The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-13

And is he here2" she asked, eager
ly. He will take me away?''
He cannot until he gets an order
from the COURT
Then how will he stop the marriage
and''-
He can't" returned Franklyn, with
a sudden burst of desperation He
can't save you; but L can, and III
do iti'
Yes, Mr.. Franklin. never doubted
you,' she said, with a blush, and in
some surprise at his vehemence.
Quick, now, Do just as l tell you,
he said. Serve me some dinner here
anything will do. + will go out after
have eaten and tell Abe that 1 will
be back from the lumber camp before
the ceremony, and I'll leave some
money with his wife to treat the boys.
You must slip out the back way and
get down to the river unseen. I'll
joint you there, and We'll get away in
my iceboat-therefs nothing on the
river can stop her once she gets to-
ing. With five minutes start don't
believe they can overtake us. either
on skates or horseback. Wrap your
self up warmly. Now bring me in
something to eat
She obeyed to the letter. In ten min
utesl he Joined her at the rivers edge.
Everybody had filed into the little bar
room at Franklyns invitation, and not
soul was in sight as the engineer
raised the yachts mainsail and pushed
the craft out upon the ice.
Rose darted out of the bushes and
he lifted her inboard bodily, and with
mighty push leaped in himself. The
Ice Wrath started slowly. There was
a light but fair wind, and as soon as
they were out from under the land the
huge sail would feel it.
Franklyn was scarcely seated at the
tille1- when there was a wild shout
from the tavern. He glanced back.
The men We're swarrning out of the
place and at their head was Hi Con-
ley. Rose hid her face in her hands
and trembled.
Conley swung a rifle above his head.
then brought the weapon to his Shout
der and fired recklessly after the ice
boat. The bullet sang less than a
foot above Franklyn's head His was
an excellent shot-when sober The
engineer heard him yelling for his re-
| turn and threatening to shoot him if
he did not obey.
But the Ice Wrath was steadily
creeping out into the river and the sail
bellied with the wind. There was TO
second shot. but glancing back Frank
lyn saw half a. dozen of the men leap
upon horses and into a sledge which
stood before the tavern, and the whole
eavalcade clattered away down the
river road. They meant to overtake
him at the landing or head him off be-
fore ne reached there.
Are they cOning?" cried Rose.
They'll never follow US upon the
ice" said Franklin, cheerfully. There
was some danger from those on the
river road, however. The wind might
die out and leave them stranded, or
the horses might even beat the ice
yacht in the race. The road was con-
siderable shorter than the ice route.
1t cut off big curve in the river ten
miles below
But the Ice Wrath gathered speed.
With the wind directly astern the ice
began fairly to "squeaF' beneath the
! heavy runners. The powdered ice flew
about them in a cloud and the huge
sail tugged as though trying to drag
the mast from its socket. Franklyn
was determined not to reef the sail
unless actually obliged to, and as he
tackled the Ice Wrath flew about, bal
anced upon her starboard runners.
Rose screamed and chung to his arm,
but the engineer, CHANGING back, saw
the horses pounding along the river
road and rejoiced that they were gain
ing upon their pursuers.
The race was young, however. When
the Ice Wrath went to the eastward
the wind was not so fair and Franklin
was obliged to tack twice before round
ing the point. Their pursuers had
passed them ere this and the engi-
neer half feared to find them upon the
ice below awaiting their coming. But
they were not in sight.
He kept the Ice Wrath near the east
shore. He did not fancy stopping any
bullets from the bushes along the river
bank. They were now quite half way
to the pulp mill landing. He looked at
his watch and saw with delight that,
unless delaped. they would be in time
for the afternoon train.
Far below him he saw the open
water at the mouth of Upper creek. and
rem ambered that he would have to
steer to the west side to avoid the
| treacherous spot. He gazed keenly at
the woods there, but nothing at first
saw to alarm him.
He allowed the Ice Wrath to run
gradually over toward that side. The
boat flew like a great bird. They had
the wind at their backs again.
But suddenly, while they were still
two or three miles from the chasm in
the ice. a man with a gun broke
through the bushes on the west shore
of the river and ran out upon the ice.
Franklin knew it was Hi Conley He
was followed by two or three others
and then a sleigh drawn by two horses
was driven out upon the river also.
They were headed off,
All the men had guns or sled stakes
and the horses We're headed down the
river in readiness to race with the ice
| boat. if, by any possibility. FRANKLIN
got by unscathed.
For few moments Franklin did not
shift the tiller an atom. The Ice
Wrath was headed directly for the
group upon the ice, and half a mile or
more ran out behind him before he
decided upon any plan. The reckless
and half-drunken fellows would GER
tainly use their guns, and not only his
own life, but the girls would be sac
rificed. Fortunately Rose had not seen
their danger. She had crouched down
in the Yacht most of the time.
| Suddenly Franklin tackled and took
short leg to the eastward. The men
below did not move. They were we'll
out upon the ice, and no sane man
would run too close to the mouth of
/