The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1907-03-06

And-no, even if she should be will
ing, which is an insane thought on my
part, I've no right to let her sacrifice
herself. I'll stay until tomorrow and
then plead business and disappear"
There was little stir near the pier,
as of the underbrush, then a woman's
voice, wonderfully clear and sweet:
''Let's sit here and wait for the moon
to rise. The bungalow is so close and
hot tonight ....E
Harvell caught his breath. It was
she. The voice that replied he recog-
nized as that Of his married sister, who
was chaperoning the bungalow party.
"You haven't been yourself at all, Mar
garet, during the entire week"
II know it, Agnes" The voice, with
its tired note. was very touching, and
Harvell stirred restlessly. 'Im use
less to myself and every one else
every one else" she repeated, as if to
herself.
"Oh, nonsense! Peggy, you are too
fine and wholesome to talk so. I
wish Agnes stopped as if not daring
to go on.
Margaret's voice continued: II want
you to help me to steal off tonight
Agnes. want to go home, and may
joint the Westburys and go to Paris.
The stage goes down at 8 and I am
going to catch it and steal off without
word to any one. Please, Agnes -
The perspiration started to Harvelrs
face as he strained his ears to catch
Agnes reply. When it came he gasped:
Sometimes think brother Paul is
foolv'
Margaret's voice was stern. agnes,
wish you would never mention Paul
Harvells name to me. r. But her
voice was growing too faint for the
man in the canoe to distinguish her
words, strive as he would.
'They've started back to the bunga-
low" he thought II am a cad to have
listened even thus much. But, anyhow,
I've lived up to the adage I wonder
why I'm fooY'-
Suddenly realizing sense of Mar
garet's words came to him. She was
going away, going within an hour,
and all that he had been feeling for a
year was unsaid. For moment his
stern resolve of the early evening was
forgotten. Then he sat erect, every
muscle tense with stress of feeling.
tits better so,'' he said bitterly. "It's
my business to begin to forget, if she
never wants to hear my name again"
He looked off toward the bank, then
gave startled exclamation. The pier
had disappeared. His canoe was float
Ing rapidly down stream, while his
paddle was safely locked in the boat
house.
Il must be almost on the RAPIDS" he
thought. With the thought the boat
turned the bend that had shut off the
sound Of the falls and the canoe was
In the whirlpool To swim was out Of
the question, for in the river here was
mass of Jagged rocks hidden in seeth-
Ing water. Almost instantly the canoe
was broken and capsized. Harvell,
dazed and bruised, chung to project
ing rock that had wrecked him. Fight
as he would with all the force Of his
wonderful physique, he was dashed
again and again upon the stones. Yet
as he fought he was conscious of only
one thought:
II must get there. must have just
one word with Margaret before she
goes.'
Then he gave cry Of remembrance.
He, with the other men Of the camping
party. had been planning footbridgs
across the rapids The week before
with infinite toll they had laid single
line of heavy planks on the projecting
rocks from shore to shore. They were
not yet fastened in any way, their
heavy weight serving to balance them
fairly we'll on the stones. The dark
ness, not yet lighted by the moon, con
cealed the pianks, but clinging des-
perately with one hand Harvell felt
about with the other and by rare good
luck found plank, wet and slippery
with spray, Oh neighboring rock.
With infinite toll he raised himself out
Of the water inch by inch until at last
he crouched on the great stone and felt