Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-01-18

They'll follow, fast enough" re-
turned Levi, taking his share of good
things, now that the need of haste was
evident, they want to earn that ST.
900 ez has been offered for Mcclure.
We've got good six hours start on
'em, even 'lowin' daylight paddlin',"
he added, glancing at the sun, On
time enough to hide the hermit where
they can't find him, that is, 'lowin' he's
the man you want"
Martin looked at his guide in sur
prise. He had confided to him the OBJ
ject of his trip; what Levi knew of this
McGuire's history he had impaired be-
fore that long night journey, but no
definite plan of action had been agreed
upon so far.
I'm going to let you manage this
affair."" replied Martin, after pause,
"You know the woods, you know the
danger, and what l want. If the her.
NIT is the man l think, we must keep
him out Of these officers hands if we
have to tie him hand and foot and
carry him off bodily"
81 wished we'd got more time" re-
turned Levi, thoughtfully; we're in a
sort o. pocket up thar, n bout the
only chance o gittin' out is down the
way we go in, n that means runnin'
right into these ossifers, sure pop.
Thar's small stream comm into that
lake whar he is, but we can't work up
II more n mile n it ends in beaver
dam. On EN-" he muttered little
later, II wish we could start 'em up
toward the Moosehorn n the hut with
the signal wire. That's one O. Nc
CURES hidin'-spots. I've notion"
But time was flying, Martin uneasy
to be off, and the moment breakfast
was eaten, the smouldering fire was
drenched with water to leave no smoke
sign. and the canoes pushed off,
And now came an exhibition o!
woodcraft new even to Martin. Levi
always the last to get into his canoe
waited until the other had moved out
then, stepping into the water. reached
back with his paddle and levelled every
track in the sand and smoothed down
the burrows cut by canoe bows when
they landed, then with q tin cup he
threw water over them all.
'They may find somebody built 6
fire." he said, as he took his seat, "bu
they can't tell when.''
And now forward once more into ant
up the slow-running stream, Martin
and the doctor had assembled, as they
supposed in pursuit of wild man. L
seemed longer now, for pursuers wer,
hot after them. 1t lent vigor to thei
padding, however, and when the quicl
water was reached, and they halted fol
q breathing spell, Martin consulted hi
watch and was astonished to find
not yet ten. He had been so keyed
up with excitement. the night journey
the brief sleep and all, that he had los
sense of time. He had not even no
ticed the sun. 1t was reassuring il
hours in advance of their pursuers
and they pushed on with rising spirits
For over two months now Martin
had been slowly reaching the conclu
sion that this old hermit must be tn
iong-missing Amzi. At first a vagu
suspicion, then a probability. and a
last-so many times had he thought O
1t, comparing and shifting all data an,
gossip, recalling the old hermit's look
and nature as he found them, with al
reports, that now he was ready to stalk
his life almost that the long myster,
would soon be solved and the hermi
found to be Angles father. Their
were other and stronger chords thai
curiosity. His memory of boyhoo
days and Angie-his more mature an
deeper love for her now-the realiza
ton of how she had been wronged, an
beyond these a burning desire to teac
that misery hypocrite. her uncle,
lesson in common honesty and man
hood. moved him to action.
And Just ahead. shining in the sun
Hight, was the little lake across whic
might be tie one who could solve a.
mystery and serve justice.
Martin could hardly wait. and, al
though weary by loss Of sleep and Ion