Hawtrey's Deputy

boia, when Agatha, who sat by a window, looked up as the conductor strode t

'll be in Clermont

and Mrs. Hastings

d. "No doubt he's got the waggon fixed up right, but I'd like to feel sure of it. T

courageously, but a reaction had afterwards set in, and, as it happened, the Scarrowmania had plunged along bows under against fresh north-westerly gales most of the way across the Atlantic. There is very little comfort on board a small, deeply-loaded steamer when she rolls her rails in, and lurches with thudding screw swun

e stood upon the car platform. There was, however, no sign of him, and though Wyllard handed her a telegram from him a few minutes later the fact that he had not arrived had a depressing effect on her. Quiet as she usually was, the girl was highly strung.

gy, greyish-white, and not green as it had been in England. The sky was low and grey, too, and the only thing that broke the dreary monotony of lifeless colour was when the formless, darker smear of a birch bluff rose o

," said Mrs. Hastings.

ow bluff, half filled with old cans and garbage, flitted by, a big bell commenced tolling, and Agatha rose when Mrs. Hastings took up her furs from a seat close by. After that, she found herself standing

that cut against a lowering sky, the little cluster of houses, and the sea of churned-up mire between them and the track. There also appeared to be no station except a big water

patches; but while she noticed these things it was his face that struck her most, and she became conscious of an astonishment which was mixed with vague misgivings as she gazed at it, for it had subtly changed since she had last seen it. The joyous sparkle she

ce. Then, and she fancied he must have lifted her bodily down, she stood beside the track with Mrs. Hastings, a man whom she supposed to be the latter's husband, Winifred, and Wyllard about her. Another man was also standing close by, apparently wai

rang up on the platform, and

m sorry it can't be for another week. Horribly unfortunate. It seems they've sent the Methodist on

ferred. A moment or two later Gregory turned to her with questions about her throat, and his people in England, and Winifred separated herself from the group.

luous, we may as well make the most of the opportunity, especially as it wi

along the track. The latter wore rather neat store clothes, and his manner was brisk and wholly business-like. It was a certain relief to the girl to see that he evidently regarded her less as

onder," said Wyllard, pointing to one of t

nations, and proceeded to arrange matters with

?" he said. "Know anythi

d these abilities, and Hamilton app

start at-" and he mentioned terms which rather astonished Wini

o see any testimo

he folks who showed them me must have bought them." He waved his hand. "Mr. Wyll

on her behalf, it was Wyllard who had secured her the opportunity she ha

" she said hesitatingly.

gements you can alter them afterwards. Mrs. Sandberg will take you in

at that. No frivolity about that woman. Married a Scandinavian, and w

astings for the fortnight," said Wyllard. "Sproatly"-and he signed to the ma

Sandberg, I'll drive her round," he suggested. "We'll catch you up in a

gs straight for once,"

d across the track and through a sea of mire into the unpaved street of the little town. She liked her companion's voice and manner, though she was far from prepossess

dicines somewhere else. I'

ou. I was talking to a Winnipeg doctor who'd a notion of coming out a

Winifred there, and the woman favoured

Then she added, as though further satisfied

in a few more minutes the girl, who went into the hou

r. Wyllard a goo

in that respect, but you had better hold tight.

a gallop, hurling great clods of mud left and right, while the gr

on them?" asked one, and another flung a pi

r's wants a bottle that will su

d his hand to them before

r I'd stop and sell them something sure," he said.

was, for spouts of mud flew up beneath the sinking hoofs an

ould have succee

m when they'd given me a lead like that, I'd be no use in this bus

l things

estorer, besides a general purpose elixir that's specially prepared for me. It's adaptable to any complain

like it a little earlier, l

the people who bu

ght to be, and if anybody's really sick I hold off and tell him to wait until he can get a d

in it?" asked Winifred

. The idea, however, proved-impracticable-which, in some respects, is rather a pity. It has seemed to me that a man who can work off cough cur

ed, who laughed again, glanced at the two waggons that moved on,

ertake them

p with Gregory. I'm no

es faste

are rather addicted to coming out of his waggon. Sometimes it makes trouble. I've known the team le

y let things fall

er, was evident

it's certainly tha

ask any more questions. The prairie sod was soft with the thaw, and big lumps of it st

a quagmire. Hawtrey had packed the thick driving robe high about his companion, and slipped one arm about her waist beneath it; but she was conscious that she rather suffered this than derived any satisfaction from it. She strove to assure herself that she was jaded with the journey, which was, in fact, the case, and that the lowering sky, and the cheerless w

a vague consciousness that the man was not the one she had so often thought of in England. He seemed different-almost, in fact, a stranger-though she could not exactly tell where the change in him began. His laughter jarred upon her. Some of the things he said appeared almost inane, and others were tinged with a self-confidence that did not become him.

e was thankful, but when they reached a somewhat

eal of my folks when you we

ha, "I saw them

ce of sharpness, "then they we

ctless in suggesting anything of t

aid. "Still, I couldn't help a feeling that it wa

ke things pleasant when they we

rtly why she had admitted as much as she had done, though his relat

ause they never quite believ

ry's folks, who were naturally acquainted with his character, had, it seemed, not expected him to carry

r had a very great op

ponsibility, Gregory. There must be so much that I ought to do, and I know so little about your work in this country." She turned, and glanced wi

ed imagination, usually contented himself with the most obvious meaning of the spoken

earn, and I don't suppose it will matter a great deal if you

however, she realised that to undertake a thing light-heartedly was a very different matter from carrying it out successfu

mbered her, and, it seemed, very much more reserved. He had tried and failed, as he thought of it, to strike a spark out of her. She did not respond, and he became uneasily conscious that he could not talk to her as he c

drove into seemed to grow rapidly rougher, and it was quite dark when they came to the brink of a declivity still at least a league from the Hastings's homestead

k deep in a rut. Then something seemed to crack, and she saw the off-side horse stumble and plunge. The other beast flung its head up, Hawtrey shouted something, and there was a great smashing and snapping of undergrowth and fallen branches as they drove i

ack, and she saw the off-sid

ing's torn through," he said. "Voltigeur got it round his feet, and, as us

got down and walked back with Hawtrey to the latter's waggon. It was a minute or two before t

better if you didn't come an

e man ask

ould prefer it. For one thing, she's

l sure o

ch suggested that he was not quite satisfi

id. "She'll be better able to face

much facing?" Haw

ence. "Of course it does. Anyway, if you're wise yo

y stood still beside the trail, feeling