The Press., 1903-08-13

coe Lodge had sharpened his intellect.
For SimcOe Lodge was the home Of
Ed Daleton, and had not Ed Daleton-
Well, Sam Augustus drew closer to
the cabin window.
The speakers companion made no re-
ply for some minutes. When he did
speak, there was a tinge of bitterness
to his words:
"I'm with We, Rats. 1 agree with
ye. But when's tho bloomin' biz to
end? They'll spot our lay soon, never
fear, an to my mind we'd better
scoot down to Jackson's Point right
away an get back to Toronto from
there"
"Bahr' rejoined the other. 1--WE sim
ply have got to turn this trick, Spud.
Then I'm for home. Come, it'll be q
good, dark night, and we can bag the
game before midnight, for they danced
until z this morning and are sure to be
abed early"
Sam waited to hear no more. The
men were thieves, and they intended
rObbing the home of the only white
man who had ever befriended him.
Oh, lazy, shiftIess Sam Augustus, why
do you hurry SO?
For he was skating across the lake
as he had never skated before Twenty
miles stretched between him and that
part Of the mainland where Simcoe
Lodge stood, and he must be feet In
deed to arrive before the boat He
knew he was getting a good start, but
he knew, too, what an iceboat could
do. All, lucky Sam Augustus, to find
the ice smooth as glass instead Of be-
ing caked and crusted with snow!
On, on through the night he raced.
In his face blew the first gusts of a
storm, but he plunged through the
crystal fakes, his sinewy legs fairly
flying over the level surface. Now he
could see lights twinkling in the dis
tance, and his Indian instinct told him
they were from a farmhouse not far
from the Daleton estate. Not a light
could be seen from Simcoe Lodge
itself, for a huge row of fir trees, wind
breakers, screened the house from the
lake blasts.
Sam swung along buoyantIy. The
next moment a kissing. whistling
sound came to his ears. and he saw a
fash of white glide past him. to be
swallowed up in the darkness.
1t was the boat They would beat
him yet. He dug his skates into the
Ice despairingly and hurled himself
forward. But in a minute or two he
became hopeful again. 1t was yet too
early for the burglars to begin work
He could easily arrive in time to warn
the household.
On, on through the night he raced.
Now he was foundering in snow banks
that had drifted against the lake cliffs.
now he was climbing up these rugged
heights. now he had unstrapped his
skates, and now, still tireless, he was
bounding across the fields to give the
alarm. -.. FIX
Not pausing to seek the gate into the
Daieton grounds. he leaped the high
fence that paralleled the fir trees only
to alight upon human body. Next
moment lie was grasped by no tender
hands.
"Here. what's thisT he heard a voice
exclaim. Turn yer glim on, Rats.
Here's q nice kind o. q party that
comes tumblin' on to man without so
much as beg pardin."
Sam Augustus writhed desperately,
but another pair of brawny hands
seized him, and he was helpless, yet
he kept up the struggle and as he
fought shouted with all the strength Of
his red mans lungs:
'Thievesw
'Blast 1t, stop that" commanded the
voice. "Ye won't. eh2 Then
There was a click and report. Sam
gave groan and staggered back. Spud
let him slip to the ground
II thought I'd stop ye," he muttered.
"Say, Rats. I'-
Something bright flashed through the
night. The Indian had risen to his
knees. Spud fell, with the toe Of q
skate in his brain.
"Thievesw shouted Sam.
In yard of the old Free kirk at Bea-
verton is plain white shaft with this
fnScrintiOn.