Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-04-20

went ahead. After few strokes of the
paddle | could see on the dark sky the
darker mass of tree-tops
Better light up" l suggested We
were now close in.
"Eiush!" he hissed. Then, as | came
up to him, he went on, whispering:
IT amt bes' t mex no noise here.
Don know none tew much bout this
here business. Don callate we re
goin t hev any trouble, but if We dew
--HaTk,"
We had both heard stir in the
bushes, and stuck our paddles in the
sand, listening. After a little silence
| heard D'ri get up and step stealthily
into the water and buckle on his
sword. Then | could hear him sinking
the canoe and showing her anchor deep
into the sand. He did it with no noise
that, 80 feet away, could have been
distinguished from that of the ever
murmuriEg waters. In a moment he
came and held my canoe, while | also
took up my trusty blade, stepping out
of the canoe into the shallow water
Then he showed her off a little, and
sank her beside the other. | knew not
his purpose, and made no question OF
it, following him as he strode the
shore with measured PAGES, the Ian
tern upon his arm. Then presently he
stuck his paddle into the bushes, and
mine beside it. We were near the
head of the island, walking on reedy
strip of soft earth at the river margin
After few PAGES we halted to listen,
but heard only the voice of the water
and the murmur of pines. Then we
pushed through a thiCket of small fir
trees to where We CROPPED along in
utter darkness among the big tree
trunks on a muffle-footing After a
moment or so we got a spray of light
We halted, peering at the glow that
now sprinkled out through many a
pinhole aperture in fairy lattice of
pine needles.
My heart was beating loudly, for
there was the promised lantern. Was
| not soon to see the brighter light of
those dear faces? 1t was all the kind
of thing | enjoyed then-the atmos-
phere of peril and romance-wild youth
that | was. 1t is pity, God knows,
had so little consideration for old D'ri;
but he loved me, and-well, he himself
had some pleasure in excitement.
We halted for only a moment,
pushing boldly through a thicket OF
young pines into the light. A lantern
hung on the boTGh of tall tree, and
beneath it was a wide opening well
carpeted with moss and needles. We
peered OFF into the gloom, but saw
nothing.
D'ri blew out a thoughtful breath,
looking up into the air cOolly, as he
filled his pipe.
"Consarned if ever | wanted t have
a smoke S bad n all my born days"
he remarked.
Then he moved his holster, turned
his scabbard, and sat down quietly,
putting his pipe with some look of
WEAKNESS and reflection. We were sit
ting there less than five minutes when
we heard football near by; then sud
denly two men strobe up to us in the
dim light. | recognized at once the
easy step, the long, 1.-the figure, of his
lordship in the dress OF a citizen, saw
ing sword and nistoIs
"Ah good evening aentleman " said
he. omietIv How are vonq"
Better than-than when we saw Won
last " answered.
D'ri had not moved; he looked at
me with a sympathetic smile.
81 presume " said his Iordsbin in
that familiar law tone as he lighted
cigar. there was-ah-good room
for improvement was there notq"
abundant said tborqbtfuI1v
..You wara NOT in tho beet of boo1tb
Yourself that evening"
"True " said ba. CT wac in had
fettIe and worea 1ucl,"
"How arc tho ladies ."
"ouite we'll" said he b,owino = 1ono
nrfr
"Readv IN do1iver +bor, o., IN