ill be a big church wedding,
and we'll settle down like civilized beings in a real house. Oh,
princess, I can hardly wait. I'm still afraid something will take
you from me again."
"Nothing ever will, dear boy," she replied, patting his hand. "But
look here, Donald," and she smiled, "you haven't arrested Seguis
yet for the murder of Cree Johnny."
"No, and I don't need to. The man who reported the crime has finally
confessed that he lied about it. Cree Johnny was drunk, and attacked
Seguis, who killed him in self-defense. The man who brought the
news to Fort Dickey had been Johnny's partner for years, and lied
about it out of revenge. Speaking of murders, I would like to know
who killed Indian Tom. I really think that a passing hunter mistook
him for an animal moving. The deed was done in a storm, which made
it very hard to see, and that same storm wiped out the murderer's
tracks. Since you have sworn you were with me at the time of the
shot, of course they can't accuse me any longer."
"I wonder what will become of old Maria," asked Jean. "She is a
helpless idiot now. The strain of Seguis's confession that day
seemed to break something in her brain, and now she is an amiable,
helpless old squaw, without a single memory."
"Seguis promised me the other day he would look after her. Once I
asked him what was the motive that prompted his bringing that
command of yours for me to go away, but he wouldn't explain. He
only smiled. He seems very glad that we are to be married and happy,
at last." Donald smiled affectionately on her.
"Well, who wouldn't be glad that I am going to marry my hero?"
asked the girl, with shining eyes.
McTavish grew suddenly grave.
"Don't call me that," he said, gently. "There is another hero, to
whom we both owe more than we can ever repay."
"Who is that?"
"Charley Seguis," Donald said.
THE END
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