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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 1942)
I THE STORY SO FAR: Boynd (or the Chibougamau gold country, six men lost their lives on the Nottaway river. Red Malone, Garrett Finlay, brother o( one of the six, and Blaise, half-breed guide, arrive at Nottaway posing as surveyors * * # INSTALLMENT SIXTEEN to Investigate. Murder Is suspected. It Is thought that Isadore, rich fur man, has made a gold strike and aims to keep prospectors out. On the way to Che Hudson's Bay post they visit Isadore In his palatial home, meet his wife and dt H dk * * * Lise, Isadora's stepdaughter. Answering an appeal from Lise, Finlay Is am bushed and rescued by Malone and Blaise. It develops that they are Mount ed Police officers. Blaise returned one night after a flght with some Indians. * * * "What d’you mean by spoiling a nice afternoon nap, you old—say, who tore your shirt?” demanded Malone. "Where’d you pick up all that dirt on that handsome face of yours? What you been trying to do while we were asleep?" Blaise gazed benignly down on his startled friends. "You wake up quick w’en you hear.” Flame was nuzzling at Garry’s neck when the blinking eyes of the latter suddenly widened. “What in thunder you been into, Flame? You’re cut and what’s that damned smell on you? I've got it! Beaver castor! Red, smell of that dog! He’s smeared with it! And what happened to his head, Blaise? He’s been struck with a club.” Solicitously Garry ex amined the scratch of the knife and the swollen head of his dog. When Blaise had told his story of the missing dog, the log dead-fall set in the clearing and the fight, the three friends ate and prepared to leave the island in the early dusk. There was no doubt that their camp had been discovered. “Blaise, you and Flame are two lucky devils,” said Garry, as they lay hidden in the shore alders wait ing for the rose tints to fade from sky and lake and the dusk to mask their movements. “Both of you walk into trouble and both of you bob up smiling. But my guess is that when those two Montagnais you left bound at the clearing are found by their friends we may hear something. Queer they didn’t have their guns with them when they tried to am bush you!” When dusk fell a Peterboro drift ed through the shadows like a wraith, bound for the head of the lake. CHAPTER XVI The police party were hidden near the head of the lake waiting for the return of Moise with news from his father. The following night, in the round of the moon, it had been ru mored through the fishing camps that the spirit voices would speak to the Montagnais. During the day ca noes had passed within a half mile of the camp. It was evident that Tete-Blanche had guessed that the men he sought were at the head of the lake and that his scouts were hunting the shores for them. “Moise should be showing up if we’re going to move to that hide-out tonight,” said Finlay. “Moise will follow de dark of de shore,” grunted Blaise. “De moon is so bright it bodder him. Dey got plenty men watchin’.” “We’ll need those shore shadows, too, Garry," said Red. “When the moon slides toward those ridges it’ll be safer traveling.” “Look!” muttered Blaise, point ing. Hardly a mile distant the black shape of a birchbark cut across the shimmering ribbon of light banding the lake. “There’s another!” exclaimed Red. "And another!” “What do you make of it, Blaise?” asked Finlay. "Think they’ve got a hunch that we’re in these islands?” Brassard scratched his iron chin. “Hard to tell!” “This island’s not a hundred yards long,” said Red. "If they land here we’ve got a tough fight on our hands. It’ll be a case of wolf eat wolf.” "That’s the trouble,” regretted Finlay. “We want no trouble to night. It’ll kill Wabistan’s plans— spoil the whole show.” T ree cano ! grunted Blaise. “Dat look bad to me. We watch de shore. Dey may land on us. Dere was ten in dose boat.” “All right!” said Finlay. “This is land is three cornered. Each man take a shore. That ought to cover any landing in the dark.” “Fill your pockets with shells. I’ll keep Flame gagged and hitched to my belt. I won’t cut the gag and turn him loose until I’m sure they know we’re here and are going to land. So don’t count on his getting their wind and sounding off.” “In case anyone fires,” asked Red, “do we leave our posts and back him up?” “Yes. If they land we’ve got to get together.” Hitching Flame’s leash to his belt Garry crossed the little island and took up a position with his uneasy dog. So long as the airedale felt his master’s hand he would not make any noise with the gag in his mouth. But the instant he caught a strange scent his shaggy body would vibrate with excitement. Less than a hundred yards from where Finlay and his dog waited lay the black bulk of shadow of the mainland. The water between was washed by moonlight. But, past midnight, as the moon arched into the west, the murk reached out to ward the shore where Finlay wait ed. Shortly the strait between the islands would be smothered in black ness. Then, if the Montagnais had discovered the police hide-out, they would cross. With his rifle on his knees, Finlay sat listening, his arm circling the fretting dog. “They’ll be moving soon, if they'rd over there,” Finlay whispered. Suddenly the dog stiffened, the hair along his neck and back lifting as he sniffed. Finlay’s hands closed on Flame’s nose and throat. “Wind something? Steady, boy!” Then from the murk drifted a faint sound like a splash of water. "Ah, I hear it! They’re coming!” muttered Finlay. Again Finlay strained his ears, with caught breath, for a repetition of the sound. At last he heard what resembled the wash of rip ples; as if something was swimming slowly across the strait. What could that mean? He cut the gag and lease and the airedale tore through the alders up the shore. “It must be a swimming otter or beaver he’s winded,” muttered the surprised Finlay. "He’d roar at a canoe.” Shortly from the gloom rose snarls, the thrashing of creatures battling in the water, then muffled gurgles. Rigid, Finlay listened, praying for the dog he loved. “Flame!” groaned the man on the shore. “What’s happened to you, boy? What did you meet out there?” Had he lost his dog? Had Flame gone out there in the blackness to his death? It was no canoe. But what was it? Garry waited in sus pense, ears still straining. Then something moved swiftly through Finlay sat listening, his arm circling the fretting dog. the water to the shore near him, shook itself and bounded to his side. “Flame, you old water rat, what did you strike out there?” Finlay hugged his dripping dog. “Are you hurt, boy?” A rapid search of the dog’s head and shoulders with groping fingers seemed to reveal no wounds. Garry threw a loop of a thong around Flame’s jaw and waited with arm crooked about him. Presently the silence was split by a demoniacal wail which lifted like an eagle’s screaming whistle to die in thin air. The startled Finlay clung to his aroused dog, clamp ing a hand over his nose. What in the name of all the fiends in hell was that? wondered the kneeling po liceman. The voice ceased and si lence again pulsed over moon drenched forest and lake. Shortly the night was tainted by the bellow of some tortured brute voicing his agony. It was followed by mad roars of rage which echoed back and forth between the forest walls of the strait. Holding his struggling dog Finlay knelt on the shore as the mystery was solved in his active brain. Shortly he heard the thud of wood on wood fading rapidly into the dis tance. He released Flame who plunged up the shore roaring his challenge to the hidden owner of the magic voice. “By the way they are beating it from that howling Windigo. those Montagnais won’t stop until day light!” Finlay laughed until he was tired. “They’re superstitious all right! Blaise, the Windigo! The giant who eats Indians! But where did he learn how to do this? What a voice! What a voice!" “That you Garry?” called Red, stumbling through the bush. “Where’s that foxy Blaise? Ever hear squalling to beat that? They were waiting at the island to come across but he scared them stiff. Those paddles were hitting the lake sixty a minute. Our Blaise, the big voice—the ventriloquist!” “How you like dat song?” With Flame at his heels Blaise moved down the beach and joined his friends. "Wabistan tell me dose Montagnais have fear of Windigo. So I seeng dem de Windigo song." “Blaise, you're some prima-don nal You always claimed you could sing. Now I know it,” said Red. “A swell idea to scare those Mon tagnais! Just what is a Windigo, anyway?” Blaise chuckled. ‘‘Wal, de Injun fink de Windigo is beeg, Wat you call giant, who eat Injun and is ver' bad fallar. He like to holler at night and scare dem. Most bush Injun is scare of Windigo and will not go into country w'ere he live.” “They certainly thought a man eater was loose and hungry to night,” said Garry. "You had me guessing hard, Blaise, when you first opened up. Now before we get out of here I want to take Flame back into the bush and look him over with a torch.” "What’s happened?” demanded Red. Finlay described the dog’s strange battle in the water. Then they went back where the light from an elec tric torch would be masked from the lake and looked the airedale over. ; “He’s scratched, Garry,” said Red. Brassard peered closely at the surface scratches which crossed Flame’s shoulders and forelegs. “No claw or toot’ make dem mark,” he ' grunted. “It was a knife, then," said Fin lay. “You think a Montagnais was swimming across the strait? But few of them can swim.” “We put cano’ in and have a look,” said Blaise. At their camp they found Moise Wabistan waiting and told him the story. Then the Peterboro, followed by the birchbark, passed through a patch of moonlit water before en tering the bank of shadow. From the bow Finlay pointed to something floating ahead of them. “What’s that?” The canoe slid up to the drifting object. Kept afloat by air bladders of moose entrails, fastened under the arms, was the half-submerged body of a man. Blaise reached down and turned the drowned body to stare into an evil, grimacing face. "W’at you t’ink?” he demanded, meeting the peering eyes of his friends. "Tetu!” "Tetu? Al.c side-kick of Tete Blanche!” gasped Red. “Ah-hah! And good t’ing, for sure!” “He was coming across to hunt for us when Flame went out and met him, nose to nose, and the best man won,” said Red. “Good old Flamey!” “Flame pull him undair and drown him before he stick a knife in him,” added Blaise. “Dat smart chien. I navare saw so smart. He know more dan most man. But he get foolish w’en he smell beaver castor, eh Flame?” It was the first week of August. For days the heat, like river mist before sunrise, had hung in the windless forests of the Nottaway country. "Are you game for a swim, Lise? I’m stifled with this heat. There’s an urge in me to mingle my curves with some nice, cool lake water,” yawned Corinne Isadore. “I’m crazy to but since that day at the beach I’ve been ordered to keep away from there,” replied Lise. “I fixed that with Jules this morn ing. The king says we can go. Have you noticed him since he returned from that trip? He’s worried, Lise. He mumbles and raves in his sleep. One night he kept saying: ‘What’s their game? What’s their game? We’ve got to get ’em, quick! If they see that plane and get back to Mon treal, it's all over!’ ” Lise stiffened in her hammock. Had Tete-Blanche got them al ready? “What could he have meant, ; Corinne?” she asked with seeming | artlessness, wondering just how ; much the other knew. “It sounds as if they were hunt ing for Garry Finlay and that dar ling Malone boy, doesn’t it—as if they were going to put them out of the way? Lise, I’m terribly fright- j ened.” “I am, too. You saw the Indians who stopped here, yesterday?” “Yes.” “There were twenty of them. They were hunting for the survey party." "How do you know?” “I heard Tete-Blanche talking to them. They acted drunk. Corinne, Jules is giving the Montagnais liq uor and it’s against the law.” “Jules swears that Finlay’s a spy sent from Montreal to jump his gold strike on the river. I suppose that’s the reason for it all.” “Has Jules ever talked to you of his gold strike?” “No. He treats me like a baby. But I’m sure he’s secretly shipped a lot of gold south. He’s made much money." "Yes, he’s made money. Money’s his god.” “But what’s going to come of all this? It marfes me shiver to think of it. Three men have been shot. What will the police do when they learn of it?” Corinne’s great eyes were wide with apprehension. “Where’s it going to end? If Finlay stays here and tries to find Jules’ gold strike, Tete-Blanche’ll kill him. It’s horrible!" (TO BE CONTINUED) Current Fashions Stress New Use of Daring Color Contrast By CHERIE NICHOLAS AT FIRST this matter of using two or three colors together in daring contrast was regarded as an adventure that would give a new Blant to fashion. It was a deliberate departure from traditional color technique that might reasonably be expected to prove a mere passing fad. However, this courage on the part of designers to start something new has not only added zest to fash ion, but has developed a movement that is being carried over from one season to another with increasing enthusiasm. This spring the fashion program fairly vibrates wiih breathtaking color contrasts that defy staid and sedate ideas as to which color goes with which. In every phase of fashion, from bathing suits to sweaters and from simple daytime dresses to dress up afternoon frocks and pretentious “formals,” designers are coura geously handling color in new ways with an artistry that is winning tre mendous applause. To demonstrate the brilliant and audacious spirit style creators ex press in their use of color, note the daytime dress shown to the left in the group illustrated above. The dress in this instance is of narrow wale corduroy with sleeves and col lar of bright red wool jersey. A patch pocket has a striking heraldic design embroidered in multi-col ored yarns. By the way, this idea of contrast ing sleeves might serve as an in spiration in stretching a limited budget to meet the exigencies aris Flour Sack Dress Imagine! A dress as attractive as this actually made out of ordinary cotton flour sacks! You’ll need three large cotton bags for this charming frock. It is no trick at all to dye them a deep red and for trimming use beige colored yarn (dyed with coffee liquid). Add real pine cones for buttons and you have a dress for the farmerette that any city cousin would look upon with under standable envy. Slim Skirls Have Soft Draped lanes There’s excitement coming in the way of skirt silhouettes. To say that they are versatile is to put it mildly. In the fashion picture there will not only be pleated skirts but there is an important trend toward pencil-slim draped effects. Very smart, too, are the new wrapover effects, many of which tie on without any other fastening The surprise is the skirts that are flounced in a new way. These will be repeated again and again in wash dresses. Also in long evening taf fetas. Ballerina skirts are making front page news, and the young set is wearing them like the dirndl. Color Goes to W ork— In Note Defense Uniforms Color is being advocated through out the fashion field. Those who are studying conditions say that for defense work, particularly, bright color is essential to morale. The gabardines, denims and other cot tons used for uniforms, field work and various defense activities will not only be thoroughly practical and functional, but they will spread a good measure of cheer. Flattering hats, many of them flower trimmed, will be worn from now on into the spring. The flower trimmed calot is a favorite. The little sailor, of straw or felt, will also be shown. Many fabrics will feature back drapes over the hair. Child’s Slacks Very practical and cunning for little tots are pinafore slacks with matching bonnets that are made with a view to stressing the ‘‘pretty’* look. Chambray and seersucker are favored fabrics for these suits. ing in present war times when econ omy is a virtue every woman is urged to practice. For example, there's that dress hanging in your closet, “perfectly good," yet seem ing to have outlived its usefulness. The sleeves show wear at the el bows. Why not rejuvenate this poor outcast with a new pair of sleeves in a bright, contrasting color? To complete the costume, add a belt, and, perhaps, pockets in the same bright color. You might even go so far as to do the contrast sleeves in a tri-color scheme, cerise for the top, gold for the center and purple for the lower arm portion, repeating the colors in pockets and neckline details. Smartly typical of the new vogue for contrast is the dress shown to the right in the picture above. It has a definitely "peasant" feeling in its use of vivid colors and its trim ming in a flower of self fabric. There’s something about the mid dy-blouse fashion done in red, white and blue that makes an irresistable combination. The pattern for the two-piece outfit, centered in the group above, with its easy-to-follow instructions, is especially interesting if you sew the modern way. If you aspire to be your own seamstress, your local sewing center will in struct you, at little or no expense, in the making of such expert dress maker details as buttonholes. Crisp white rayon fabric is used for the middy blouse and cadet blue for the skirt. Bands of vermillion red ac cent the collar, cuffs and pockets and can be made in “jig time” with an edge stitcher sewing machine at tachment. And don’t forget about the newest bathing suits. They have sprightly little skirts of ruffles, each in a dif ferent color. A bandanna for the head repeats the color scheme. (Relc 3ed by Western Newspaper Union.) Farm Topics -|| FARM WOODLOT NEEDS CULLING ‘Loafer’ and ‘Robber’ Trees Should ‘Get the Ax.’ By PARKER ANDERSON (Eateasion Forester, Minnesota University Farm.) The farm woodlot need* “culling” at this time of the year Just as much as does the flock of laying hens. If the woodlot is to produce well in the future, loafer and robber trees should get the axe. Trees culled out this winter will more than pay for the trouble and labor in fuel, fence posts and lum ber logs. Woodlots will gain from this practice, he says, because the remaining trees can grow faster and straighter. It is a good idea to have an eye out for trees that will give cash re turns in the future. Productive trees should have the best in soil fer tility, water and sunlight Large trees that "overtop” and steal sun light from promising young growth are among those recommended by Anderson for culling. To avoid too extensive cutting here are some suggestions: Leave enough trees to cover the forest floor, but thin out dense thickets of young trees so the straightest and healthiest ones will have growing room. Keep your eyes on the tops—tree tops should be fairly close but with some room for growth. Raise More Food, Farm Youth Urged Farm boya and girls are being en couraged to increase supplies of foods needed by this country through projects on pigs, calves, and chick ens, according to word received from the U. S. department of agri culture. Both the Farm Credit and Farm Security administrations are pre pared to make loans to members of 4-H clubs and other rural youth groups—as well as to unaffiliated youngsters with responsible spon sors—io make more such work pos sible than in the past. FSA wili make loans to children of its borrowers where funds are otherwise unavailable, and FCA will make loans through local produc tion credit associations. The State Extension services in co-operation with state agricultural colleges, will help to launch many of the projects, it is announced. Many 4-H clubs and other rural youth groups have raised various foods as part of their work in the past. Last year, for instance, 4-H members grew 237,000 home gar dens, 177,000 raised poultry, 150,000 raised pigs, and 74,000 had dairy cattle. The aim now is to increase the number of farm boys and girls growing foods deemed most vital to America. Their contributions of milk, eggs, pork, and vegetables will not only add to needed supplies in the coun try but will make possible in many instances an improved diet for them selves and families, it is pointed out. Carbon Monoxide Is Poultry Danger Pink lungs reveal carbon mon oxide poisoning in baby turkeys and chicks. According to George P. McCarthy, poultry husband man of Texas A. and M. college, a grower may actually gas his turkey poults or baby chicks with a sooty brooder stove and bad ventilation. Deaths from this cause might be attributed to oth er reasons. Investigators by the Denver branch of the pathological labo ratory of the U.S.D.A. into the high percentage of loss among baby turkeys delivered in good condition from hatcheries to poul trymen showed no external symp toms of carbon monoxide poison ing, even when it was suspected. Chemical tests, however, were conclusive and physical examina tions confirmed the positive cases by revealing the abnormally pink lungs which result from this type of poisoning. McCarthy recommends that turkey growers provide good ven tilation in their brooder houses without exposing the young birds to the hazard of drafts. Before placing baby chicks in brooder houses it is important to clean coal, wood and oil burning brood er stoves in order to remove all soot which might clog the burn ers and help form the dangerous gas. Farm Machinery Despite actual or threatened shortages of raw materials, last year was a year of record output of farm equipment, says the depart ment of commerce. The monthly out ' put of farm equipment continued ! steadily at the rate of $65,000,000 | from April through September. Sales I of farm equipment show an increase of 25 per cent over a year ago, ac counted for entirely in the domestic market, since exports of farm equip ment were the same. Smart Slip-Cover Style You Easily Fit and Sew AN ELEGANT, tailored slip ** cover is what that frumpy old chair needs! You can make one yourself eas ily, the pin-on way. Such a smart style as we show—of satin-stripe apricot rayon, with kick-pleat flounce—isn’t a bit beyond you. • • • Our 32-page booklet gives exact details, step-by-step diagrams for making slip covers the pln-on way for differently shaped chairs, sofas, auto seats. Tells how to make swag and pleated flounces, decorative seams, trimmings. Suggests colors, fabrics. 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