The Chanute times., 1902-12-12
Copyright 1887. BY RoBxnr BonSrns soNs'
All rights possrved
CHAPTER xVh-(continued.

"Yes; an lemme tell ye, ltll take
four to manage that woman.
couldn't stay in the same camp and
set up quarters by big black stump
half a mile away from her."
Curse such luck! wish the men
had stayed"
why? Who are you afraid of"
Il don't know who he is, only he
calls himself the Old Man OF the
Mountains"
Where is he?"
'In her tent"
Where did he come from?"
Looks as if he had slid down the
peak of some iceberg. Go and take
a squint at him.
Cummins, though a coward when
there was a woman in the case, had
little fears of men. Creeping stealth
lily up to the tent he peeped in and
: beheld the "Old Man Of the Noun
tains," seated on a camp stool before
the fair Laura, his rife between his
knees, while she was telling him her
story.
"Umph! It's old ST. Nick or an
escaped Selkirk. Looks as il he
bristled with weapons. and l don't
doubt but he can use 'em. The boss
is right, for glimpse O. that face
and the arsenal he carries is enough
to give polar bear the ager."
Notwithstanding the unprepossess
ing appearance of the man from the
mountains, he pressed his ear close
to the tent to listen to the conversa-
ton between the two.
why did you come to Alaska, my
poor child?"
II came to find the man I love. My
Paul, who was lost"
Laura told the old man her story
and at the conclusion said:
He tells me Paul is dead. I do
not believe him. He has deceived me
on more than one occasion, and he
will do so again if it serves his pur-
pose My heart tells me Paul lives"
my child, that silent monitor is
never wrong. Your Paul lives. He is
not far away, but he, you and | are in
great peril We must act with caution
and secrecy or we will all be dead
before morning. These men are des-
perate criminals. Will you trust me?"
Yes, with my life!"
pretend as if you had heard moth
ing, but be ready to act as | direct" "
do you know where Paul Isl"
"Yes, but he is under a strong
guard Is there no one with the
train you can trust? No Indian or
Esquimo?"
81 do not understand them nor
they me; but 1 have my trusty ser
want, Ben Holton."
Where is he?"
HE was sent to-day to see if the
pass could be opened"
THE pass has not been closed,
said the hermit. my dear daughter
sending him off was only an excuse to
get your friends out Of the way; but
all is WELL Heaven is on your side
and directed me here"
"Humph! Well see about that!'
growled Cummins, rising from his
knees "They kin put their trust In
what they like, but il the boss will
let me have my way, I'll put mine in
about ten inches of cold STEEL"
He hurried to Lakeland, who was
sitting on a sled, his face expressing
the deepest anxiety. In as few words
as possible he narrated the interview
between the mysterious old man ano
Laura. Lakeland made several ef
forts to speak before he finally sue
ceeded, then, in voice strangely un
natural, he said:
'It has come at last! | hoped
would be spared bloodshed, but there
is no help for it. Since it must come
let it come. We will do our worst. Il
the old man and Paul Miller are in oul
way, let them die!"
well, there will be little time
to act"
Il know it,"
Lakeland, who still shrank from the
thought of committing murder him
self, began to plan to have his myrmi
dons do all the work, and agreed yer,
readily to have reinforcements.
"I think it would be well for you t.
start back and get two Of the men,
he said. Cant you do it in a few
hours?"
Yes; on snowshoes can make 4
by tomorrow noon. Let us leav'
the valley and start down the trail.
They had to cross the river to reacl
the trail, but by this time the Yukol
was frozen over, so they crossed OF
the ice.
They had scarce got over when the!
saw three forms coming along thu
trail.
There they are now" said Lack
land.
The three forms could be seen com
ing hurriedly up the path and, whel
they drew nearer, the form Of the oil
man could be seen coming along be
hind.
'Holton, come here!" said Lakeland
As the old man advanced toward him
the Indians were ordered across tn