The Chanute times., 1902-12-12
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII!
A Groan In the Dark.
When Paul Miller leaped from his
pallet and rushed from the door OF
the hut, he was as insane as any
inmate of madhouse.
"Oh, stop! stop! stop!" shrieked
Kate Willis. Where are you goin'-
where are you goin'?"
"Laura Laura!" he shouted.
"Laura Oh, my goodness sakes
alive, does he know herr" cried Miss
Willis, clapping her hands as new
and wonderful thought burst on her
mind. 1T can't be-it must be-he is
the girls lover! He must be her
PAUL" She shouted to some of the
Indian porters left to look after the
camp:
stop him!"
The Indians were soon on him, had
him tied with mooseskin thongs and
carried him back to the shanty, where
he was lain on the bed. Kate followed
them, sobbing frantically and groan'
ing:
Hes dead! They've killed him
and I'm to blame for it. Oh, what a
fool I've played all the way through!"
He breathed and, placing her head
on his breast, she discovered that his
heart still beat. She placed the kettle
over the little oil stove and prepared
some nourishment, bound up his head,
which was slightly bruised, and soon
had his eyes open. No sooner was he
rational enough to recall what had
happened than he began to sob.
Don't take on SOL" the kind-hearted
woman said. 81 tell ye, ye couldn't
have got mile away from here! Ye
would have died and we must know
it,"
But Laura, my darling, in the
power of that mani"
"Say, let's you and | understand
each other, an then there won't be
any danger of making mistakes. Are
you Paul Miller, who's been dead so
long?"
II am Paul Miller and they may
have reported me dead.
From Fresno, California;"
Eyes, from Fresno, California"
Have you sweetheart called
Laura Kean?"
"Yes-yes! 1t was she you told
me had gone on-and | will"
Now. look here! l am your friend
7 am the best friend you and Laura
ever had aside from yerselves. II yell
list listen t me, We'll outwit the
whole caboodle an show 'em what's
what yit."
Kate told him he must pretend to
be a great deal worse than he really
was, and she would report that she
believed he was going to die. He
at once fell in with the plan, with the
assurance that as soon as he was
strong enough he was to start secret
| ly for the camp where Laura was
waiting for her companion to joir
| them.
Meanwhile there was change in
guard. Cummins was relieved and
four men sent to take his place. The
Indians went with Cummins, and
Kate had four white men to contend
with.
She often eavesdropped the foul
men when at quarters. and gained
enough of their plans to realize tha
they must act promptly.
The very night the "Old Man Of the
Mountains" as he called himself. So
| suddenly appeared in the tent where
! Laura was expelling her unwelcomt
suitor, they set out. On and on they
hastened over the frozen snow, ant
Pauls heart began to beat with pleas
ure. But bark! What are those omi
nous sounds in their ears? They have
been four or five hours on the route
when they hear the sound of fee
crushing the hardened snow.
PAUL" Kate whispered, I'VE arr
pursued Can you run?"
81 can-and | can do more-I car
shoot"
Run first and shoot when you have
to. Gimme yer hand"
The strong woman took his hand IL
her own and they ran along the snow
covered trail swiftly as hares. The!
were almost at the point where th'
river was crossed on the ice wheI
a voice behind them cried:
There they gol"
"Halt-stop, or Wen fire."
Paul wheeled around and levele'
his rife at one OF the dark objects
coming toward him. but just as hi
finger was ready to press the trigge
he was struck a blow between tn
shoulders. which sent him sprawlinl
In the snow.
Il was Cummins. going after rein
forcements. who came up at this in
opportune moment