If she was from Montreal, why was she going north?
If she belonged in the North, if she was a part of it, why was she taking all of this apparently worthless footwear with her?
Why had she come to Athabasca Landing?
What was she to Kedsty?
Why was she hiding under his roof?
Why-- He stopped himself, trying to find some one answer in all that chaos of questions.

It was impossible for him to take his eyes from the shoes.

A thought seized him.

Ludicrously he dropped upon his knees in front of the row and with a face growing hotter each moment examined them all.
But he wanted to know.

And the discovery he made was that most of the footwear had been worn, some of it so slightly, however, that the impression of the foot was barely visible.
He rose to his feet and continued his inquiry.