Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-04-23
CHAPTER xvl.-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 its joys and dangers, and now
seemed n of them.
When mutual experiences and their
winters history had been exchanged,
of course Chips rescue, the half
breeds escape, ana 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,
IAN neither Pete nor old Mcclure has
been seen or heard on since early last
fall. Pete got thar all safe, but vowed
revenge on Mcclure, as Martin and l
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
Bel 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 l
callated twas him, though l never let
on to that effect. He was trappin'
over beyond a big swamp last fall, n
he paid us a visit, stole a half-dozen O
our catches N left his trademark on
our canoe" And then Old Cy told the
story of their adventure, emitting,
however, any reference to the sup
posed cave.
Its 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. Nobody's shed any tears,
though, an I'm thinkin' the woods is
we'll rid O. him. He's been a terror to
everybody long enough"
Much more of this backwoods Cos
sip and change of experience filed in
the evening, and next morning Old Cy
gave Ray a word of caution.
"I kept whist bout our findin' what
we callated was a cave" he said, IAN
I 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
'ud 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, it
was dotted with floating logs and the
red-shirted drivers with the bateaux
and 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 it, and when Tins Place was
reached, a score of the good-natured
woodsmen were in possession.
Levi discreetly avoided all questions
as to what Tim knew Of Chip, her
father, or the half-breed. Rays 4ps
were also sealed, and so both escaped
much questioning. Here, also, they
learned what both had g~uessed-that
MCGUIRE and Pete had either left the
wilderness or had persisted that win.
ter. Where and how, if such was the
case, no n seemed to know or care,
and a close observer would have said
that every n a Tins Place hoped
that these two outlaws had met their
fate.
Old Tomah was also found at Tins
Place, and he was undeniably glad to
see both Ray and Levi, and to learn
that Chip was likely to be well cared
for
When these two voyagers were ready
to start, he joined and kept with them
until the settlement was reached
Knowing full well the value Of gum
and furs, he soon found a purchaser
for Rays store and stock at Its full
value; and when that youth, now
elated as never before, was ready to
start for Greenvale, the fine old Indian
showed almost a white mans emotion
Take this to little girl" he said
handing Ray q package. "and tell her