Togo was a small Oriental man who had worked on the railroad in Carcross during the 1930s. Now he lived on the lake seven miles from town, where he cut cordwood for the Indian Residential School. He grew his own vegetables and had become a hermit.
Togo had an Indian wife in town who was a habitual drinker. She had chased him away so often that he had given up on her. She had a girl and two boys by him. He was very fond of the kids but the only time he came to town was at Christmas and he gave them the money that he had earned in the past year, making sure they had gifts and a big Christmas dinner--which he cooked himself.
In the winter of '45, Togo did not show up during the holidays. When February arrived with no sign of him, we became concerned. There were two police officers in town, Sergeant Dave Bolger and Constable Harold Macdonald. Gordon went to see Bolger and suggested they look into the matter.
I'll send Mac to check it out, said Bolger.
The next day, Mac set out on snowshoes for the tree-sided cabin Togo built on a rock wall 500 feet from the lake. He returned with the news that there was not a track to be seen. He had not been able to find the cabin in the deep snow. He came to talk it over with Gordon.
Bolger wants to try again in the morning, he said. I can't get away before noon--that will make us pretty late getting back.
I'll take him out, if you want, Gordon volunteered. I know right where the cabin is.
After Mac left, I turned to Gordon, fuming.
Why does it always have to be you who goes to the rescue? Can't they ask somebody else once in awhile? I thought we'd do something together tomorrow. You said you were taking the day off!
Well, I have the truck for it and I know where the cabin's located. What could I say?
They could have used your truck by themselves, couldn't they?
But he was already on his way out the door to fuel up for the trip the next morning. I heard the story later, when Gordon returned. . . |
