Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-04-15


The mind Of Poleon Doret worked in
straight lines. Moreover, his memory
was good. Stark's statement. which so
upset Gale and the lieutenant, had a
somewhat different effect upon the
Frenchman. for certain facts had been
impressed upon his subconsciousness
which did not entirely jlbe with the
gamblers remarks. and yet they we're
too dimly engraved to afford founda-
ton for definite theory. What he did
know was that he doubted. Why?
Because certain scraps Of q disjointed
conversation REQUIRED to him, few
words which he had overheard In
Stnrk's saloon. something about q Pc
terborough canoe and a woman He
knew every skiff that lay along the
water front, and Of sudden he de-
ci0eH to see II this one was where It
had been mt DUSK, for there were but
two modes Of egress from mbeau.
and there was but one canoe of this
type II Netia had gone up river on
the frelghter. pursuit was hopeless. for
no boatmnn could make Roadway
against the current, but If, on the
other hand, that cedar craft was
gone He ran out of Starks house
and down to the river bank Ii was
Just one chance. and. If he was wrong.
no matter. The others would leave on
the next up river steamer. whereas II
his suspicion proved certainty, IL
Stark had lied to throw them of the
track and Runnion had taken her down
streHm-well, Poleon wished no one to
hinder him, for he would travel light.
The bo1t was gone He searched the
line backward. but 1t was not there,
and his excitement grew now. likewise
his haste. He stumbled up to the trad
Ing post and around to the rear. where,
bottom up. lay his own craft. birch
canoe. frsil and treacherous for any
but man schooled In the ways of
swift water. He laid 1t carefully In
the whispering current, then stripped
himself with feverish haste, for the
driving call Of a hot pursuit was on
him. and. although II was the cold.
raw hours of late night, he whipped
of his garments until he was bare to
the middle. He seized his paddle step
ped in. then knelt amidships and push
ed away. The birch bark answered
him like living thing. leaping and
dancing beneath the strokes. while
ripping rising ridges stood out upon
his back and arms as they rose and fell.
Runnion drove his Peterborough to-
ward the shore with powerful strokes
and ran It's nose up on the gravel. rose.
stretched himself and dragged 1t far
Their out, then looked down at Necia.
"Well. what is it-yes or no? Do you
want me for a husband or for a mas
teri? She covered in the stern, q pale,
fearful creature.
She cast her despairlng eyes up and
down the river. then at the wilderness
on either shore. but 1t was as silent
snd unpeopled as II 1t had been Great
ed that mornings She must have time.
She would temporize, pretending to
yield. ard then betray him to the first
conner. A promise exacted under du-
ress would not be binding.
"I'll 60 quietly" she said in q faint
voice.
Il knew you'd see that I'm acting
square. Come! Get the cramp out Of
yourself while l make a pot Of coffee"
lie held out his hand to assist her,
and she accepted It, but stumbled as
she rose, for she had been crouched in
one position for several hours. and her
limbs were stiff He caught her and
swung her ashore. Then. instead OF
putting her feet to the ground, he
pressed her to himself roughly and
kissed her. She gave q st,Ged cry and
fought him OF. but he laughed and
held her the closer.
mo, no. no. she gasped. writhing
like wild thing. but he crushed his
lips to hers again and then let her 60
whereupon she drew away from him
painting. disheveled, her eyes wide and
filed with horror She scrubbed her
lips with the back of her hand, as If
to erase his mark. while he reached
into the canoe and brought forth an
ak. bundle Of food and coffeepot
Then. still chuckling. he gathered a
few sticks Of drlftwood and built a
fire. She had q blind instinct to fee
and sought for q means of escape, but
they were we'll out upon the bar that
stretched distance Of 400 feet to the
wooded bank. On one side of the mar
row spit was the scarcely moving.
half stagnant water Of n tiny bay or
eddy: on the other the swift. gliding
current Juggling at the beached canoe.
while the outer end Of the graveled
ridge dwindled down to nothing and
disappeared into the river. An instant
later, when he turned to the clearer
water of the eddy to ill the coffeepot.
she seized her chance and sped up the
bar toward the bank. The shingle IN
der foot and her noisy skirts betrayed
her. and with m oath he followed. 1t
was IN unequal race, and he handled
her with rough strong hands when be
overlook her.
$50. You lied to me! Well, I'm
through with this foolishness. If
you'll 60 back on your word like this
you'll 'baw! me out before the priest
so I'll forget my promise, too, and
you'll be glad of the chance to marry
me-"
LET me go!" she painted. "I'll mar
~ you. Yes. yes. III do 1t, only don't
touch me now!
He led her back to the hre. which
| had hoo,,n IN ~rackla Che w0s 40