/VALLEY °J VOICES GEORGE MARSH AUTHOR. OF * TOILERS OF THE TRAIL " * THE WHELPS OF THE WOLF" Ay THE PENN PUBLISHING CO THE FACfOR SYNOPSIS.—With David, half- breed guide. Brent Steele, of the American Museum of Natural His­ tory. is traveling in northern Canada. By a stream he hears Denise, daughter of Col. Hilaire St. Onge, factor at Walling River, play the violin superbly. He in­ troduces himself and accepts an Invitation to make the post his home during his stay. CHAPTER I—Continued In front of the trade-house, in con­ versation with David, stood a tall, military-looking man. with Iron-gray hair and mustache. Around the door lounged a group of curious company Indians Advancing and gripping the newcomer’s hand, the factor of Wall­ ing River exclaimed: "Bon jour. Monsieur Steele! Wel­ come to Walling River! My daughter and David have told me of our good fortune." As the old soldier continued, with a slight French accent. Steele was aware of being secretly appraised by the keen eyes of the other. “You are to be our guest for as long as you will honor us. In this valley, for a man of science, there Is much of Interest." “You are very good to a stranger, sir. David and I have been out from Neplgon since May. We need supplies and my stuff should also be over­ hauled. Some of It got wet bucking this river of yours." “Too bad! You found It a hard river to pole and track?" “We certainly did. David has a nose for quick water as keen as a mink's for fish, but we took too long a chance in the big white-water. At the mention of the rapid the face of St. Onge hardened. He leaned eagerly toward the speaker. ’The Devil's mile! It got you too?” “Oh, we pulled out of it with a wetting. You see, I was with the best bow-man on the Neplgon, so we saved thé canoe and our own skins as well." Slowly the Frenchman shook his head : then suddenly asked : “You saw nothing on your way up­ river—nothing peculiar, no signs of a canoe?" Steele wondered at the question as he answered : “No, we met no one. I imagine the Indians don’t travel It, too much strong water, and then there's the taboo—they're shy of the lower river, aren’t they?" At the words, the narrowed eyes of St. Onge shifted to the ground. He made no answer to the man who watched his set face, wondering, as it vitally affected tl>e trade, why the factor avoided this subject of the In­ dians' fear of the Windigo. Presently St. Onge broke his silence. “You will pardon me, Monsieur Steele, I am a poor host. If you were in the water you spoiled your flour— you are hungry?” Steele glanced at the grinning David who plaintively placed a sinewy hand on his stomach. “Yes. we lost our flour and we saw no game, had to fish our way up the river, so. colonel, we are a bit hungry.” Snapping his fingers with impa­ tience at his seeming lack of hospital­ ity, the factor called to the loungers at the trade-house door: “Michel! Tete-Roule! Bring up Monsieur Steele’s stuff from the foot of the portage: and, Michel, David here will eat with you. See that there’s plenty of caribou stew for sup­ per. He’s starved out.” Turning to Steele, the factor added : “My daugh­ ter is now overseeing the cooking of our dinner, monsieur. I trust you will find It to your taste.” “You are mighty kind to a couple of bush-battered strangers. Colonel St. Onge. We are not exactly starved, you know. We travel with a net, but a straight diet of pike and trout grows a bit tiresome. You can sell us sup­ plies to take us through to Neplgon?" "You will not need to outfit for Neplgon,” the factor's eyes grew bit­ ter. “You will pass Laflamme'« post at Lake Ogoke.” "Monsieur Steele will desire to be shown his room, father, before we dine,” called a woman’s voice. Turn­ ing, Steele saw, opening the gate In the dog-stockade surrounding the fac­ tor's quarters, Denise St. Onge, trim In white serge. Casting an embar­ rassed look at his frayed jeans, his hand sought his unshaven chin as she joined them. "Welcome, again, to Walling River, monsieur," she said cordially, giving him her hand. “My daughter seems to need no In­ troduction. She has told me of your meeting at the river. Denise, Mon­ sieur Steele Is bound for the Neplgon by the Ogoke trail." The eyes of fa­ ther and daughter met in a significant look. “Laflamme, monsieur, can give you anything you wish—including Scotch whisky.” The girl's dark eyebrows contracted at the mention of the Ogoke trader's name. “So he's giving the Indians whisky, Is he?" said Steele. “You are surprised?" laughed the factor bitterly. "For Monsieur La­ flamme It seems that Canadian law does not exist. With his whisky he will soon have the fur trade of the I whole district." • “They said as much at Fort Hope. But the authorities—why don't they act ?" St Onge shrugged eloquently. ”1 do not know. He Is running things with a high hand—has support of the strongest at Qttawa." Steele turned with a smile to David who had been an Interested listener to the conversation. “I think that we shall have to pay Monsieur Laflamme a visit. David." St. Onge and ills daughter ex­ changed glances. “Daveed like to shake de han' of Mister Laflamme," replied the Ojib­ way, dryly. “I pity Laflamme when you do. He’ll carry his arm in a sling for a month If he ever falls into that wolf­ trap of yours. "You see, colonel, David Is under the impression that Laflamme Is an old friend," Steele enlightened his host, whose face reflected acute In­ terest. "Sometimes In meeting old friends he forgets In his joy that his Steele Was Thankful That His Duffle Bag Contained a Change of Clothes and Moccasins. hand-shake Is famous from Neplgon to Norway House. In this case, David.” he added grimly, “you’ll have to remember that we’re not on the Neplgon and must not mistake Mon­ sieur Laflamme's throat for his hand.” Steele smiled Inwardly as St. Onge’s eyes shifted to meet those of his daughter, then focused quizzically on the grinning face of the half-breed. If the situation at Wailing River was a source of mystification to St. Onge's guest, Steele was satisfied that the guests had now balanced the score, to the truth of which surmise the face of the Frenchman patently testified. “But come, I forget my manners, monsieur. We have a room and bed for you as long as you will honor us. My head man, Michel, will take care of David.” "Thank you, sir!" And picking up the bag containing his personal be­ longings. Steele followed his host. The house of the factor of Walling River was built of square-hewn spruce logs, carefully chinked against the January winds of the Helght-of-Land country. In front, a roofed porch of hewn slabs commanded a view of the river which here gave no Intimation of the swift metamorphosis which, a third of a mile below, turned It Into a riot of white rapids. Beside the porch a bed of violets and wood, anemone were now bloomless, but be­ yond, In their second flowering, white Canadian violets and the blue of fringed gentian and harebells against a background of northern golden rod bore gay witness to the care of one who loved flowers. Familiar with the bare and uninvit­ ing interiors of the houses at the fur posts, often presided over by an In­ dian or half-breed, wife of the factor, the livingroom Steele now entered bore resemblance to those he had seen solely In its huge sheet-Iron stove. The rough walls hung sparingly with small French etchings framed In white birch, the rustic furniture shaped from spruce and cedar poles, the shelves of books, and the rugs of moose and bear and wolf, had. by the nlchemy of taste, been fused Into n room a home. “1 did not know there was a room like this north of Winnipeg, made molselle." Steele said In frank ad miration. “Oh. monsieur! would you have u« live like the Indians? But you are laughing at our poor little home." “Please don’t," he legged. “It I* And all the charming this room. books !" “It was hard on nur packers," broke in St. Onge, “but 1 Insisted on hav­ ing the books If I was to be marooned up here tn this valley. The winter would be long without them ami the violin." "I envy you the winters here with that violin, sir," said Steele, smiling at his hostess. “I hope to hear It again, mademoiselle — your superb playing.” Her face brightened. “It was only a mood today at the rapids. twin sieur. I go there when lonely, to piny to the troubled waters. You thought me sad—I saw it In your fn«-e: but I was only homesick for Touraine. To­ night we shall have something gay." But Steele felt that It was not lone­ liness which ha now, sitting behind a potted palm with beautiful young Magazine Ootle at Mrs. Piggyback's reception, he prepared for an enay conquest as he launched Into a de­ scription of the t'hlnu sea snootflsh, which climbs aboard ships and bites sailors In half. "Yes," she nodded brightly. "I've seen them. Aren't they ex«'ltfng? But the sen oxen off the coast of Labra­ dor uro much more dangerous. be­ cause they hunt In flocks ami butt holes into boats with their heads. Hnve you seen them?" “Eer- no." admitted Rover. “Now. the flying weasel of southern Zanzibar Is a curious anlmul. with Its tall In Its mouth, for great distances, and yet never bus been known to grow dizzy. “Oh. yea. seen them often,' replied Magazine brightly. "But 1 [in­ fer to watch the Helle-qiotit camels of central Hindustan. They walk back­ wards, you know, on their front leg«, yet neve/- bump Into a thing, some­ how. You've seen ttiein. of course?" "Well—er—no," said Rover, reluc­ tantly. “I must tel! you of the Bul­ garian goulash bug. which sings like a mouth organ and drinks through a straw. When I fl rat— " “Fve "Oil. yet!" she Interrupted. Have you watched them often. ever seen the I’utngonlan plumdog. which " Rover "Stop!" cried How on earth did you. nt hoarsely. your age, get to see all of these things In all these places?” "At the 'movies,' of count?," replied Magazine, simply, “Shall we dance this one?" But Rover hnd nggered off to ’phone In his resignation to the Geo­ graphical sficlety. by observing stn and effect that. In all activities of minds mid bands, we as a people nre decidedly delinquent in cooperation. In other words, Instead of working together an a whole, we are at odtte. leaving off the mastery of today's per­ plexities until tomorrow and likely as not forgetting them, or putting them off altogether In pursuit of outside activities of an alien nature. In the office and In the home. If you will look about you with Impartial eyre, you will not be long In discover­ ing that there Is frequent lack of co- operative forces, due not so much to the Individual workers, but to the In- ofllcieucy of those whose duty it la to direct, encourage nnd spur up workers to do their best and keep ll> touch and tune with others. In gr«-at oflicc buildings, or In fac­ tories where larg«- numbers of both sexes ar« employed, their are efforts made to bring about the full < o opera­ tion of forces n work tilled with diffi­ culties, calling every hour for rure patience nnd diplomacy. If examined critically these efforts will bi- f«>un«l meager ns compared with -what might lie done If co-operatl«m «if forces should be organized and direct­ ed by competent captains. While results In the lust decade have Improved, they are fur fioiu being wholly satlsfnctory. There still Is much waste of energy nnd loss of time without any apparent curtailment of expense to the anxious, hard-working ninntffacturers. mer­ chants nnd employers g.-m-rally who provide the money for puy days, Ir- reapective of the state of buslneaa. The care-worn housewives hnve slm- liar experiences. nnd m«et like condi­ tions simply because of a laxity In organization and the co-operation of forces. For nil defl«dencles, whether mental or physical, we most In some wny or another pny the penalties Imposed by cause uml effect upon nil mankind. The thing to do to avoid these oft- repeated Impositions Is to bring about , n more effective means In the co-oper- I ntlon pf forces, not only In the home nnd the factory, but In «-very depart­ ment of the stntc nnd the nation. Not until this ahull be done enn we escape burdensome taxes or hop«- for reduced prices In anything that g«ies upon our backs. Into our homes mid upon our tables. ed and hns very little waste. When the price Is high compare It with meat, one of the other proteins which we nil like, and notice the difference In waste. Cheats Omelet. Beat two egg yolks until thick, add two tnblespoonfuls of water, salt and pepper to taste. Beat the whites un­ til stiff and add one cupful of grnted cheese. Put n tableapooaful of but­ ter In a hot. smooth frying pan ; when hot pour In the lightly mixed omelet. Cook until well set. place In the oven to finish cooking on the top. Serve at once on a hot platter. Walsh Rarebit. Melt two tablespoonfuls of butter, add two tablespoonfuls of flour, and when well blended add one cupful of hot milk; cook until smooth and creamy. Add one cupful of grated cheese and when the cheese Is melted serve on buttered toast or hot crack­ ers. To make the dish a little more tasty add half n dozen chopped olives. Cheese Fordu. Pour one cupful of scalded milk over one cupful of soft bread crumbs, ndd three-fourths of a cupful of soft cheese cut Into bits, one tablespoon- ful of butter. an l salt nnd pepper to taste, Beat five egg yolks until thick, ndd to the cheese mixture and fold In the stiffly beaten whites. Bake In a well-greased dish for twenty minutes or until puffy and cooked to the cen­ ter. Cheese and Celery Salad. Select firm, crisp, tender celery and choose the stalks which have deep grooves. Cut Into Inch pieces nnd fill with seasoned cream cheese to which chopped onion, gn-en pepper nnd nnts have been added. Heap a half dozen of these filled stalks on lettuce and serve with n French dressing. This same method may he used for longer stalks and serve them as a salad accompaniment. . Hot Ham antf Tomato Sandwiches. Saute thin slices of lean ham very quickly In a frying pan. Perl and slice thin some ripe tomatoes. Hnve ready slices of white bread cut one fourth Inch thick and lightly toasted. Spread toast with salad dressing, cover with ham, then a slice of tomato nnd spread with salad dressing nnd chopped let­ tuce leaves. Cover with toast spread on one side with salad dressing. Cut Into triangles nnd garnish with sliced pickle. Serve with coffee. (CO by Owftt Matthew Adama ) HE YOUNG LADY ACROSS THE WAY JS remarked I T dents of cause (® hr MoClura Niwipap,! Syndicate.) ——o------- How It Started Baked Mackerel. By J ean N ewton If salt soak over night, skin side up, changing the water several times. Put to bake skin-side down, adding a few teaspoonfuls of water. Cook 20 mln- Utes, or until the fish loosens from the bones. After ten minutes cover with sweet cream and baste often dur­ ing the baking. Serve with sauce poured over the fish. (4a ALL FOR A SONG 1)25. Waalern Newspaper Union.) ------------ o------------ How-Land Is Used The use of land In the L'nlted States for all purposes is as follows: Four­ teen per cent crops for feed, 3 per cent humid improved pasture, I) per cent humid unimproved pasture, 31 per cent nrl«l and semi-arid pasture Bnd grazing land, 12 per cent forest cut-over anti burned-over land pasture, 13 per «.ent forest cut-over and burned per cent over land not pasture, roads, railroads, cities, farmsteads and other land not in pasture, 2 per cent crops for fiber, 4 per cent crops for food. HAS sobl hfs future for a A A song." they snld of n rich man's son who, Instead of taking advantage of the unusual opportunities open to him for a worth while career, wns whiling away his golden years on the Great White Way. "All for a song" has come to mean to us “paying too much for a whis­ tle," ant undue sacrifice or waste for something that Is worthless or only of transient moment, particularly the suiierflclnl. It hns come down to us from the day when Its significance was literal. Queen Elizabeth, ns n token of her appreciation of the poet, Edmund S|>encer, had ordered I.ord Burleigh to present him with £100, which In those days was a simili fortune. Upon this Lord Burleigh Is said to have exclnlmed: “All this for a song I bi TTE The young lady across the way says she supposes she’ll never be any taller If she Ilves to be a hundred years ol«l as she understands a girl gener­ ally reaches the limit of her longevity nt eighteen. (©hr McClure N.wnpapcr Syndicate.) -------------O------------ The United Stntes government print­ ing office, largest printing plant In the world, makes It own Ink and other (supplies at a great saving. (®. by Bell Syndicate)