the land of the Soviets indicates that a very considerable number of people not only from Canada but from the United States as well will include Russia in their sum­ mer itineraries, According to in­ formation received at the head­ quarters of the Canadian Pacific Railway in Montreal. Many round the world parties are add­ ing to tlioir knowledge of the country by using the Trans Sibe­ rian Railway which lias been modernized and double tracked. The picture layout gives a broad idea of certain phases of Russian Life Under the Soviets, Indicative of the part women aro playing in the new regime is the distinction won by Anya Marcmukova, shown in the oval upper left, of being the first aviatris and parachute jumper. The centre picture illus­ trates the progress in education, and -shows an attentive class learning some useful wrinkles in chemistry. That all is not hard work is proven by the scene in lower left which shows a group of harvesters, Improving the noon thpe rest period with folk dances and songs. In lower right a good looking Russian girl is, in the traditional Russian manner, car­rying in a basket, of ffesh picked fruit