Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1909-12-01

on the launch, and, hearing step on
the pier planking, he glanced up, then
rose and asked the stranger his Dusl-
ness.
The man shook his head.
eff you have business it must be at
the house; the road is in the other di-
rection," and lima pointed to the
wood, but the stranger remained
stubbornly on the edge of the pier.
now stepped out of the wood ana
walked down to the pier.
What do you want here?" de-
manded, sharply.
The man touched his hat, smiled.
and shook his head. The broad hand
he lifted in salute was that of Ia
borer, and it's brown back was tat
tooed He belonged, judged, to one
of the dark Mediterranean races, ana
tried him in Italian.
These are private grounds; you
will do well to leave here very quick
ly,' l said.
1 saw his eyes light as l spoke the
words slowly and distinctly, but ne
waited until had finished, then shook
his head.
l was sure he had understood, but as
l addressed him again, ordering him
from the premises, he continued to
shake his head and grin foolishly.
Then 1 pointed toward the road.
60; and it will be best for you not
to come here again." l said, and, after
saluting, he walked slowly away into
xxyifh nf dnO0nA inC0-
| lence in his slightly swaying gait. At
| nod from me lima stole after him
while 1 waited, and in few minutes
| the boy came back and reported that
| the man had passed the house and
| left the grounds by the carriage en-
trance, turning toward Annandale.
With my mind on Gillespie l put OH
in the launch, determined to study the
lake geography. 1 have, hope, soul
| for landscape, and the soft bubble OF
water, the lush reeds in the shadows,
the rapidly moving panorama of aeld
and forest, the glimpses of wild flow
ers, and the arched blue above, were
restful to mind and heart. 1t seemed
| shameful that the whole world was
| not afioat; then, as l reflected that an
other boat in these tranquil waters
would be an impertinence that
should resent, / was aware that l had
been thinking of Helen Holbrook all
| the while; and the thought of this ir-
ritated me so that / criticised Lima
most unjustly for running the launch
close to a bowlder that rose like a
miniature Gibraltar near the shadowy
shore we were skirting.
We gained the ultimate line Of the
lower lake, and followed the shore in
search of it's outlet, pleasingly set
down on the map as Tippecanoe creek,
which ran off and joined somewhere
a river of like name The lakes wa
tiers ran away, like a truant child,
through a woody cleft, and in mo-
ment we were as clean quit OF the
lake as though it did not exist. After
few rods the creek began to twist
and turn as though with the intention
of making the voyager earn his way.
In the narrow channel the beat of our
engine rang from the shores rebuking
ly, and soon, as punishment for dis
turbing the peace of the little stream,
we grounded ON a sand-bar.
"This seems to be the head of navi
CATION, lima. 1 believe this creek
was made for canoes, not battle
ships"
Between us we got the launch of
and l landed on a convenient log and
| crawled up the bank to observe the
| country. / followed stake-and-rider
| fence, half hidden in vines of various
sorts, and tramped along the bank, with
the creek still singing it's tortuous way
below at my right hand. Soon the
rail fence gave way to barbed wire;
the path broadened and the under
brush was neatly cut away. Within
lay a small vegetable garden, care
fully titled; and farther on l saw q
dark green cottage almost shut in by
beeches. The path dipped sharply
down and away from the cottage, and
moment later had lost sight of it:
but below, at the edge of the creek,
stood a long houseboat with an ex.
| tended platform or deck on the water.
side.
can still feel, as. I recall the day
and hour, the utter peace of the scene
when first / came upon that secluded
spot: The melodious flow of the
creek beneath; the flutter of homine
wings; even the hum of insects in the
sweet, thymy air. Then step farther
and came to gate which opened on
fight OF steps that led to the house
beneath; and through the Intervening
tangle l saw man sprawled at ease
in steamer chair on the deck, his
arms under his head. AS / watched
him he sighed and turned restlesslv
and caught a glimpse of close
trimmed beard and short, thin, slight
ly gray hair.
CTo BE CONTINUED,
i Supposed Relic of ST. Peter