The Holly chieftain., 1909-08-06
q. The Barrier I
BY
Rex Beach
=. ~ nAnpIR 4 oRovMEk1

bank ever since. rigging about for some
means Of following her. and II hadn't
eairiy held him he'd have ret out single
banded"
While ttey were talking Burrell
came In. and ''No Creek" saw that the
night bad affected the youth even more
than It had Gale. or at least hs showed
the marks more plainly. for his face
was drawn. his eyes were sunken AZ II
from hunger. and his whole body
seemed to have fallen away till bis
uniform hung upon him loose. unkempt
and careless.
II can't wait much longer" said Bur
tell and sank wearily into seat. Al
most the next instant he was on his
feet again, saying to the trader. as he
had said It q score Of times already:
"Runnion comes to me. Gale! You M
derstand he's mine. don't your
The old man nodded. YES: you can
take him"
''well. who do git7r asked Lee.
'You can't come along" the trader
said. I'VE may have to follow the
hound clean to the States. Think Of
your mine"
ITO blazes with the miner exploded
the shaggy prospector. Il reckon Pm
kind Of a daddy to your gal. and I'm
goin' to be In at the finish"
Suddenly the lieutenant uttered .
cry. and with bound Gale was beside
him
Look! Over the point! Down yon-
der! saw smoker
The three stared at the distant for
est fringe that masked the bend OF the
river until their eyes ached.
You're tired. my boy" said Gale.
"wait."
He obeyed and finally over the tree
tops saw faint streamer Of black.
ut Is! 1t is!'' cried the soldier.
I'm going for my war bag" And be-
fore the steamboat had hove into
sight he was back with his scanty
bundle Of baggage, behaving like one
daft. talking and laughing and rum
ming here and there. Lee watched
him closely. then went behind the bar
and poured out a stir glass Of whisky.
which he made Burrell drink To Gale
he whispered moment later:
Keep your eye on him. John. He'll
60 mad at this rate"
They waited. it seemed interminably.
until AZ last q white hull slowly round
ed the point. then shaped a course
across the current toward the other
bank. where the water was less swift.
As 1t came fully into sight Gale swore
aloud In despair:
Its the mission boat"
\ well what Of that?' said Burrell
wen hire it-buy tt--take it!'
'.It's no use She amt got but three
dog power to her engines" Lee ex-
planned shes down river boat.
has to run with the current TO mOve.''
I'VE can't use her" Gale gave in re-
iuctantly. ..She'd only lose time for
us. We've got to wait for one Of the
A. C. boats"
"Wait!" cried Burrell. We've done
nothing but wait, wait. waltz Let's do
somethingl''
you 60 back yonder and ret down."
commanded Lee. "We'll have a boat
before long"
L..
The arrival of the tiny mission
steamer was never Of sufficient i'm
portance to draw a crowd to the river
bank. SO the Impatient men at the post
relaxed interest In her as she came
creeping up abreast of the town It
was little Johnny Gale who first saw
Necia and Poleon on board. for he had
recognized Father Barnum's craft at a
distance and stationed himself at the
bank hand in hand with Molly to bid
the good. kind old man welcome
The men inside the house did not
hear the boy crying Necia's name. for
his voice was small. and they had gone
to the rear OF the store.
Understand? You leave Runnion
to me-" Burreli was saying NO man
shall lay hands on him except me-
His voice trailed away He rose slow
~ to bis feet. ii strange light On his
face The others turned to see what
sight had drawn his eyes In the
opening. all splendid with the golden
sunlight stood Necia uni Poleun Doret
who had her BY the baud. and she
was smilsn~
To be continued next week.
Three thousand feet Of three.