Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1908-01-11
CHAPTER XVI.-Continued.


How welcome he was, and how all,
even AMI, of those winter-bound
prisoners We'd with each other in max
ing him the guest of honor, need not
be asserted. He had been a part of
their life here the previous summer,
with all it's joys and dangers, and now
seemed one of them.
When mutual experiences and their
winters history had been exchanged,
of course Chips rescue, the half
breeds escape, and the whereabouts
of her father came up for discussion
that evening.
I've heard from Tins Place two or
three times this winter" said Levi,
AN neither Pete nor old Mcclure has
been seen or heard on since early last
fall. Pete got thar all safe, but vowed
revenge on Mcguire, as Martin and
found, when we went out. He stayed
round a week or so, | heard later and
then started for his cabin on the Fox
Hole, n since then hain't never been
seen or heard of by nobody. Tim an
Mike went over to his cabin long in
the winter, but no signs of him was
found, or even of his bein' thar since
snow came. Mcclure also seems to
hev dropped out O business and amt
been heard on since in the summer.
We've expected him all winter at the
lumber camp, but he didn't show up"
We've seen him." put in Old Cy,
flashing a smile at Ray, 'leastwise
callated twas him, though | never let
on to that effect. He was trappin'
over beyond big swamp last fall, n
he paid us a visit stole half-dozen o
our catches n left his trademark on
our canoe" And then Old Cy told the
story of their adventure, emitting,
'Eowever, any reference to the sup
posed cave.
IT'S curis what has become O. him, "
, Levi said, when the tale was told, 'and
our camp crowd all believe that thar's
been foul play, with Pete at the bot
tom ont Nobodys shed any tears,
though, an I'm thinkin' the woods is
well rid o. him. He's been terror to
everybody long enough"
sip and change of experience filled in
the evening, and next morning Old Cy
gave Ray a word of caution.
Il kept whist bout our fndin' what
we callated was a cave" he said, IAN
] want you to. This matter O. Nc
Cure and the half-breed amt blowed
over yit, an we don't want to git mixed
up in it. Ez fer the cave, if we lowed
we found one, the folks at Tins Place
I'D go huntin' fer it. sure, n I've my
reasons for not wantin' they should go.
SO NUNS the word TO Levi bout it,"
Lewis arrival, however, changed
their plans, for he at once offered to
convoy Ray out of the woods, thus re-
lieving Old Cy. and three days later
these two, with well-laden canoes,
started on the outgoing journey.
1t was not without incident, for
when the main stream was reached. il
was dotted with floating logs and the
red-shirted drivers with the bateaux
ard spike shoes were in evidence. A
monster jam was met at the first
rapid, the bags of gum nuts, bundles
of frs, and canoes had to be carried
around 1t, and when Tins Place was
reached, score of the good-natured
swoodsmen were in possession.
Levi discreetly avoided all questions
ras to what Tim knew of Chip, her
, father, or the half-breed. Rays lips
were also sealed, and so both escaped
much questioning. Here, also, they
! learned what both had guessed-that
. Mcclure and Pete had either left the
wilderness or had persisted that win.
ter. Where and how, IL such was the
case, no one seemed to know or care,
and close observer would have said
thatpevery one Tins Place hoped
that these two outlaws had met their
fato.