Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-07-09
CHAPTER XVI.
JOHN CALLS HOUR.

besetting him; he must see Necia at
once The low. drifting clouds oo-
scured what star glow there WIS IN
the heavens. and he stepped back TO
light Il lantern.
A few moments later I've stood above
the 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 lie held her fiercely.
"Where has she gone? When did she
go?" He shook her to quicken her re-
ply.
81 don't know; l don't know. Long
time she's gone now" She trailed OH
into Indian words he 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. Hefore
he had swept the unfamiliar room with
his eyes he knew that she had indeed
gone. and gone hurriedly, for the signs
of disorder betrayed a reckless haste
"When did she go, Aluna! For
Gods sake, what does this mean? lie
cried.
81 don't know. She come and she 60
and I CON- see her; mebbe three. four
hour ago"
"yyhere's Gale? He'll know. He's
gone after her, eh?"
The upward glow Of the lantern
heightened the young mans pallor. ana
again the squaw broke into her sad
lament.
"John Gale-hes gone away with TIE
knife of my father. am afraid; am
afraid"
"Did he come back here just now"
mo He went to the Jail house, ana
he would not let me fellow. lie don
come DaCk no HlIIc.
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
house?"
"He told me to wait" she said sim.
ply.
go find Poleon. quick"
"Hc told me to wait" she repeated
stoically, and Burrell knew he was
powerless to move her. He saw the
image of q 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 ht
knew Stark's identity and that his
quarry was at hand, ready for the Eill
or If not. he had learned enough while
standing behind that partition. Where
was he now? Where was Necia?
What part did she play in this? He
gave up trying to think and fed for
Sturks 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
Poleon Doret, he dragged him outside,
inquiring breathlessly:
"Have you seen Caller"
mo"
"Have you seen Stark? Has he been
about"
Eyes; 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 gone" the Canadian jerked
out. swat you mean by dat? Were
she's gone to-"
81 don't know. Nobody knows
Heaven! I'm shaking like leaf"
"Bah! She's feel purity bad. She's
go out by herself. OATS all right"
Il tell you something has happened
to her! There's HI to pay! ] found
her clothes at the house torn to riD'
bons and all muddy and wet"
Poleon cried out at this.
"We've got to find her and Gale, and
we haven't a minute to lose.'
"W'ere have you look?
owe been to the house. but Alluna
is crazy and says Gale has gone to
kill Stark, as near as CAM make OUT
Both Of them were at my quarters
tonight, and I'm afraid the squaW Is
right"
"But Were is Necia?"
"Na Gon't know. Maybe Stark has
got her.
The Frcuchm.a cursed horribly.
"Have you try hees cabane|
NO"
Without answer the Frenchman
darted away. and the lieutenant Sped
after him through the deserted EoNs
Of log houses.
Burrell gripped his companions arm
with fingers of Steel md tosether
they crept up to the door. But even
before they had gained 1t they heard
voice within. 1t was Starks. Inc
walls of the house were OF moss
chinked logs that deadened every
sound, but the door itself was OF thln