Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-09-11


it was meadow, wer IN parts, Tor the
surface was low.
Where is the road?".
You'll have to cross this meadow. and
you'll come OF it. 1t isn't MORN quarter
of a mile. You'll find your way well
enough without me-"
Walter felt relieved at the prospect Of
a speedy return to the region of civiliza-
tion. 1t seemed TO him as if he had
passed the previous night for away in
some wild frontier cabin, instead of in the
center of a populous and thriving neigh
hood, within a few miles of several -four
ishing villages. He drew out dollar bill
and offered it to Meg.
This is the money / agreed to pay
you," he said. THANK you, besides
Il hear my husbands steps," she said,
hurriedly. Fly or it will be the worse
for you."'
"Thtnk you for the caution" said Wal
ter, rousing to the necessity for immed-
late action.
Don't stop to thank me, Col" she
said, stamping her foot impatiently.
He obeyed at once, and started on
run across the meadow. A minute later.
Jack came in sight.
why, Meg, are you here?" he said,
in surprise, "Have you seen the boy?"
He did not wait for an answer, for,
looking across the meadow, he saw the
flying figure of our hero.
There he is, now," he exclaimed in a
tone of fierce satisfaction.
Let him go, Jack" pleaded Meg, who,
in spite of herself, felt a sympathy for
the boy who, like herself, had been un-
fortunate.
He threw off the hand which she had
placed upon his arm, and dashed off in
pursuit of Walter.
Walter had the start and had already
succeeded in placing two hundred yards
between himself and his pursuer. But
Jack was strong and athletic, and could
run faster than a boy of fifteen, and the
distance between the two constantly d.
minished. Walter looked back over his
| shoulder, as he ran, and, brave as he was,
there came sickening sensation of fear
as he met the fierce, triumphant glance
of his enemy.
N'OP' NniiSu Oul JdCh, uOtTSely.
Walter did not answer, neither did he
obey. Only few rods in advance was
a deep ditch, at least twelve feet wide.
over which q single plank was thrown as
bridge for foot passengers. Walter
sped like a deer forward and over the
bridge, when, STOPPING down, he hastily
pulled it over after him, thus cutting off
his enemy's advance.
Put back that plank" roared Jack.
II would rather not" said Walter.
You'll be sorry for it, then," said
Jack, fiercely.
Ele had walked back about fifty feet,
and then faced round. His intention was
clear enough. He meant to jump over
the ditch. Our hero took the plank and
put it over his shoulder, moving with it
farther down the edge. An idea had oc-
Cured to him, which had not yet sug-
gested itself to Jack, or the latter might
have been less confident Of success.
Jack stood still for a moment, and
then, gathering up his strength, dashed
forward. Arrived at the brink, he made
spring, but the soft bank yielded him
no support. He fell short of the opposite
bank by at least two feet, and. to his an
ger and disgust, landed in the water and
slime at the bottom of the ditch. He
scrambled out, landing at last, but with
the loss of one boot, which had been
drawn off by the cinging mud in which
it had become firmly planted. Still he
was on the same side with Walter, and
the latter was now in his power. This
was what he thought; but an instant
later he saw his mistake. Walter had
stretched the plank over the ditch few
rods further up, and was passing over it
in safety.
(To be continued.)