Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-02-21
the MANIAC SKATER.
By CAPTAIN MAYBE REID.

0uh IN torCe uQO1 Nuo ICos AHAa W. ~ PoN-
feoI ejadsioa --slssr o, plate glass. Not
. smiroh Of snow could be seen on the loag
reach Of river extending belou the towa;
although white mantle covered tie earth
on eiIher baak, aad even the dark leaves
OF the hsmlocks, snd the spreading fronts
Of the spraes trees, we're losded with snow
flakes.
On this eve King Winter seemed TO have
taken especial dsligh, in spreading table,
so attractive as to draw from out their
houses nearly the whole population of
P.
Men, women and children had assembled
on the river ice TO participate 10 the delight
ful sport Of skating, or TO watch the evolu-
tions Of the skaters.
"What splendid skaters" was the sxcla-
nation passing through the crowd as = man
and lady made their appearance upon the
ice, coming up the river from below. They
were skating hand in hand, now backward,
now forward, now performing some difficult
feat, or vhirling around 10 wide sweeping
circles.
"who are they ?" was the question asked
BY many Of the spectators.
"kate Mackenzie and Frank Scott" was
the reply, poia,ing them out as belonging
10 the two most prominent families 10 the
peighborhood, whose splendid mansions
stood near the river bank liisle further
down.
The two skaters, who had thus uneKpect-
eddy made their appearance, at once
became the object Of universal attention,
and 90 Admiring crowd soon collected around
them.
Observing this, and not appearing to like
such pablo exhibition, the young lady
Whispered some words In the ear Of her
companion; Who suddenly wheeling, so as
10 face down the river, and carrying her
round With him, few forcible strokes shot
clear Of the crowd sne skAted rapidly away
from IL.
A murmur Of disAp?Oiutmen, followed
their departure; while glanoss Of something
like disAppFoval we're cast after them, as
they glidsd of under the glesmiug 6rslisht.
The villagers appeared TO think thsy had
been unfairly dealt with, TO be thus cheated
Of = spectacle.
They are vsxsd 81 our leaving them,
remarked the young gesilsnan, as he svep
along by the side Of his beautiful comp.n
ion, her hand held in his
For what reason 2''she inuoesntly asked
They don't olssn see such an accom-
plishsd skater as you, Kate"
"As yourself, you mean, Frank. Il VA
your performance they so much sdmired
aud, now l think OF it,. it vAsn'I YER,
graceful in me 70 have been the cause o
disappointing them. Suppose you &,
back, and sho~ them . little more Of you
skill. Do, Frank, can stay here I'LL you
return
uAnything to nl...a you ~ H.. r..
Aud so saying, the young man released
the tiuy gloved hand Of his charming part
nsr; and, after few long shots, was ono
more 10 the midst Of the villagers, CRAFTY
ing them with the display so desired.
More than dvs minutes were thus spec
during ~hich tins the accom- lished skate
was repeatedly ohssred, and greeted viii
complimentary speeches. Then, bethiuk
log himself OF the fair creature be had LEI
waiting alone in the cold, he was about q
break OF, when the pleased spectators en-
treated him to rsmsin Q moment longer, an,
once more show them . figure that hat
especially elioited their applause.
de consented; repeated the figure calle
for, and then, resisting oil further appeal,
with QUE grand stroke be glided out frou
among the people aud OF toward the spo
where he had lsfI the young lady on ID
ice.
On nearing the place be saw that shs wa
not there, nor anywhere N sight.
Where could she have gone
IL occurred TO him that, while he va
entertaining tho villagers, she might els
have rejoined them, Asd become one Of tn
spectators.
With all speed he started back again, an
quarIered the crowd-in every direction
scanning the faces aud figures BY the re-
freight
But Amoug them he saW neither feature
nor form bearing the slightest resemblance
TO those Of the beautiful Kate Msekenzi,
$50" soliloquizsd he, "she's playing
little trick, to surprise. She has slipped i
under the river bank; aud while am rush
ing 70 and fro 10 search Of her, she 10 n
doubt standing in the shadow of hen
look, and quietly laughing At me-"
Yielding 10 Tits con soture he once MOI
piled his skates and shoI rapidly down Ii
river, keeping close alongside The hank, 40
scanning every spot ovsTshAdowsd by III
dark fronts of the hemlooks.
Bot he saw no one there, either in Il
moonlight or shadow; nor was there At
mark made by SkatJs on the inshors ice.
II nov occurred to him that be migl
discover where abe had gone by gsttin
upon the track Of her skates and follo~it
Is up. With this intent he fastened bsC
to the spot where he had lett her.
On reaching IL a cold thrill sho, throug
his frame, as If the blood had suddenly
come frozen 10 his veins. 10 addition
the two sets Of skate tracks made by hin
SET and young lady in their passage u
and down, hs now saw . third, whose des
scores upon the ice showed them TO hs'
been made By Q man There we're col
fused enrves around the spot, and zig zsI
gings, a. II there had bsen . struggle, I
some slight difficulty in starting; but b
yond that point we're two sets Of straigl
continuous burrows, running parallel, al
side by side, rs IL the skaters had goI
away At Q rapid rate, and with joins
hands.
The direction was down the rivsr-t
ward the nome Of Miss Mackenzie.
Ala glance the yousg man recogniz'
the thin tiny mark left by the slender ste
blades oB:ths feet Of his late partner. b
the man VINO had taken her off skating
close 10 her siie-Who was hep This "
the question pat by Frank Scott to BIZ
self
A painful suspicion shot through
brain. He remembered that shortly aft
leaving the house they had passed a nj
upon the ice, who was also on skates. Th
had brushed so near this man as to see "
he was; and in the moonlight had bshe
couutsnaGce bearing a most sinister ca
IL was the face Of Charles 81. Clair
Frsnch Canadian, whom Frank knew IT,
rivAl-liks himself sutton for the ha
Of Miss Mackenzie.
THIS man had made his appearance
the nsixhborhood some three montbS B
fore, coming no one knew whence.
act, there was nothing kno-n Of him e
eeps his name aud this might have be
an assumed one. He put up at the pr
eipal hotel in the village, appeared to he
money, and 70 be q person Of good edu'
ton. Was 1t he who had joined Miss Nj
kenzie upon the Zoe, and carried her az
nth him IL rould -. -. 49,. far ~.