Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-07-16
}o1e rested again Oh bis oars aid said,


with deliberations:
"stark kindly offered did he? Well
whenever Ben Stark kindly offers
ANYTHING Pm in on the play. He's
had bis eye on you for the last three
months. ard he wants you, but he
sliDped a cog when he gave me the
oors You needn't be afraid, though
IN, Going to do the square thing by
vou Wen stop In at the mission and
he married. and then we'll see whether
we want TO go to st. Mlchaers or not,
Though personally Pm for going back
to Flnmbeau."
The girls beauty, her Indifference,
The mistaken attitude Of Stark, urged
him and. strongest of all. he was
drawn by his cupidity, for she would
be very rich. 50 the knowing ones said.
Doubtless that was why Stark wanted
her and. being a man who acknowl'
edged no fidelity to his Kind or hls
Creator, Runnlon determined to outwit
his principal, Doret, Burrell and all the
rest.
Necla saw what u frail and helpless
thing she was. Nothing about her was
great save her soul, and that was I'm
measurably vexed and worried, She
had lust lived through grief that had
made her generous, and now she gain
ed her first knowledge Of the man.
animals gross selfishness.
"You are absolutely daft she said.
you can't force me to marry YOU"
81 amt going to force you. You'll do
it willingly"
"Ill die first. I'll call the first man
we see. III tell Father Barnum, and
he'll have you run out Of the country.
1t would only take word from me-"
IF you haven't changed your mind
when we get to his place III run
through without stopping, but there
isn't another priest between there and
st. Mikes, and by the time we get to
the mouth Of the river |, guess you'll
say Yes to most anything. However.
Id rather marry you at Holy Cross
If you'll consent, and I'm pretty sure
you will when you think it over"
I'VE won't discuss it,"
"You don't understand yet" he con-
tinued slowly. What will people say
when they know you ran away with
meT
"I'll tell them the truth"
Huh! I'm too we'll known. No man
on the river would ever have you after
that"
"You-you"- Hell voice was a-quiv-
er with indignation and loathing, but
her lips could not frame an epithet
fit for him. He continued rowing for
some time. then said:
Twill you marry me%
mo. If this thing IS ever known
Poleon will kill you-Or father"
For third time he rested on his
oars.
Now that we've come to threats let
me talk. ] offered to marry you and
do the square thing, but If you don't
want to III pass up the Formally and
take you for my sQuaw, the same as
your father took Alluna. Just re-
member you're alone with me in the
heart Of a wilderness, and you've got
to make a choice quick. because I'm
going ashore and make some break
inb
choose q landing place. If you agree
to come quietly and go through with
this thing like sensible girl I'll do
what's right. but If you don't then III
do what's wrong, and maybe you won't
be so ID anxious to tell your friends
about this trip or spread your story
up and down the river"
She saw Runnion gazing over his
shoulder in search Of a shelving beach
or bar. They rounded bend where
the left bank crumbled before the I'M
firing teeth of the river, forming a
bristling cheval-de-frise of !, leaning,
fallen frs awash in the current. The
short side of the curve protected
gravel bar that made downstream to a
dagger-like point, and toward this
Runnion propelled the skiff. The girls
heart sank.
-
The mind of Poleon Doret worked In
straight lines. Moreover, his memory
was good. Starks statement, which so
upset Gale and the lieutenant, had
somewhat different effect upon the
Frenchman, for certain facts had been
impressed upon his subconsciousness
which did not entirely jibe with the
gamblers remarks, and yet they were
too dimly engraved to afford founda-
ton for definite theory. What he did
know was that he doubted. why?
Because certain scraps Of disjointed
conversation required to him, few
words which he had overheard In
Stark's saloon. something about q Pc
terborough canoe and woman He
knew every skilf that lay along the
water front, and Of sudden he de-
cided to see If this one was where 1t
had been at dusk, for there were but
two modes of egress from Flambeau,
and there was but one canoe OF this
type. If Necia had gone up river on
the freighter. pursuit was hopeless, FOR
no boatman could make Roadway
against the current, but II, on the
other hand. that cedar craft was
gone He ran out Of Stark's house
and down to the river bank. 1t 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 a certainty, II
Stark had lied to throw them Off the
track and Runnion had taken her down