The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1902-12-05
Copyright, 1897, by ROBERT BosNrRs SOMA
All riEhta reserved.

on his snowshoes and in an hour ana
a half was back, saying:
''They be not there"
"What dye mean?" asked Kate.
Gone"
What is gomez"
Camp.
"Where?"
dun know" and he shrugged his
shoulders again,
She was nonplussed, and in fact
frightened.
"Gone!" she whispered, half aloud.
Gone and left me alone with this
sick man in this wilderness! Gone,
and with that poor child. Why,
can't hardly believe it, and yet my
heart has always told me tn rascal
was a villain Oh, Laura, Laura
where are you now, my poor child!
she began to sob. II promised we Ia
stay by we through thick an thin,
H. I've gone an lied to We. That ras-
cal put this poor sick man on on me-
an what could do?"
In her helpless rage she looked
about for some object to vent her
wrath upon, and seeing Horsa Cum
minis emerging from the small tent
in which he had slept, she rushed at
, him like virago, crying:
you red-headed thief, where IS yer
master? | say, where is yer master?
Speak or I'll chuck yer head IN tne
snow an hold it there till we
smother"
With a look of surprise he said:
"Why, l did not know he had gone.
"He is. and took my little rriend
with him."
well, that is strange; that beats
anything I ever heard! What can ne
mean?"
81 don't know, but there is some
mischief in it, and I'll be bound you
are at the bottom O it,
"Why, my dear good woman, you
do me a very great injustice, pegah
Cummins with mock humility.
Look here!" she yelled. Don't
We come none O. yer monkey-doodle
business around me, for | won't stand
It. Rack out an find that good-for-
nuthin' master O. yours, and tell MIN
t. bring that girl back or I'll make
Alaska so hot for you the lcepergs
will melt!"
With this threat Kate turned and
entered the shanty.
THAT woman's a regular she tiger!
growled Cummins, as he walked over
IF sight
down in the snow to think the matter
OVER. BLAINE me if she amt per-
feet devil of a woman. The boss has
nut a hard job on me. She knows
had a hand in it. Now the yopngster
don't show any signs O dyin' very
fast. wish he would, but he don't.
What am l to do with this tiger cat?
She'll snatch my eyes out II go
back"
Meanwhile Kate went into the small
shanty, vowing she would have mar
mony or know the reason. Her pa
tient was wide awake, his great, dark
brown eyes on the door. For the nrst
time Kate realized that he was a
Young man and quite handsome.
Were you talking to some one out
there?" he asked.
Eyes; | was just a-layin' one o
them triflin' critters for not attendin'
to his work. | give him piece OF
my mind and reckon after this hell
know what's what" Kate declared.
Don't your people agree?"
Eyes; all agree with each other, but
none don't agree with me. They go
do things without askin' me or con-
sultin' me a bit more'n if | was
block O. stone, and had no more
sense'n a Kansas badger"
Paul, who felt considerably strong
or. raised himself on his elbow and
asked:
What have they done, my good
friend, without consulting you?"
pulled up stakes an gone! Yes,
gone. an not left sled nor dog to
foller 'em with. l don't keer so much
so fur as I'm concerned, but that poor
child all alone with that man; and
she told me with her own mouth she
mistrusted him, and l said I'd stand
DY HeI, anu, llhC a luAh AASe'Ns ~ ~--
side-track me off here and then he
slopes an takes the pore little thing
With him! Oh, it makes me hot; but
III have harmony yit; see if don't!
what do you mean. my good wo-
MANI" Paul asked in amazement.
"Who is this man that deceived your"
THAT scamp from Fresno called
Lacklandl"
Lakeland from Fresno!" The pa
tent started up in bed staring at her.
who is the poor young thing he
took away-the girl?" asked the pa
tent, Selling her arm in vice-like
grip.
"Laua Kean."
With wild shrek he leaped half
dressed from the bed and rushed from
the shanty.
CHAPTER XIV.
The Old Man of the Mountains.