Produced by Al Haines
ALTON OF SOMASCO
A Romance of the Great Northwest
By HAROLD BINDLOSS
Author of
"Winston of the Prairie," "The Dust of Conflict,""The Cattle Baron's Daughter," "The Young Traders,"etc.
With Illustrations
By R. MARTINE REAY
A. L. BURT COMPANY, PUBLISHERS
NEW YORK
COPYRIGHT, 1905
BY FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY
This Edition Issued in March, 1906.
CONTENTS
CHAP.
I THE FIRST ENCOUNTER II AT TOWNSHEAD'S RANCH III HARRY THE TEAMSTER IV HALLAM OF THE TYEE V THE HEIR OF CARNABY VI MISS DERINGHAM MAKES FRIENDS VII ALTON BLUNDERS VIII HALLAM'S CONFEDERATE IX MISS DERINGHAM FEELS SLIGHTED X THE UNDELIVERED MESSAGE XI CONFIDENCE MISPLACED XII IN VANCOUVER XIII THE SOMASCO CONSOLIDATED XIV THE COMPACT XV ON THE TRAIL XVI CAUSE FOR ANXIETY XVII ALONE XVIII IN THE WILDERNESS XIX FOUL PLAY XX THE NICKED BULLET XXI OKANAGAN'S ROAD XXII MISS DERINGHAM DECIDES XXIII THE AWAKENING XXIV HALLAM TRIES AGAIN XXV ALTON IS SILENT XXVI WITHOUT COUNTING THE COST XXVII THE FORCE OF CALUMNY XXVIII ALTON FINDS A WAY XXIX THE PRICE OF DELAY XXX SEAFORTH'S REINSTATEMENT XXXI "THE THIRD TIME" XXXII ALTON HOLDS HIS HAND XXXIII MISS DERINGHAM'S CONFESSION XXXIV THE CONSUMMATION
ALTON OF SOMASCO
CHAPTER I
THE FIRST ENCOUNTER
It was snowing slowly and persistently, as it had done all day, whenHenry Alton of Somasco ranch stood struggling with a half-tamed Cayusepony in a British Columbian settlement. The Cayuse had laid its earsback, and was describing a circle round him, scattering mud and snow,while the man who gripped the bridle in a lean, brown hand watched itwithout impatience, admiringly.
"Game!" he said. "I like them that way. Still, it isn't every mancould seize a pack on him, and you'll have to let up three dollars onthe price you asked me."
Now three dollars is a considerable proportion of the value of anIndian pony fresh from the northern grass lands, with the devil thatlurks in most of his race still unsubdued within him, but the rancherwho owned him did not immediately reject the offer. Possibly he wasnot especially anxious to keep the beast.
"Oh, yes," said a bystander. "He's game enough, and I'd ask the boysto my funeral if I meant to drive him at night over the lake trail.After being most kicked into wood-pulp Carter hasn't any more use forhim, and I'll lay you a dollar, Alton, you and your partner can't putthe pack on him."
Perhaps the Cayuse was tired, or desirous of watching for anopportunity, for it came to a standstill, snorting, with its wickedeyes upon the man, who laughed a little and shoved back the broad hatfrom his forehead as he straightened himself. The laugh rangpleasantly, and the faint twinkle in Alton's eyes was in keeping withit. They were grey, and steady when the light sank out of them, andthe rest of the bronzed face was shrewd and quietly masterful. He worea deerskin jacket fancifully embroidered, blue canvas overalls, and gumboots to the knee, while, though all of them needed repair, the attir