The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-05-09
three began to flicker.

nounced loudly. There amt another
Peterborough in town.
Going outside. Runnion said again to
Stark:
i "She won't go with me, Ben. She
don't like me. You see, | made love
to her, and she got mad and wanted
me killed.
She'll never know who you are I'M
I'll it's too late to turn back" said the
other. land you are the only man
can trust to take her through. | can
/ trust you. You owe me too much to
! be crooked"
"Oh. I'll act square with you! But.
! look here. what's all this about any
! how? Why do you want that girl?
1 You said you didn't care for her that
way. You told me so yourself. Any
! way, | amt the safest kind of chap
eron for good looking girl"
! Stark laid cold hand on Runnion's
shoulder close up to his neck.
Never mind what ! said. She's
! mine. and you've got to promise to be
| straight with her. I've trusted you be
| fore, and if you're not ON the level
now say so. 1t will save you lot of
! trouble
"OE. all right" exclaimed Runnion
/ testify. Only it looks mighty queer"
! He melted into the darkness. ard
| Stark returned to his cabin. where he
! paced back and forth impatiently. smil-
! ing evilly now and then. consulting his
| watch at frequent intervals A black
look had begun to settle on his face,
but it vanished when Necia came. and
; he met her with a smile.
Il was afraid you had weakened. !"
se said Everything Is ready and
waiting. I've got the only canoe in the
! place. Peterborough. and hired Il
good Oarsman to put you through, in
Structing him TO make as fast time as
/ he can and to board the first steamer
that overtakes you. Too bad this
freighter that just got in isn't going
| the other way However. there's liable
| to be another any hour. and if one
doesn't come along you'll find enough
blankets and food in the skiff. so you
needn't go ashore. You'll be there be-
! fore you know it.
| Then he led her out into the dark
ness. and they stumbled down to the
rivers bank. descending to the gravelly
waters edge. where rows of clumsy
| hand sawed boats and polling skiffs
were chatting ut their painters. The
up river steamer was just clearing.
Stark's low whistle was answered a
hundred yards below. and they search
ed out darker blot that proved to be
mans figure.
| rs everything ready" he inquired.
at which the shadow grunted unintel
lightly So. holding Necia by the arm
Stark helped her back TO a seat in the
| stern.
This man will take you through V
he said. You can trust him all right.
The oarsman clambered in and ad-
| justed his sweeps: then Stark laid !,
hand on the prov and showed the light
boat out into the current calling softly:
"Goodby and good luck
"GoOdby. Mr.. Stark Thank you ever
so much" the girl replied. too numb
and worn out TO say much or to notice
or care whittier she was bound or who
was her boatman She had been swept
along too swiftly to reason or fear for
herself any more
Stark did not return to his cabin. but
went back instead TO his saloon. where
| he saw POleon Doret still spra Wiling
| with elbows on the table. his hat pulled
! low above his sullen face. Stark then
went out and down toward the bar
racks A light behind the drawn cur
tains of the officers house told that
Burrell was not abed. but he waited IL
long moment after his summons before
the door was opened. during which he
heard the occupant moving about and
another door close in the rear. When
be was allowed entrance at last he
found the young man alone in q smoke
| filled room. with bottle and two
empty glasses on the table.
For at the sound Of his voice Gale
J had whispered to Burrell, Keep him
OUT and the lieutenant had decided
|
when he lighted on the expedient Of
concealing the trader in the bedroom
at the rear 1t was only natural. he
reasoned, that Gale should dislike TO
| face Il man like Stark before he had
| regained his compOsure.
eco in there and wait till see what
| he wants." he had said. and, shutting
| the old man in, be had gone forth to
admit Stark. Stark entered and closed
| the door.
1--WE got some work for you. lieuten-
ant. It's got to be done tonight. right
now! You represent the law. or at
| least you've taken every occasion TO so
declare yourself, so now I've come to
you with something big. It's serious
affair, and. being as I'm a peaceful
man, | want to go by the law" His
eyes Knocked the words he uttered.
"You seem to carry the weight of this
whole community on your shoulders,
so I'm here to give you some informa-
| tion'
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