squeeze what he could out of the
rounding country, the river, and the
ake, to feed and clothe him. Not a
ult task.

uiry at the general store in the little
settlement a couple of miles north of the
canyon, disclosed to the sergeant that this
strange, surly individual was entered on the
store books as “Von Goblin.” Not that that
was his name, nor that he had ever asked
credit from old Dobel the storekeeper, but
just as a matter of record for Dobel, who
considered himself the local registrar.

As time went on, and strange little in-
cidents took place between Von Goblin
and his widely scattered neighbours, the
name, “Mad Goblin” affixed itself to him.
So Mad Goblin he became, and Mad Goblin
he remained, until he became something
without a name.

Once a month, the Mad Goblin would
drop down to the settlement with an order,
eatly written and in perfectly good English,
for flour, oatmeal, coffee, sugar, salt, and
other plain necessities. He never bothered
to pass the time of day with old man Dobel.
He never answered a question or a saluta-
tion, contenting himself by placing his order
on the counter and standing aside until the
order was made up. He would then pay
over the money asked, push his goods into a

EE

De Luxe Cars—Heated and Radio Equipped
_ AT YOUR SERVICE DAY AND NIGHT
PHONE

67 TAXI
. Ross Brothers
TAXI - CIGAR STORE - BILLIARD HALL
2nd Ave. W. (Across from Prince Rupert Hotel)
PRINCE RUPERT BRITISH COLUMBIA

sack, sling the sack on his back and stride
out along the back trails into the bush, and
home.

The police at Port Coulin had been
receiving verbal complaints from various
settlers of Mad Goblin’s unusual behaviour
when he fancied that any of his rights were
being infringed, and all of these pointed to
the fact that Goblin wanted to be left alone,
and was ready to demonstrate that he would
see to it that his desire for privacy was
respected.

Dalgleish called on Mrs. Brady, who had
four youngsters, and a husband who worked
at the lumber mill on the river in the sum-
mer and trapped in the winter and away
from home most of the time.

“The Goblin crater,’ she exclaimed.
“Och, I'm thinkin’ he’s harmless enough if
left alone. But the kids are scared of him
and run into the house every time they see
him comin’, which isn’t so very often. The
very dogs pull in their tails and run from
the sight of the man, and yet he’d never
scare me. He’s not an unpresentable figure
at all. But, och!—I’m not mindin’ him, an’
he’s not mindin’ me—nor anybody else.

“Poor man!—no doubt he has had his
troubles, like the rest of us. Maybe a
naggin’ wife whose throat he had to cut to
get away from it all. It’s many’s a wife
deserves to have her throat cut for that very
same thing. He’s a harmless crater, other-
wise, I'd say.”

With that Mrs. Brady wiped her hands
on her apron and so ridded herself of an
unimportant subject.

A talk with the other residents surround-
ing Bluebird Canyon disclosed to the ser-
geant a general fear of the man. Most of
the settlers, to avoid meeting him, had

& ey ae

Sonsts. D. O. MacKay and R. Sinclair at Kamloops in 1941.

Const. Sinclair is now stationed at Prince
upert. The uniforms are not according to regulations, but it is necessary to wear “chaps’’ to
ee a protect the clothing.

War Savings Stamps will more than do it.

MITCHELL and CURRIE

Builders and Contractors

Shop and Office: 125 East Third Avenue

Prince Rupert, B. C.

G. P. TINKER & CO. LTD.

REAL ESTATE RENTALS
GENERAL INSURANCE

Prince Rupert, B.C.

BUY 11 War Savings Stamps and you buy a
sweater for a fighting Canadian!

GRAND CAFE

Special Lighting

Everything Attractive, Fresh and Up-to-the-
Minute. Everything Designed for Comfort, Con-
venience and Prompt Service.

Phone 25
Corner of Second Ave. and Sixth St.
PRINCE RUPERT, B. C.

GORDON’S HARDWARE
General Hardware, Paints, Linoleum
> 5

PRINCE RUPERT, B. C.

A suit of warm army underwear costs $2.30. Ten
Buy
them regularly!

ORMES, LIMITED
PRESCRIPTION CHEMISTS

Phones 81 and 82

The Rexall Store, PRINCE RUPERT, B. C.

Central Hotel

150 MODERN ROOMS
LICENSED PREMISES
FURNISHED APARTMENTS

HOT WATER AND STEAM
HEATED

STEAM BATHS
ova

Prince Rupert, B.C.

Page Fifty-five