Hammond had risen. “I think we may as well break off all our connection right now, Mr. Gildersleeve,” he said coldly. “I am going back to the limits, but this time let it be understood I’m going on my own.”
Gildersleeve at a glance took in the determination written in the young man’s face. “I see—I see,” he muttered significantly. “Well, in that case, Mr. Hammond—can we expect you to respect our previous confidences?”
“So far as it may be honourable and lawful to do so, yes.”
Somehow Hammond sensed that reply rankled Gildersleeve, but the latter responded, almost suavely: “Very well then, call around at Winch’s office in the morning and there’ll be a cheque waiting you to cover payment for your services according to our contract. Goodnight!”
He held the door for Hammond to pass out.
STRANGE events took place on the Nannabijou Limits during the morning of the day Hammond left by tug for Kam City.
Josephine Stone arose early after a restless night of nervous dread of she knew not what. There had been disturbing incidents that had contributed to her trepidation. When she had returned to the island after her fright at encountering the Indian wizard, Ogima Bush, on the trail, she found Mrs. Johnson, her companion, was absent. Inquiry of her Indian woman-of-all-work, brought out fragmentary information that Mrs. Johnson had left shortly after Miss Stone and Hammond had set out on their trip up Nannabijou Hill.
“Two men come in boat,” said the girl, “and big lady go way with them.”
“But, Mary,” insisted Miss Stone, “didn’t she leave any message—didn’t she tell you any words to tell me?”
“Maybe tell Mary—don’t know. They talk fast. Walk fast. Go way fast—in put-put boat. Maybe go some place big lady know, for she laugh and look—glad. Mary think she say she not come back for long time.”
The Indian girl swung her arm to the west. “Maybe go to city, don’t know.”
Mrs. Johnson must have been sent for hurriedly. Most likely she had received an urgent message from her home in Calgary. Something sudden must have happened, but Josephine Stone could not imagine the considerate Mrs. Johnson leaving without an explanation. She again frantically searched every possible place in the cottage for sign of a note that she might have left behind. There was none.