Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1909-12-25

andale at discreet distance and then
bore off again
Let us not go too near shore any
where" said Helen; and Miss Pat
murmured acquiescence-
No; we don't care to meet people,
she remarked, trifie anxiously.
I'm afraid 1 don't know any to in
troduce you to- I replied, and turned
away into the broadcast part of the
lake. The launch was capable of a
lively clip and the engine worked cap
italy. 1 had no fear Of being caught.
even if we should be pursued, and
this, in the broad light of the peaceful
Sabbath afternoon, seemed the re-
hottest possibility.
1t had been understood that we
were to remain out until the sun
dropped into the western wood. and j
loitered on toward the upper lake
where the shores were rougher.
That's a real island over there
they call it Battle Orchard-you must
have a glimpse of it,
'Oh, nothing is so delightful as an
| island!" exclaimed Helen.
lima had scanned the lake con-
stantly since we started, as was his
habit. Miss Pat turned to speak to
Helen of the shore that now swept
away from us in broader curves as we
passed out of the connecting channel
into the farther lake. lima remarked
| to me quietly, as though speaking of
| the engine:
There's a man following in a row.
| boat
And as replied to some remark by
| Miss Pat, 1 saw, half a mile distant,
its sails hanging idly, sloop that an
swered Gillespies description of the
] Stiletto- Its snowy canvas shone
white against the green verdure of
Battle Orchard.
Shut off the power a moment. We
will turn here, Ijima"-and 1 called
| Miss Pats attention to a hoary old
sycamore on the western shore.
"Oh, I'm disappointed not to cruise
nearer the island with the romantic
| name,'' cried Helen. '.And there's a
| yacht over there, tool"
| l already had the boat swung round
| and in reversing the course 1 lost the
| Stiletto, which chung to the island
| shore; but l saw now quite plainly the
rowboat Ijirla had reported as follow.
ing us. 1t hung off about quarter of
mile and its single occupant had
| ceased rowing and shipped his oars
as though waiting. He was between
US anu Tie Slfdll THAT COuHSCtSu Inc
upper and lower lakes. Though not
alarmed 1 was irritated by my care
| lesSness in venturing through the
! strait and anxious to return to the less
wild part of the lake. I did not dare
| look over my shoulder, but kept talk
ing to my passengers, while lima,
with the rare intuition of his race, un-
| derstood the situation and indicated
| by gestures the course.
There's a boat sailing through the
| green, green wood" exclaimed Helen;
and true enough, as we crept in close
| to the shore, we could still see, across
a wooded point of the island, the sails
| of the Stiletto, as of boat of dreams,
| drifting through the trees. And as 7
looked 1 saw something more. A tiny
signal flag was run quickly to the top
mast head, withdrawn once and
| flashed back; and as I faced the bow
again the boatman dropped his oars
| into the water.
| What a strengthening man." re-
| marked Miss Pat.
He doesn't look like a native re-
| piled, carefessly.
| The launch swung slowly around
cutting half-circle, of which the Ital-
| ian's boat was the center. He dallied
| idly with his oars and seemed to pay
no heed to US, though he glanced sew
eral times toward the yacht, which
had now crept into full view, and I'M
| der freshening breeze was bearing
| southwark.
Full speed, lima
| The engine responded instantly, and
| we cut through the water smartly.
There was a space of about 25 yards
| between the boatman and the nearer
shore. 1 did not believe that he would
| do more than try to annoy us by for
cling us on the swampy shore; for it
\ was still broad daylight, and we were
| likely at any moment to meet other
| craft. was confident that with any
sort of luck 1 could slip past him
| and gain the strait, or dodge and run
round him before he could change the
| course of his heavy skin.
/ kicked the end of an oar which
the launch carried for emergencies
| and lima, on this hint, drew it toward
| him.
You can see some of the roofs of
Port Annanda1e across the neck here, -
| 1 remarked, seeing that the women
had begun to watch the approaching
| boat uneasi1y-
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