Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-06-30
? THE J,
| BARRIER'
BY
REX BEACH
copYRlexrleos. BY HARPER sRorNEas'
CHAPTER XVI.
JOHN GALES HouR.

JOHN CALLS HOUR.
M was a heathenish time OF night
81 to arouse the girl, thought Burrell
Isl MS he left the barracks. but he
must allay these fears that were
oesetting him; he must see Necia at
once. The low, drifting clouds OBJ
scured what star glow there was in
the heavens, and he stepped back to
light lantern.
A few moments later he stood above
to squaw, who crouched on the trad
er's doorstep, wailing her death song
into the night.
whats wrong? Where is Necia
Where is she?" he demanded and at
last seized her roughly, facing her to
the light, but Alluna only blinked owl
ishly at his lantern and shook her
head.
Gone away" she finally informed
him and began to weave again in her
despair, but he held her fiercely.
where has she gone? When did she
go?" lie shook her to quicken her re-
ply.
II don't know; don't know. Long
time she's gone now" She trailed off
into Indian words lie could not COM
prehend, so he pushed past her into
the house to see for himself and with
out knocking flung Necia's door open
and stepped into her chamber. Before
lie had swept the unfamiliar room with
his eyes he knew that she had indeed
gone, and gone hurriedly, for the signs
Of disorder betrayed reckless haste.
when did she go, Alluna? For
Gods sake, what does this mean?" he
cried.
81 don't know. She come and she go,
and dom see her; mebbe three, four
hour ago"
"whcre's Gale? He'll know. Hes
gone after her, eh?'
The upward glow of the lantern
heightened the young mans pallor, and
again the squaw broke into her sad
lament.
John Gale-he's gone away with the
knife of my father. am afraid; am
afraid
"Did he come back here just now?"
"Np. He went to the Jail house, and
he would not let me follow. He dom
come back no more"
This was confusing, and Meade
cried angrily:
"Why didn't you give the alarm?
Why didn't you come to me instead of
yelling your lungs out around the
housc?"
lie told me to wait" she said sim
ply,
go find Poleon, quickr
''He told me to watt" she repeated
stoically, and Burrell knew lie was
powerless to move her. He saw the
image of great terror in the woman's
face. The night suddenly became
heavy with the hint Of unspeakable
things, and he grew fearful, suspect
ing now that Gale had told him but
part of his story, that all the time he
knew Starli,s identity and that his
quarry was at hand, ready for the kill,
or, If not, he had learned enough while
standing behind that partition. Where
was he now? Where was Necla7
What part did che play In this? He
gave up trying to think and fed for
Stark's saloon, reasoning that where
one was the other must be near, and
there would surely be some word of
Necia. He burst through the door. A
quick glance over the place showed 1t
empty of those he sought; but, spying
Polcon Dorct he dragged him outside,
inQuirinr breathlessly.
Have you seen CALEB"
mo"
"Have you seen Stark? Has he been
about?'
yes; wan hour, mebbe two, hour
ago. Wy? Wat for you ask"
There's the devil to pay. Those
two have come together, and Necia is
gone"
"Necia goneH the Canadian jerked
out. WAT you mean by dat? Were
she's gone tor
81 don't know. Nobody knows.
Heaven! I'm shaking like Il leaf"
Bah! She's feel purity bad. She's
go out by herself. OATS all right"
i tell you something has happened
to her! There's hi to pay! i found
her clothes ut the house torn to rib
bons and all muddy and wet"
Polcon cried out at this
We've got to find her and Gale, and
we haven't 4 minute to lose"
Were have you lool?"
'I've been to the house, but Alluna
Is crazy and says Gale has gone to
Kill Stark, as neur rs / can make out.
Both of them were at my quarters
tonight. and I'm afraid the suuaw is
right
But Were is Necin?"
eve don't know. Maybe Stark has
got her."
The Frenchman cursed horribly.
"Havc you try hees cabane?"
"No."
Without answer the Frenchman
darted away. and the lieutenant sped
after him through the deserted rows
of log houses.
Burrell gripped his companions arm
with fingers Of steel, and together
they crept up to the door, But even
before they had gained it they heard
voice within 1t was Stark's. The
walls Of the house We're of moss
chinled logs that deadened every
sound, but the door itself was of thin
whipsawed pine boards with ample
cracks at top and bottom, and they
heard plainly. The lieutenant leaned
forward, then with difficulty smoth-
cred an exclamation, for he heard an
other voice now-the voice of John
Gale. The words came to him muf-
fled, but distinct, and he raised his
hand to knock when suddenly he seized
Poleon, Kissing into his ear:
Listen! For Gods sake, listenr'
For the first time in his tempestuous
life Ben Stark lost the iron composure
that had made his name byword in
the west, and at sight of his bitterest
enemy seated in the dark of his own
house waiting for him he became an
ordinary, nervous, frightened man. 1t
was the utter unexpectedness of the
thing that shook him, and before he
could regain his balance Gale spoke: