Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1907-10-11
EE & c3HERAPD co.


when they were well away. an
That Pete's swearin murder agin him"
And how?" responded Martin, in
establishment. q felt that silence was
golden with that surly chap, and didn't
ask q question"
I'm glad" rejoined Levi. 81 want
ed to tell you not to. and I've larned
all we want. Children are easy to
pump, an l did it 'thout wakin' a hint
O spicion. Tins folks all believe
Chips gone with her dad Pete thinks
so, an is watchin' for him with a gun,
I 'sneet an if so, the sooner they meet,
the better"
1t was gratifying news to Martin,
and when the other canoe was
reGehed, the two again pushed on,
with Martin, at least. feeling that the
ways Of Fate might prove acceptable
Three days more were consumed in
reaching the lake now owned by him,
for The river was low, carries had to
he made around two rapids, and when
at last the seQuestered, Forest ordered
sheet of water was being crossed, Mar
tia wished some titanic hand might
raise an impossible barrier about his
possessions.
Old Cys joy at their return was al
most hilarious TO a man long past
the spasmodic exuberance of youth,
loving nature and the wild as few do,
the six months here with the nissan
thropic old hermit, then a month of
more cheerful companionship, followed
by the departure of Martin and Angie,
made the forest homecoming doubly
welcome.
But Chips appearance, and the
somewhat thrilling episode of her
escape from Tins Place and her res
cue, astonished him. Like all old men
who are childless, young girl and
her troubles touched responsive
chord In his heart, and on the instant
Chips unfortunate condition found
sympathy. Her bluntly told story, with
all its details, held him spellbound. He
laughed over her description Of spites,
and when she seemed hurt at this
seeming levity, he assured her that
sptes were a reality in the woods
he had seen hundreds of them. 1t was
not long ere he had won her conf
dence and goodwill. as he had Rays,
and then he took Martin aside.
THAT gals chaser's bin here bout
a week ago." he said, AN the worst
lookin' cuss l ever seen. | know from
his description twas him. He kept
quizzin' me ez to how long we'd been
here, if | knew Mcclure. or had seen
him lately until I got sorter riled m
began to string him. | told him final.
ly that I'd been foolin' all long; that
Mcclure was friend O mine; that
he'd been here day or two afore, Dor
rowed some money n lit out fer Can
ada, KNOWN there was a bad man
arter him. Then this one-syed gazoo
got mad, real mad n said things, an
then he cleared out"
When Martin explained the situa-
ton, as he now did, Old Cy chuckled.
faint often one shoots in the dark
n makes bull's-eye," he said.
II think you and I had better keep
mum about this half-breed's call"
Martin added quietly, "and if Angie
mentions it, you needn't say that you
know who he was. 1t will only make
my wife and the girl nervous"
The two tents we're now pitched at
the head of a cove, some rods away
from the hermit's hut, and well out of
| sight from the landing. and to these
both Angie and Chip were assured
! they must fee as soon as the expected
! bateau entered the lake, and remain
secluded until it had departed.
In d way, it was q ticklish situation.
! All knowledge that this waif was with
Martins party must be kept from
Tins Place and this half-breed, or she
wouldn't be safe an hour; and until
the Canuczs had come and gone, she
must be kept hidden. Another and
/ quite a serious annoyance to Martin
! was the fact that he had counted on
these two men as helpers in cutting
and hauling logs for this new camp.
Only man-power was available, and
to move logs a foot in diameter and
I 20 feet Ions, in midsummer, was no
easy task; but Levi, more experienced
in camp-building, made light of it.
We'll cut the logs we need, Gus 10
the lake." he said, float 'em round,
1 n roll 'em up on skids. It's easy
nough, n we don't need them Ca
nuckers round asminit."
1t was four days of keen suspense to
Chip before they appeared. Neither
she nor Angie left the closed tent
while they remained over night, or
until they had been gone many hours,
and then every one felt easier.
The ringing sound of axes now be-
gan to echo over the rippled lake, logs
we're towed across with canoes, eel
lar under the new cabin site was ex-
cavated. and home-building in the wild
erness went merrily on.
While the men worked, Angie and
Chip were not idle Not only did they
have meals to prepare over rude out
door fireplace, but they gathered gTess
and moss for beds. wove hammock