He looked at her keenly, and was doubtless satisfied with what he saw. Then he tilted back the legs of his stool, rested his head on 278 the log wall behind him, and took another good sound nap.
He went away again just before sunrise, and Madge was left once more alone with the sick man. Soon she noticed that his eyes opened frequently, and followed her when she happened to move about the room. She could see that her presence strengthened him. In Hugo’s mind, however, there was the dim impression that he was returning from a long blindfolded journey that had left no impressions of anything but vague pain and deep weariness. And it was utterly wonderful to be greeted by a gentle voice and given care such as had not been his since childhood.
CHAPTER XIV
The Hoisting
On the few rests the dogs were compelled to take on their way back to Carcajou, Dr. Starr again questioned Stefan, carefully. The story Madge had told him was interesting, it sounded a little like some of those tales of detectives and plots marvelously unraveled, but the trouble was that no sleuth was at work and the mystery was as deep as ever. He inquired carefully in regard to the enemies Hugo might have made, but struck an absolute blank. Yes, there was one fellow Hugo had licked, but a couple of weeks later the young man had obliged him with a small loan, which had been cheerfully repaid, and the individual in question had moved a couple of hundred miles east. Oh, that was way back last summer!
Having thus easily eliminated the masculine element of Carcajou, it took no great effort on the doctor’s part to turn to the women. Were there any who had reason to dislike him; had he made love to any of them?
“Hugo make lofe to any gals in Carcajou!” exclaimed Stefan, holding a burning match in his fingers and letting it go out. “Hugo don’t nefer make lofe to nobotty. Dere’s McGurn’s gal over to the store as looked like she vanted bad to make lofe to him; alvays runnin’ after Hugo, she vos. Vhen he go in de post-office she alvays smile awful sveet at Hugo, and dere’s dem as say she vere pretty mad because he don’t never pay no attention. Vhat he care for de red-headed t’ing?”