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We ducked into the offices of the North-West Mounted Police, the precursor to the Royal Canadian Mounties A strapping young sergeant dressed in a crisp red uniforentlemen?"

"I sincerely hope so," replied the doctor "I a for an American by the name of Dr John Chanler I understand you’ve been advised of his disappearance"

The sergeant nodded, and his eyes narrowed slightly "Are you a friend of Dr Chanler?"

"I am His wife asked that I look into the matter"

"Well," theof his broad shoulders, "you are free to look, Mr--"

"Doctor Warthrop"

The Mountie’s eyes widened in astonishment "Not the same Warthrop who’s the monster hunter?"

"I ay," the doctor corrected hiht--you hunt monsters! I’ve heard of you"

"I’d no idea my reputation had preceded me so far north," replied Warthrop dryly

"Oh, my mother used to tell us children tales of your exploits--and I always thought it was to get us to mind!"

"Your mother? Then they were notof htened the pants off us! But this Chanler--was he a monster hunter too?"

"His wife did not tell you?"

The man shook his head "She said he’d couide came out"

"Pierre Larose"

"Yes, that’s his na"

"So you were not able to question him?"

"Be the one I’d most like to lay my hands on, Dr Warthrop, if I only knehere to put them He’s the key to this whole riddle--last to see theit to us We spent nearly ato pick up their trail, all the way up to Sandy Lake and the Suckers encaht Jack Fiddler’s people"

"Fiddler I’ve heard that naer you have! He’s no doctor of monster philosophy, but he hunts them just the same He’s a shae Speaks passing English Used to work down here on the boats Makes fiddles, that’s how he got his name"

"And you questioned hi fro Larose told Chanler’s poor wife--"

"Lepto lurconis," murhed "The Wendigo"

The sergeant nodded slowly, and then the connection dawned on him His voice shook onder as he said, "You don’t mean to say--I never put any stock in those stories Is that why you’ve come? It’s real?"

"Of course it isn’t real," the doctor said irritably "It’s a convenience, like the stories your hten you into submission"

"You mean those weren’t real either?"

"No, those probably were It’s an entirely different species"

"The Wendigo?"

"The stories My good ht be able to dredge up information on Larose’s whereabouts"

"You and half the town of Rat Portage The man’s melted away like a puff of smoke"

"It has been eant But it seems to me the best place to start is the last person to see both men alive"

"You mean Jack Fiddler, but I told you I’ve already talked to hi about it"

"Perhaps he will be more convivial with so your pardon, Doctor?"

"A fellow monster hunter"

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