ere in which the industrial
development of the country could be carried on under conditions that
made for success. While never taking part with either employer or
employed, the firm, impartial and tactful Mounted Police Force often
became a living windbreak against social tempests, which without it
might, at times, have thrown both sides into confusion and have wrecked
projects that were vital to the progress of the Dominion.

While going through old annual reports of the work of the Police one is
struck by the frequency with which one comes across deeds of heroism,
which were only noted formally in a few lines at the time, and which
have lain buried out of sight ever since. But if they had been done on
other fields they would have won wide publicity and many decorations.

There is not much of a thrill playing on the surface of a report given
by Constable Wight, who was the whole detachment at a village in
Alberta. But one cannot read it in a short paragraph without finding
between the lines a lot of danger in small compass. A man named Winning,
who perhaps presumed on his name, decided at 1 a.m. that he did not like
the room the night clerk had given him at the hotel, and wanted it
changed. Rooms were not plentiful in these small places, and there was
no other to be had, on finding out which, Mr. Winning, after raising a
general disturbance to the discomfort of the other guests, went away and
came back shortly with several sticks of dynamite. He said he was going
to blow up the hotel, and this declaration did not add to the peace of
mind of the hotel clerk and the guests. The town constable was on hand,
but the gentleman with the sticks of dynamite flourished them, and said
he would blow the constable to fragments if he interfered. Mounted
Police-Constable Wight, who was some distance away, was awakened and
told of the situation. Meantime, Mr. Winning, who had not committed any
overt act, had retired to a camp near by with his high explosives. But
Constable Wight got an information sworn out against him for having an
explosive in his possession with intent to endanger life, which was
putting it mildly enough when he was in fact dealing with a man running
amuck with dynamite playthings. However, this served the purpose of
Constable Wight, who rode out to the camp and arrested the man,
explosives and all. It was not a very pleasant undertaking, but that did
not count for anything with a wearer of the scarlet tunic out on