Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-03-12

he h~alf-breed, Martin had avoided all
hint Of il to them. Now they must be
old, and all peace of mind at once
destroyed. Coacealment was no long
sr possible, however. and when Angie
was told, her face paled. Her first
intuition, and as the sequel proved, a
wise one, was for them to at once
pack up and quit the woods as speed
lily as possible.
But Martin was of different fibre.
To run away like this was cowardly,
and besides he cherished only con-
tempt for a wretch who had played
the role of this fellow. and was so vile
of instinct. With no desire to do
wrong, he yet felt that If sufficient
%provocation and the need of self-de-
Tense arose, the earth, and especially
this wilderness, would be we'll rid Of
such a despicable creature.
Then Lewis advice carried weight.
we amt goin' to 'scape him." he
said, "by startin' out O the woods
now Most likely he's got his eye on
us this minute. He knows every rod
O. the way out whar we'd be likely to
camp. He'd sure follow, an II he
didn't cut our canoes to pieces some
night, he'd watch his chance n grab
the gal n make off under owe o
darkness. We've got a sort o human
panther to fgger on, an shootin un-
der such conditions might mean KILN
the gal. We've got to go out some
time, but / don't believe in turning
tail fust go-off, n we may get a
chance to wing the cuss, like ez not"
and the glitter in Lewis eyes showed
he would not hesitate to shoot this
half-breed If the chance presented it.
self.
Old Cy's opinion is also worth quot
ing:
my notion Is this hyena's a cow
ard, n like sich'll never show himself
by daylight. He knows we've got
guns n know how to use EN-. The
camps as good as a fort. One on us
kin allus be on guard daytimes, an
when it's time to go out-wal, l think
we ought to- hev cunnin' huff 'mongst
us to gin one hyena the slip. Thar's
one thing must be done, though, n
that is, keep the gal, clus. 'Twon't do
to let her go over the hog-back arter
berries, or canoein' round the lake nc
more"
And now began a state of semi-siege
at Birch camp.
Chip was kept an almost prisoner
hardly ever permitted out of Angles
sight. One Of the men, always witt
rife handy, remained on guard--usual
ly Old Cy, and for a few nights he la.
in ambush near the shore, to see
perchance this enemy would steal VI
again.
With all these precautions agains
surprise, came a certain feeling OF dc
fiance in Martin. With Ray for CON
panion he went fishing once more
and with Levi as pilot he cruise
about for game.
Only a few weeks of his outing n
NAMED, and on sober second though
he didn't mean to let this sneaKln
enemy spoil those.
But Old Cy lever relaxed his vigi
This waif of the wilderness and he
pitiful position appealed to- him eve
more than to Angie, and true to tt
nature that had made all Greenvale
children love him, so now did Oh.
find him a kind and protecting fathe
With rifle always with him, he toe
her canoeing and fishing; somet1m'
Angie Joined them, and so life
Birch camp became pleasant once NOR
A week or more of happiness wi
passed, with no sight OF their enem
and then one morning when Old
had journeyed over to the ice-hous
he glanced across the lake to a ns
row valley through which a strea
known as Beaver Brook reached Il
lake, and far up in this vale, risil
above the dense woods, was a fai
column of smoke.
The morning was damp, cloudy a
still-conditions suitable for smol
rising, and yet SO faint and dista
was this that none but the keen, {
> servant eyes of a woodsman wol
have noticed it. Yet there it was,
thin white pillar, clearly outlin
against the dark green of the foliag
Old Cy hurried back, motionel
au Levi, and the two watched it from t
front of the camp. Martin soon join
them, then Angie and Chip, and
ca stood and studied this smoke sign.
was almost ludicrous, and yet n
for at its foot must be a fire, and
.o side it, doubtless, the half-breed.
IN Can you locate it," queried M
tin of his guide, as the delicate colu,
of white slowly faded.
Its purity well up the brook" L
'ed answered; "thar's a sort of Roc
IN Dunbar thar, n probably a cave.
'ay callate if it's him, he's s'pected
All storm, m so sneaked to cover"
!. And now, as If to prove this, q !
drops Of rain began to patter on
motionless lake; thicker, faster Il
came, and as the little group hurr
mo to shelter, a torrent, almost, desce
rse ed. For weeks not a drop of rain
De- fallen here. Each morn the sun
M risen in undimmed ~splendor, to v
ish al night, a ball of glorious red.
ms But now a change had come. W
OF followed the rain, and all that day
rec storm ragged and roared through
re- dense forest about. The lake
ose white with driving scud, the ca
one rocked, trees creaked, and outdoor
Irk- was impossible. When night came
me seemed a thousand demons we're "