The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-05-21
Continued from Last Week.

placed the lamp on the Hoor anu Jul 81
out in wild laughter. Captain jim
looked at her severely, which had the
effect of checking a second spasm.
81 knows it." remarked the child,
her eyes sparkling with merrlment.
"Tll list bet it's that old tree a-scrap-
in agin the shed"
He scowled at her. He could scarce
Iv believe his senses. The idea or
this child ridiculing his assertion.
81 tell you it be a wild beast, that's
got in thar. Most likely drove down
from the heights by the snow. Dldnt
II snring on tew me? Look here" Some
FAINT marks showed on his face. Jist
the TIPS of them ferocious claws
fetched me. as | sprung back.
Barbaras eyes expanded. She TOOK
I'M the lamp and looked at his face
He STONED low to facilitate the ex-
p minotion. We'll" she said. feign-
ing establishment, Il said as now
that old tree would scratch somebody
some day"
He didn't relish the way Barbara
laughed ar his experience. Angrlly
Selling rocking chair he TANNED IL
against the table, then turning to her
ne said IL should think yer mad be
skeert some, tew be Twin here
alone"
~ should opine," replied the matter
of-fact young miss. she wants to go
away. but amt got no rocks.
Barb. she kin a hev all the rocks
she wants" said Captain Jim, with
tinro of settled determination.
"She kim" asked the astonished
child
"She kim" reiterated he.
"Do yer really mean it," asked Bar
bara. still doubling him.
"Sartin." replied jim.
At that moment three distinct
knocks were heard on the front door.
"The's the old gal herself; knows
the taps" exclaimed the child. She
placed the lamp on chair then I'M
locked and opened the front door.
Captain Jim had come prepared, an
ticipating the possibility of trouble
with Macdonald His ima gination pic
tured him as a powerful. passionate
individual. Had he made inquiries he
would probably have discovered that
Macdonald was a mere creation of
Barbara's. or rather the Joint creation
of her mas and Kitty's brains. for the
purpose of hoodwinking him. His con-
scieutious scruples checked any lean
ing toward doubt of MacDonald's ex-
istence. His belief in Barbara story
at the time of Captain Toms surprise
party was absolute. so that when the
taps sounded on the front door he
fshed up a pistol from his back
pocket.
"Jest as a precaution," partly to
show Macdonald. in case 1t was he
and not Annie. who was about to en-
ter, that he Jim. was armed, and
partly to assure Annie. should 1t really
be her. that he was prepared to pro-
tect her and the "chillun."
Captain Jim here" said Annie with
evident satisfaction, upon entering,
Il hurried home to welcome you"
She looked about the disordered
kitchen, as though astonished. "Why,
what is all this about?" He flourish
ed the pistol and frowned be-
cause he imagined that under the
present circumstances it conveyed an
impression of courage.
Annie" said he. don't you be
skeert. You an the chillun be safe"
She was about to laugh, but checked
herself and appearing terrified, quick
lv asked, why. what is the matter?
Why are these things piled against
the door? And that pistol?'
Jest a precaution, thet's all my
dear. There be cats in the she'd" re-
piled Jim seriously.
ooh, jim. you brighten mel" said
Annie. and she added timidly, ARE
they tom cats?" Ma turned her back
on Jim to conceal her effort to sup
press a laugh. Captain Jim replied,
they be wild cats or cou-iars, I'm sar-
tin, but be a-goin' few drive 'em off,
though" wiping his brow with a blue
handkerchief
mo no. Jim" pleaded Annie. her
face still averted from him. They'll
kill you. How many are there?"
Il swan thar whar two. | felt the
fur when they sprung on tew me-" re-
piled the dauntless captain.
"Oh. Jim dear. are you hurt?" in
quired Annie, with admirably affected
concern.
"Jest few scratches. but they amt
nuthin' tew what I'd go through fer
you DEAR"
81 Guess the old gal claw'd him."
said barbara. in an undertone. The
remark was heard by ma. who cast
sharp meaning glance at the child.
Barbara understood ii and added soft
ly, but I'm mum. is. cause he's
goin' to come down with the rocks"
Annie could not control herself
longer. and she burst out in a
fit Of laughter. which she con-
cealed from Jim by turning her
face and wringing her hands as
though in anguish. What shall
| do: oh. what shall do. And
nv moor children" She rushed off to
the bedroom and shut herself in.
Captain Jim rushed after her, but
too late. the door was closed. He
shouted through the keyhole. "you
jest be calm now. my dear"
Barbara watched the maneuver and
remarked 10 herself 'fhe old pal is