  “Mr. Frazer,” ordered Factor MacClaren, “put down that gun. Dick, what’s the meaning of this?” Before Dick had time to reply, Sandy’s head uprose behind the counter, twisted around and presented a blood-stained face to his uncle. At sight of it, Mr. MacClaren started back in dismay. “Good Heavens, Sandy—you too! What have you boys been up to?” He whirled toward Frazer again. “Put down that gun, I told you. Put it down! Mr. Frazer, Dick, Sandy, I demand an explanation. Are you all mad?” “If you want the truth, they attacked me first.” Frazer had grown more calm now. “Your own nephew grabbed me by the throat and I knocked him down. These other two miscreants were coming toward me just as you ran in. I picked up the revolver as a last resort. I have a right to defend myself.” Mr. Walter MacClaren sat down in a chair, produced a handkerchief and feverishly mopped his brow. Sandy clambered over the counter and advanced toward him. Dick was still trembling and fighting mad. Toma’s lips were drawn tightly across his teeth. There was still an atmosphere of tension in the room. Sandy’s voice broke the quiet. “Uncle Walter, that man is no better than a murderer. He sent us up Half Way River on a fool’s errand, then hired a couple of his confederates to track us down and try to kill us.” Mr. MacClaren stared at his nephew incredulously. It was his Scottish caution that moved him to exclaim. “Careful, Sandy. Careful, Sandy, my boy. Those are hard words. A murderer, you say. Are you prepared to back up your statements?” “I am,” spat Sandy. “Mr. MacClaren, he lies.” It was Frazer’s voice. “There is no truth in what he says. The boys are laboring under a delusion. If they’ve been attacked while away on their trip, it was not through any of my conniving. I have nothing whatever to do with Wolf Brennan and Toby McCallum. Those men are not in my employ, as these three young men seem to believe.” “They have been in your employ, haven’t they?” MacClaren asked drily. “Indeed, they have not,” protested Frazer. “If that is true, how do you account for the three entries in your own ledger under the date of March third, seventh and fifteenth? According to your own books, you paid McCallum and Brennan for work done here at the post.” “Yes, I’ll admit that but—” Frazer paused slightly confused. “They have been in your employ then?” Mr. MacClaren persisted. “Little tasks about the post here,” the other retorted. “Does it necessarily follow that they are in my employ regularly?” “No, it doesn’t. But it does give us a line on the type of men you do employ.” “You’re prejudiced,” flamed Frazer. “Not at all. If these boys are wrong, I shall insist that they apologize. But it hasn’t been proved that they are wrong yet. Sandy, go on with your story.” During its recital, Mr. MacClaren’s eyes narrowed. He turned again upon the factor. “You must have known, Mr. Frazer, that the boys could never bring back the bones of that dinosaur. Isn’t that true?” “No, it isn’t. I never saw the dinosaur. I had no idea that it was so large.” “Look here,” protested Dick, “I can bring witnesses here to prove that you visited the dinosaur’s island two years ago.” Sandy’s uncle ignored the sally. He asked the post manager another question. “You promised the boys six hundred dollars if they would bring the bones of the dinosaur back here to Half Way House. Is that correct?” “Yes, sir.” “As I understand it, the bones of the dinosaur were to be sold to a famous London Museum. Is that also correct?” “Yes, sir.” “You have a letter from that museum making a certain offer.” “Yes, Mr. MacClaren, I have.” “May I see it?” “You could see it if I had any desire to show it to you, but I haven’t. I consider it none of your business.” Mr. MacClaren smiled grimly at this affront. “Very well. That may not be my business, but what you do here as a factor of a Hudson’s Bay Company’s post is my business. Does your contract permit you to engage in any enterprise not connected with that of the company?” “On my own time, yes.” “You’d better re-read your contract.” “I’ve already done that,” sneered the other. “When I came over here today,” Mr. MacClaren’s voice was deathly calm, “an audit of your books showed that you had robbed the company of over two thousand dollars. I suppose you had a perfect right to do that under the terms of your contract?” “I object to that word ‘robbed’,” rasped Frazer. “I’ll admit to a shortage but I’ve covered it.” “Yes, when I drew your attention to it.” “I paid back every cent of it in gold.” “Where did you get the gold?” sneered Mr. MacClaren. “How did you come in possession of it? There’s another point that may need a little explaining.” “You know as well as I do that we take gold over the counter in exchange for goods.” “Correct. But whenever we do we keep a record of the transaction. In auditing your books, I found no such record.” “The more you talk the farther you get away from the subject under discussion. You asked me what was wrong here and I told you. Your own nephew assaulted me without cause. Not only that, but he made a very serious charge against me, a charge without any foundation whatsoever.” “Whose word can I take for that?” inquired Mr. MacClaren sarcastically and angrily. “Mine.” “But I do not consider that your word is sufficient. You’ve lied to me repeatedly. You lied to me this afternoon. Your conduct generally is so deceitful and dishonest that I think I was perfectly justified in asking for your resignation.” “By doing that you haven’t hurt my feelings in the least. For some time past, I have been seriously thinking of quitting the service anyway. In fact, not long ago I completed arrangements to take charge of an independent trading post shortly to be established at Caribou Lake.” At the mention of the name, Caribou Lake, Dick pricked up his ears. That was the name of the place Corporal Rand was proceeding to. “It is your privilege to go anywhere you like,” Dick heard Mr. MacClaren say. Sandy looked across at Frazer, a peculiar gleam in his eyes. At that moment he presented a most unusual appearance. His bruised lips had swollen to twice their normal size. His cheeks were smeared with blood. “If you’ll permit me to say so,” he blurted forth, “I’d like to prophesy that you’ll not take charge at Caribou Lake either. I propose to swear out a warrant for your arrest.” Frazer’s face grew a shade whiter, but he recovered himself quickly. “Two can play at the same game,” he reminded Sandy. “My charge is a more serious one.” “What is your charge?” “Attempted murder.” The man behind the counter laughed a mirthless laugh and made an ugly grimace. “You may have a lot of trouble proving that.” “I expect to,” said Sandy calmly, “but we’ll get you in the end. Please don’t forget that. This matter isn’t settled by a long way.” Mr. MacClaren rose hastily to his feet. “Enough,” he said. “Argument will get us nowhere. Mr. Frazer will be leaving us tonight and after his departure we’ll have plenty of time to discuss your case.” The factor darted from behind the counter and strode over to where Mr. MacClaren stood. “I didn’t say I was going tonight,” he snarled, his face close to that of his superior. “No, but I’m saying it. In fact, I insist upon it.” “You’re exceeding your authority. You have no right to compel me to go.” “Nevertheless, that is my intention.” “I refuse to go.” Coming from a mysterious place, a revolver leaped into MacClaren’s hands. Dick was astounded. He had never suspected that Sandy’s uncle could draw a gun so quickly. Its cold nozzle sprang forward pressing against the front of Frazer’s coat. “We won’t argue the matter,” he declared pleasantly. “I’ll accompany you to your room while you pack your things. After that I’ll arrange for a transport. Much as we may dislike to part with your company, Mr. Frazer, I think it is for the good of all concerned. Turn and march to your room.” Frazer complied hurriedly, his features swollen with rage. The two figures passed through the inner doorway, their footsteps echoed down the long corridor and, presently, in the trading room a deep silence reigned. Mopping the blood from his face with a handkerchief which Dick moistened, Sandy was soon more presentable. “That was a mighty wallop he gave me,” half grinned the injured one. “Still, I suppose that it was coming to me. Shouldn’t have lost my temper.” “It’s probably just as well that things have turned out as they have,” Dick reassured him. |
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