Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-05-30

And then came another surprise for
down sloping. thick grown hillside.
something was heard thrashing. and
soon Old Tomah. his clothing in
shreds, his face bleeding, appeared to
view.
Calculating 70 a nicely where he
could best intercept and head or the
escaping halfbreed. he had crossed
four miles Of painless underground in
less than an hour. and reached the
stream at the nearest point after it
left the lake.
How Chip, still sobblng from the
awful agony of mind. and dripping
water as well. greeted Old Tomah:
how Hersey. chagrined at the escape
or the half-breed. gave vent to NUT
tered curses; how Martin Joined them
In thought; and how they all gathered
around Chip and listened 10 her tale,
OF horror, are but minor features OF
the episode. and not worth the telling.
When all was said and done. Old
Tomah. grim and silent as ever. al
though he had done what no white
man could do or would try 70 do.
washed his bloody face in the stream.
drank his I'll Of the cool water. and
lifting Pete's halthled canoe as easily
as If it were a single. tipped Il. turned
the water out, and set it on the slop-
sng bank.
Me take YOU back and watch you
now he said to Chip. You no get
caught again"
And thus conveyed. poor Chip. will
Ing TO clasp and caress the feet or legs
OF any or all Of those men. and more
grateful than any dog ever was for a
caress, was escorted back TO the lake.
All those waiting az the cabin we're
At the landing when the rescuers ar
rived. Angie. her eyes trimming. FIRST
embraced and then kissed the girl.
Ray would have felt IL a proud priv
iege 20 have carried her 70 the cabin.
and Old Cy's wrinkled face showed
more Joy than ever gladdoned II in all
his life before.
Somehow this hapless waif had
grown dearer to them all than she or
they understood.
There was also feasting and reioic-
Ing that night at Martins wildwood
home. and mingled with Il all an Oft
repeated tale.
old Cy told one end OF It IN his drou
way. Martin related the other. and
Chip filled mp the interim. Levi had
his say. and Hersey supplied more or
iess-mostly morc-of this halfbreed's
history.
Old Tomah. however. said nothing.
To him. who lived in the past OF a by
gone race which looked upon lumber
men as devastating vandals ever eat
ing into It's Kingdom and whose
thoughts were upon the lanpv hunt
inegyounds soon % be entered. this
half-brecd's lust and cunning were as
the lam OF the leaf Were 70 needful
hc would. as Dee had. plunge through
hramble and brior and leap over rock
and chasm 90 rescue his biz panpOose.
hut now that She was safe aeain. he
lapsed into his stoical reserve once
more. Shadowy forms qnd the mystic
ism or the wilderness were more 20
mis- taste than an the pathos of human
life; and while his eyes kindled at
Chips smile. his thoughts were follow
ing some storm or tempest sweeping
over vast wilderness. or the rush
and roar Of the great white spectre.
Chip is good girl" ne said 20 Angie
the next morning. "and white lady
love her. Tomah's heart Is like squaw
heart, too; but he go away and forget.
White lady must not forget" and with
that mixture of tenderness and stole
ism he STROBE away. and the last seen
OF him was when he entered the out
let without once looking back az the
cabin where his big pappoose" was
kept
More serious. however. were the
facts Martin and Hersey now had to
consider, and council OF war. as IL
were, was now held with Levi. Old Cy
and the deputy as advisers.
What the half-breed would now do.
and in what way they could now cap
ture him We're. of course. discussed.
and as usual in such cases. il was OF
no avail. because they were dealing
with absolutely unknown quantities.
The facts were these: Bolduc, a Gun
ming criminal, fearless Of all law, had
set his heart upon the possession OF
this girl Her story. unquestionably
true. that he had paid a large sum for
this right and title. must inevitably
make him feel that he would have
what was his at any cost. His first
attempt at securing her had been
thwarted. He had been shot az by
minions Of the law.-an act sure TO
make him more vengeful,-his canoe
had been taken. and what with the
loss of the girl. money, and canoe also.
one OF his stamp would surely be
driven 20 extreme revenge.
He was now at large in this wilder
ness, knew where the girl and his enc
mics were, and as Hersey said, He
had the drop on them
Il believe in standing by our guns"
that officer continued, after all these
conclusions had been admitted. We
are here 70 rid the woods OF this |
scoundrel. We have five good rifles
and know how to use them. The law
is on our side. for he refused to sur
render. and returned our shots; and |
II / catch sight of him, shall shoot |
to cripple. anyway"
Old Cy's advice. however. was more
pacific.
ssNv notion Il fhf. Falfa~ss O oo,~.-S