wilderness was deeply bred in him.

His way took him past Adler's Hotel, and, in a lucid moment, he
remembered that Murray was stopping there. An impulse made him pause
and look at his watch. It yet wanted half an hour to his appointment.
Yes, he would see if Murray were in. He must tell him of his purpose
to leave the city a while. It would be necessary to send word to his
mother, too.

Murray was in. He was just contemplating food when he received Alec's
message. He sent down word for him to come up to his room, and waited.

Murray McTavish was very much the same man of methodical business here
in Leaping Horse as the Fort knew him. The attractions of the city
left him quite untouched. His method of life seemed to undergo no
variation. A single purpose dominated him at all times. But that
purpose, whatever it might be, was his own.

His room was by no means extravagant, such as was the room Alec
occupied at the Gridiron. Adler's Hotel boasted nothing of the
extravagance of either of the two leading hotels. But it was ample for
Murray's requirements. The usual bedroom furnishing was augmented by a
capacious writing desk, which was more or less usual throughout the
hotel.

He was at his desk now, and his bulk filled the armchair to the limits
of its capacity. He pushed aside the work he had been engaged upon,
turned away from the desk, and awaited the arrival of his visitor.

There was no smile in his eyes now, nor, which was more unusual, was
there any smile upon his gross features. His whole pose was
contemplative, and his dark, burning eyes shone deeply.

But it was a different man who greeted the youth as the door was thrust
open. The smiling face was beaming welcome, and Murray gripped the
outstretched hand with a cordiality that was not intended to be
mistaken.

"Sit right down, boy," he said. "You're around in time to eat with me.
But I'll chase up a cocktail."

But Alec stayed him.

"I just can't stay, Murray," he said hastily. "And I'm not needing a
cocktail just now. I was passing, and I thought I'd hand you the thing
I got in my mind, and get you to pass word on to my mother and Jessie."

He took the proffered chair facing the window. Murray had resumed his
seat at the desk, which left him in the shadow.

"Why, just anything you say," Murray returned heartily. "The plans?"

The contrast between them left the trader overwhelmed. Alec, so tall,
so clean-cut and athletic of