The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1909-02-20
90
8 Love and Gold Hunting in the KIondike
) e.: S:The Barrier
3 BY Rex Beach
g Author Of THE Spoilers" i
n
g Copyright 1905 by Harper Broso
BY Rex B e a c h
copyright, 1905 by Harper Bros)
Z. q .SrsYHISYS
Author Of THE Spoilers

while make You something hot to
drink. You're all in" After a time he
continued. as he busted himself about
his task: Say, YOU ought to be glad TO
set me; I've got lot Of money, or
VIII nave, and once you're Mrs. Run
mon nobody II ever know about this or
tnlnk or you as q squaw"
he was stu talking when the girl
spfahS 10 iier ieet ana sent u shriil cry
out over the river, but instantly he was
up and upon her. his hand over her
mouth, while she tore at il, screaming
the name OF PoleOn Doret lie silenced
her to smothered, sobblng humble
and turned 20 see, far out on the bosom
OF the great so!led river, man In a
bark canoe The, craft had just swung
past the bend above and was still
long way otf-so far away, In fact, that
Necla's sigma had not reached 1t, for
It's occupant held unwaveringly to the
Swlttest channel, his body rising and
Ealing IN the smooth, unend!ng rhythm
OF master bOatman under great haste,
his arms upliung now and then. as the
paddle glin'ed and flashed across TO the
opposite side.
Runnion glanced about hurredly, then
cursed as he saw no place OF conceal
ment. The Petersboroush stood out upon
me bar conspicuously, as did he and the
girl, out the chance remained that this
man, whoever he waA would pass by,
'or ms speed was great, the river
mile in width and the bend sharp.
Necia had cried Poleon's name, but her
companion saw no resemblance to the
trenchman In this strange looking voy-
aser; In fact. he could not quite make
out what was peculiar about the man
perhaps his eyes were not as sharp as
hers-and then he saw that the boatman
was naked to the waist.
BY now lie was drawing opposite them
with the speed OF hound. The girl,
struggled and moaned despairingly,
and crouching back OF the boat. they
might have escaped discovery in the
gray morning Hight had II not been for
the telltale tre-a tiny. cracking blaze
no larger IMAM a mans hat II betrayed
them, The dancing craft upon which
their eyes were fixed whipped about, al
stroke, then came toward them, now
nothing but narrow thing, half again
the width OF mans body.
The current carried II down abreast OF
them, then past, and Runnion rose. re-
leasing the gill, who cried out with all
her might 10 the boatman. He made no
sound In reply, but drove his canoe
shoreward with quicker strokes |, was
evident he would effect his landing
near the lower end OF the spit, for now
he was within hearing distance and
driving closer every instant.
Nec!a heard the gambler call:
Sheer off. Doret! You can't land
here
She saw gun In RunnIons hand. and
a terrible, sichehing fear swept over her,
FOR he was slowly walking down the
spit, keeping abreast Of the canoe as Il
drtted. She could see exactly what
would happen; no man could disem-
bark against the viii OF an armed
marksman. and II PoleOn slacksned his
stroke, or stopped It to exchange his
paddle for a weapon, the current would
carry h!m past In addition he would
have 70 fire from a rocking paper shell
harred by boiling current. whereas
the other man stood flat upon his feet.
Keep away or III fire" threatened
Runnion again and she screamed.
, Don, try 1t, Poleon, he'll kill you
At her words Runnon raised his
weapon and fred, She heard the woods
behind reyerherate win the echoes IKE
a sounding board SAY the white squirt OF
smoke and the skitter Of the bullet as
! II went wide II vas long shot. and
| hat' been fired as a final warning; hut
| Doret made no oCtcry, nor did ne cease
| coming; instead, his paddle Glove the
! water with the same steady strokes
that took every ounce Of effort In his
Runn!on threw open his gun and re-
placed the spent she'll On came the
| cateonins crazy craft In s!dewise
drift, and with It the girl saw coming
| a terrible tragedy. She started TO run
| down the gravelled ridge behind ner
enemy. not realizing the value or mo-
! ment OF her action, nor knowing clearly
| what she would do but as she drew
/ near she saw Runnion raise his gun
again, and, without thought OF her own
| safety, threw herself upon him. Again
| his shot went wide as he stroye TO hurl
! her off, but his former taste OF her
strength was nothing 70 this, now that
| she fought Cor Poieon's life. Runnlon
snarled angrily and thrust her away. for
he had waited TIL the canoe was close:
IL t me go, you devil he cried, and
aimed again; but again she ran az him.
This time, however. she did not pit her
strength against his. but paused and as
he undertook to fire she thrust at his
show, then lodged out OF his way. Her
blow was crafty and welltimed, and his
shot went wild Again he TOOK aim, and
again she destroyed It with a touch and
danced out Of his reach She was MIN
lie and light, and quickened now by a
cold calculation of all that depended
upon her.
Three times In all she thwated Run