第25章

"Not much of a wonder, I'm afraid.But how could I keep him? Icouldn't keep him, could I," she said, "if his country needs him?"The doctor glanced at her face with its appealing deep blue eyes.

"No, by Jove! You couldn't keep him, not you.""Now, Mandy," said Cameron, "you must upstairs and to bed." He read aright the signs upon her face."You are tired and you will need all the sleep you can get.Wait for me, Martin, I'll be down in a few moments."When they reached their room Cameron turned and took his wife in his arms.

"Mandy! as Martin says, you are wonderful.You are a brave woman.

You have nerve enough for both of us, and you will need to have nerve for both, for how I am going to leave you I know not.But now you must to bed.I have a little business to attend to.""Business?" inquired his wife.

"Yes.Oh, I won't try to hide it from you, Mandy.It's 'The Big Business.' We are--Dr.Martin and I--going up to the Barracks.

Superintendent Strong has come down for a consultation." He paused and looked into his wife's face."I must go, dear.""Yes, yes, I know, Allan.You must go.But--do you know--it's foolish to say it, but as those Indians passed us I fancied I saw the face of Copperhead.""Hardly, I fancy," said her husband with a laugh."He'd know better than run into this town in open day just now.All Indians will look to you like old Copperhead for a while.""It may be so.I fancy I'm a little nervous.But come back soon.""You may be sure of that, sweetheart.Meantime sleep well."The little town of Calgary stands on one of the most beautiful town-sites in all the world.A great plain with ramparts of hills on every side, encircled by the twin mountain rivers, the Bow and the Elbow, overlooked by rolling hills and far away to the west by the mighty peaks of the Rockies, it holds at once ample space and unusual picturesque beauty.The little town itself was just emerging from its early days as a railway construction-camp and was beginning to develop ambitions toward a well-ordered business activity and social stability.It was an all-night town, for the simple and sufficient reason that its communications with the world lying to the east and to the west began with the arrival of No.2at half-past twelve at night and No.1 at five o'clock next morning.Few of its citizens thought it worth while to settle down for the night until after the departure of No.2 on its westward journey.

Through this "all-night" little town Cameron and the doctor took their way.The sidewalks were still thronged, the stores still doing business, the restaurants, hotels, pool-rooms all wide open.

It kept Sergeant Crisp busy enough running out the "tin-horn"gamblers and whisky-peddlers, keeping guard over the fresh and innocent lambs that strayed in from the East and across from the old land ready for shearing, and preserving law and order in this hustling frontier town.Money was still easy in the town, and had Sergeant Crisp been minded for the mere closing of his eyes or turning of his back upon occasion he might have retired early from the Force with a competency.Unhappily for Sergeant Crisp, however, there stood in the pathway of his fortune the awkward fact of his conscience and his oath of service.Consequently he was forced to grub along upon the munificent bounty of the daily pay with which Her Majesty awarded the faithful service of the non-coms.in her North West Mounted Police Force.And indeed through all the wide reaches of that great West land during those pioneer days and among all the officers of that gallant force no record can be found of an officer who counted fortune dearer than honor.

Through this wide awake, wicked, but well-watched little town Cameron with his friend made his way westward toward the Barracks to keep his appointment with his former Chief, Superintendent Strong.The Barracks stood upon the prairie about half a mile distant from the town.They found Superintendent Strong fuming with impatience, which he controlled with difficulty while Cameron presented his friend.

"Well, Cameron, you've come at last," was his salutation when the introduction was completed."When did you get into town? I have been waiting all day to see you.Where have you been?""Arrived an hour ago," said Cameron shortly, for he did not half like the Superintendent's brusque manner."The trail was heavy owing to the rain day before yesterday.""When did you leave the ranch?" inquired Sergeant Crisp.

"Yesterday morning," said Cameron."The colts were green and Icouldn't send them along."

"Yesterday morning!" exclaimed Sergeant Crisp."You needn't apologize for the colts, Cameron.""I wasn't apologizing for anybody or anything.I was making a statement of fact," replied Cameron curtly.

"Ah, yes, very good going, Cameron.Very good going, indeed, Ishould say," said the Superintendent, conscious of his own brusqueness and anxious to appease."Did Mrs.Cameron come with you?""She did."

"Indeed.That is a long drive for a lady to make, Cameron.Too long a drive, I should say.I hope she is quite well, not--eh--over-fatigued?"

"She is quite well, thank you."

"Well, she is an old campaigner," said the Superintendent with a smile, "and not easily knocked up if I remember her aright.But Iought to say, Cameron, how very deeply I appreciate your very fine--indeed very handsome conduct in volunteering to come to our assistance in this matter.Very handsome indeed I call it.It will have a good effect upon the community.I appreciate the sacrifice.The Commissioner and the whole Force will appreciate it.But," he added, as if to himself, "before we are through with this business I fear there will be more sacrifice demanded from all of us.I trust none of us will be found wanting." The Superintendent's voice was unduly solemn, his manner almost somber.

Cameron was impressed with this manifestation of feeling so unusual with the Superintendent.

"Any more news, sir?" he inquired.