The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-07-30

rupteu ner Walk. 0no Vurneu upOn
him almost fiercely.
Let me go?" she cried, her husky
voice and paIlid countenance .betoken-
ing the intense excitement under which
she was laboring.
mis- Baker, let me tell you some
thing" said the man, almost sternly.
Il come here arter you, coz Conrad
Baker sent me. was ter see yen safely
through the woods. The poor boy was
taken up ter Dan Coombs' house, and
know short cut that II save time if
you'll let me guide ye."
|. Anything, anything but delay"
cried the pallid lips of the fair pioneer,
In culver of intense suffering.
Shiftless Seth went outside, Nettie
followed, and soon the two were NOV
ing down the path leading through the
forest to Solomon's mill. He walked
In advance, but turned his head every
now and then to look at the bowed lit
tie form hurrying after. She, in the
intense agony of suspense, never once
noticed these movements on the part of
her companion, nor the covetous, lust
full CLEAN that glowed in his black,
beady eyes.
When half way to the mill he turned
directly out of the path into the woods.
Its a short cut to Dan Coombs'
house. said Shiftless Seth, in answer
to an inquiry from Nettie. "By going
this way we save over half o mile,
though, of course, the path is q leetle
the best travelin'. OF course, if ye
say so, we'll keep the longest way"
Follow the course that will bring
me the soonest to Conrad's side, was
the only response made by the troubled
heart, and soon the twain were thread
ing the mazes of trackless forest.
The shadows hung deep, and soon
night would come, but not until the
village surrounding Solomon's mill had
been reached, if all went well.
Nettie's bosom was full to overflow
ing, contending emotions rendering
her almost oblivious of circumstan ces
that, at another time, would have rem
dered her suspicious at once. The min
utes passed, and the wilderness seemed
to increase in density as the twain
pushed on. Tangled thickets had taken
the place of the open wood along the
path, and soon Nett;e found herself
brought to stand, with huge tree
trunks, cast down by the wind, all about
her. A groan of helplessness escaped
her.
Shhiftless Seth leaned against one of
the logs and faced the young wife with
low, gurgling laugh.
Mighty tough travelin' here" he
said. Il expect we won't see S61omon's
mill tonight, my dear"
The mans bearing had suddenly
changed, and look of devilish tri-
umph shot from his beady black eyes.
Never had he looked so hideous and
wicked in the eyes of poor little Nettie
Baker, and she shrunk back, while a
feeling of startled horror went like a
knife to her heart. Had she mistaken
the man utterly? Was he q friend III
human form. or was this pleasantly at
serious time but an expression of his
gross nature, wholly innocent of
wrong?
II don't understand" faltered
Nettie, at length, in helpless way
that would have touched heart not
made of flint.
"You will soon enough, Mis- Baker"
I.articulated the great, hulking mon
strosity before her, with another
gurgling, unearthly laugh. I'VE can't
git to the mill; we're lost, i reckon,
and have got to stop right here a
SPELL"
"But Conrad may die Wilde we are
here. Oh, dear!"
Don't worry" sneered the thick,
sensual lips; "the young feller'll git on
all right"
"But he was badly hurt"
"He will be afore nornin', if he amt
now," chuckled ShHtless Seth, look Of
hideous satisfaction shooting from his
eyes. Il think I'll take good care of
his pretty wife, anyhow. 1 think a
heap of you, Mis- Baker, and"
But Nettie did not wait for the viii
lain to finish his speech. She realized
a part of the truth. at any rate, and at
once resolved to escape from the threat
ened danger if possible.
The way was open at the rear-the
path she had come-and, turning
quickly. she darted away on the back
track. Night shadows were falling
rapidly, and the moment Nettie plunged
into thicket she was lost to the view
of Shiftless Seth. For an instant his
face assumed look of genuine sur
prise. 1t was quickly changed to an
expression of rage and determination.
With an oath the mill man darted for
ward, roaring like an enraged lion.
I'LL make you repent. Mis- Baker I;
I'll make you feel sorry we ever tossed
your head. you'n he, and lowed you
was too good to speak to Seth Bragg
You've did it many time, but you'll
come down peg now, reckin.'
These words were flung to the trees
as the enraged and disappointed villain
dashed back in pursuit of the woman
he had hoped to ruin. He rushed on
for some rods, roaring like some wild,
mad beast. At length he came to o
halt. The shadows were deepening, and
even the tree-trunks were becoming in
distinct.
He did not see the shrinking form
of the fair pioneer. She had eluded
him in the shadows. Shiftlees Seth
leaned his broad back against tree and
gazed about him with mad flame in
his eyes. Had she escaped him utterly I?
The thought seemed to madden the
man. He clenched his hands until the