The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1905-06-30
CHAPTER XVII.
A GrOan In the Dark

CHAPTER XVII.
A Groan In the Dark
When Paul Miller leaped from his
pallet and rushed from the door of
the hut, he was as insane as any
inmate of madhouse.
'Oh, stop! stop! stop!"' shrieked
Kate Willis. Where are you goin-
where are you goin?"
Laura. Laura!" he shouted
Laura! Oh. my goodness sakes
alive, does he know herr" cried Miss
Willis, clapping her hands as new
and wonderful thought burst on her
mind. 1T can't bet must be-he is
the girls lover! He must be her
Paul. She shouted to some of the
Indian porters left to look after the
camp:
Stop him."
The Indians were soon on him, had
him tied with mooseskin thongs and
carried him back to the shanty, where
he was lain on the bed. Kate followed
them, sobbing frantically and groan-
ing:
Hes dead! They've killed him
and I'm to blame for it. Oh. what a
fool I've played all the way through"
He breathed and, placing her head
on his breast, she discovered that his
heart still beat. She placed the kettle
over the little oil stove and prepared
some nourishment. bound up his head,
which was slightly bruised, and soon
had his eyes open. No sooner was he
rational enough to recall what had
happened than he began to Sob
Don't take on SOL" the kind-hearted
woman said Il tell We, We couldn t
have got mile away from here! Ye
would have died and We must now
| it,"
But Laura, my darling. in the
| power of that mani"
Say, let's you and l understand
each other, an then there won't be
any danger of making mistakes. Are
you Paul Miller, who's been dead so
long,"
Il am Paul Miller and they may
have reported me dead"
Yes, from Fresno, California;"
Have you a sweetheart called
Laura Kean?'
"Yes-yes! 1t was she you told
me had gone on-and | will"
Now, look here! l am your friend.
I am the best friend you and Laura
ever had aside from yerselves. If ven
jist listen t. me, We'll outwit the
whole caboodle an show 'em what's
what yit.'
Kate told him he must pretend to
be a great deal worse than he really
was, and she would report that she
believed he was going to die. He
at once fell in with the plan, with the
assurance that as soon as he was
| strong enough he was to start secret.
| ly for the camp where Laura was
waiting for her companion to Join
| them.
Meanwhile there was a aange in
| guard. Cummins was relieved and
four men sent to take his place The
Indians went with Cummns, and
Kate had four white men to contend
with.
Sac often eavesdropped the four
men when at quarters, and gained
enough Of their plans to realize that
they must act promptly.
The very night the ''Old Man of the
Mountains" as he called himself, SO
suddenly appeared in the tent where
Laura was expeling her ,nwelcome
suitor, they set out. On and on they
| fastened over the frozen snow, and
Paul's heart began to beat with pleas
ure. But hark What are those omi
nous sounds in their ears? They have
been four or five hours on the route
when they hear the sound of feel
crushing the hardened snow
Paul" Kate whispered, "we are
pursued! Can you run?'
Il can-and l can do more-I car
shoot"
Run first and shoot when you have
to. Gimme yer hand"
The strong woman took his hand i1
her own and they ran along the snow
covered trail swiftly as hares They
were almost at the point where the
river was crossed on the ice whe1
a voice behind them cried:
/ There they go!"
/ Halt-stOp, or Well fire!"
4 Paul wheeled around and leyelet
his rifle at one of the dark object.
coming toward him, but just as hi.
finger was ready to press the trigge
=, d. 4 u.
shoulders, which sent him sprawlinl
in the snow.
| It was Cummins, going after rein
forcements, who came up at this in
| opportune moment.