Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-05-23
He he csIp must 6.7s led there.

He had Intended not only 20 obtain
potatoes. but some information OF
value. He obtained the goods, paying
thrifty price. also a good bit OF cold
shoulder, and that was all
But Levi, xhrewd woodsman that he
was. Jared better.
Il larnsd Chips gone or with old
Mcclure" he asserted with a quiet
smile when they were well away. IAN
that Pste's sweRriR' murder sxin hiR."
~Asd bewf" responded Martin. In
astoRishnent. 81 felt that silence was
golden with that suriy chap. and dIda't
ask question"
TN glad" rejoined Levi. Il want
cd to tell you not to. and I've larnod
all We want Children are easy to
pump. an / did Il 'thout wakiz' a hint
o 'spicion. Tins folks all believe
Chip's gone with her dad. Pete thinks
so. an IS vatchiR' for him with a gun.
I 'spect. an II SO. the sooner they meet
the better"
It was gratifying news to Martin.
aad when the other canoe was
reached. the two again pushed on.
with Martin, at least. feeling that the
ways Of Fate might prove acceptable.
Three days more we're consumed In
reaching the lake now owned by him
for the river was low. carries had to
be made around two rapids. and when
AZ last the seqUestered. forest -bordered
sheet OF water was being crossed, Mar
tin wished some titanic hand might
raise an impossible barrier about his
possessions.
Old Cy's Joy at their return was al
most hilarious. To e man long past
the spasuodic exuberance OF youth.
loving nature and the wild az few do.
the six months here with the misan-
thropic old hermit. then a month OF
more cheerful companiORship. 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 mez
who arc childiess. a young girl and
her troubles touched a responsive
chord in his heart. and on the instant
Chips unfortunate condition found
sympathy. Her bluntly told story. with
AL 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
spites were a reality in the woods
he had seen hundreds OF them. 1t was
not long ere be had won her conf
dence and goodwill. as he had Rays.
and then he took Martin aside.
That gals chsser's bin here bout
week ago" he said. an the worst.
lookin' cuss | ever seen. I know from
HIS description twas him. He kept
Quizzin' me CT 10 how long we'd been
here. II l knew Mcclure. or had seen
him lately. until I got sorter riled n
began 20 string him. / told him final.
~ that I'd been fOOiin' all long: that
Mcclure was a friend o. mine: that
he'd been here a day or two afore. Dor
rowed some money n 1T out fer Can
ada, known there was a bad man
arter him. Then this one-eyed gazoo
got mad. real mad. n said things. an
then he cleared out"
When Martin explained the situa,
ton. 80 he now did. Old Cy chuckled.
faint otter one shoots in the dark
n makes bulrs-eye." he said.
Il think yOu and I had better keep
mum about this half-hreed's CALL
Martin added quietly. and II Angie
mentions II. you needn't say that you
knew WhS he Was. Il will only make
my wife and the girl nervous"
The TIVE tents were now pitched at
the head OF a cove. some rods away
from the hermit's hut. and we'll out Of
sight from the landing. and to these
Soth Angle and Chip were assured
they must nee as soon as the expected
batesu entered the lake, and remain
secluded until II had departed.
In way. IL was a ticklish situation.
All knowledge that this waif was with
Martins party must be kept from
Tins Place and this halfbreed. or she
wouldn't DO safe an hour: and until
the Canueks 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 nan-power was available, and
TO neVe legs a foot in diameter and
20 feet long. Ia midsummer. was no
easy task; but Levi. more experienced
In camp-building. made light OF it.
Wen cut the logs we need. clus TO
the lake" he said. feat EN- round.
n roll EN- up on skids. It's easy
'nouEh. n We don't need them Ca
nuckers round a mint"
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 eche over the rippled Lake, logs
were toved across with canoes. q csl-
lar under the new cabin site was az.
caVAted. and BODYBUILDING IN the wild
erness went merrily on.
While the men worked. Angie and
Chip we're not idle. Not only did they
have meals to prepare over a rude out
door fireplace. but they gathered grass
and moss for beds. wove q hammock
and rustic chair seats out OF sedge