Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-15

answered respectfully. He bad orders
TO trr,t theee first settlers with every
consideration possible that did nor In
terfere with business or profit in any
way. Which one will you tryg
The girls eyes swept over the boats.
instantly fixing upon the one she felt
TO be the strongest aud most seawor-
thy
This she replied as she stepped
into IL. Now see II 1 not so down the
falls as nice as any of your hotel peo-
pie"
A minute later. with shoulders erect
and hair flying. she shot over aud
down the falls, the man standing on
the platform watching Der.
After passing below the rapids the
man expec++d her 10 turn back by the
little side stream prepared for thar
purpose. up which the boat could be
drawn. But. no; she padded calmly on
without looking back aud soou disap-
peared ronnd a-Deud in the river.
The man, stood there for some time
watching then resumed his seat. with
a chuckle. The girl bad likely gone on
to some quiet pool for an hours hsh-
ing, or perhaps she was gathering
lilies or leaves or just Keeping out of
sight through some Teasing mood. She
was a harum scarum thing anyway.
But when she had not returned at
noon nor at night he grew anxious
and at last went to the owner aud
spoke with him in a low voice. then
sought the cabin with faltering Steps.
Yet somehow. though Suzette's mother
in, va Enino
he had a feeling that the words did
not reach much farther tnan the lips.
aud the feeling lessened his own con-
Germ. Very likely the girl wes accus-
toned to snch escapadcs.
So little was said about IL the next
day, and IL was not until the end OF
the third that the disappearance be-
came generally known. Then it seem
ed chiefly TO affect two men who had
Just come in from a fishing trip. They
had planned to leave the week follow
ing, but after a hurried consultation
they ordered the fastest horses and
within half an hour were on the way
to Quebec.
Three days afterward Suzette rowed
to the foot of the rapids. turned into
the small side stream and signaied for
the keeper TO draw her boat up. When
she stepped upon the platform her face
was pale. but triumphant.
You may tell the owner his boat
have been very useful to me- she
said, land that / have not harm it.
And you may add that / own the land
around the CO bin now and all the slope
beyond. All / have to do is TO live on
IT. And oh. yes. if the hotel want 10
use any more of the water from our
spring it must pay US something for
the privilege. So far it have paid
nothing and tried to take everything.
but / will let the use of the boat can
eel all that.
And then she started up the slope to
meet her mother. who was hurrying
down from the cabin.
Meanwhile the two men. who follow
ed the girl on fast horses. were gallop-
ing toward the land Office at Quebec
They Travelled fast. but Suzette had
got too much start Of them. When
they reached Quebec they threw them
selves from their jaded horses and
went into the Office TO register the land
they found that an entry had been
on the books they were shown the
name OF the girl who had outwitted
them. Their fishing trip had been
spoiled. they had ruined two valua-
BILE horses. and they had got nothing
fer their pains.
And the bad temper of these men
was balanced by the rejoicings Of
S;uzette and her mother They could
not return 10 the times when the deer
and wild turkeys could be shot at
their doors and when the fish were
plentiful in the streams. But people
who had plenty of money wanted
their property and kept bidding more
and more for it every year. At last
hunting club that had purchased many
acres lying all about it made them
such a fine offer for it that it was ac-
cPpted.
With the money Suzette and her
mother went away and purchased
new home. And now the game comes
again to their door.