The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-12-17

What do you want here?" 1 de-
manded, sharply.
The man touched his hat, smiled,
and shook his head. The broad hand
he lifted in salute was that of la
borer, and it's brown back was tat
tooed. He belonged. l judged, to one
of the dark Mediterranean races, and
tried him in Italian.
These are private grounds; you
will do we'll to leave here very quick
"" said.
/ saw his eyes light as spoke the
words slowly and distinctly, but he
waited until | had finished, then shook
his head.
! was sure he had understood, but as
| addressed him again, ordering him
from the premises, he continued. to
shake his head and grin foolishly.
Then l pointed toward the road.
GO; and it will be best for you not
to come here again!" said, and, after
saluting, he walked slowly away into
the wood, with a sort of logged inso-
lence in his slightly swaying gait. At
nod from me Lima stole after him
while l waited, and in few minutes
the boy came back and reported that
the man had passed the house and
left the grounds by the carriage en-
trance, turning toward Annandale.
With my mind on Gillespie put off
in the launch, determined to study the
lake geography. l have, hope, a soul
water, the lush reeds in the shadows,
the rapidly moving panorama of field
and forest the glimpses of wild flow
ers, and the arched blue above, were
restful to mind and heart. 1t seemed
shameful that the whole world was
not atioat; then, as l reflected that an
other boat in these tranquil waters
would be an impertinence that l
should resent, was aware that had
been thinking of Helen Holbrook all
the while; and the thought of this ir-
ritated me SO that l criticised lima
most unjustly for running the launch
close to bowlder that rose like a
shore we were skirting.
We gained the ultimate line of the
lower lake, and followed the shore in
search of its outlet, pleasingly set
down on the map as Tppecanoe creek,
which ran off and joined somewhere
river of like name. The lakes wa
tiers ran away, like truant child,
through woody cleft, and in a mo.
ment we were as clean quit of the
lake as though it did not exist. After
a few rods the creek began to twist
and turn as though with the intention
of making the voyager earn his way.
In the narrow channel the beat of our
engine rang from the shores rebuking-
ly, and soon, as punishment for dis
turbing the peace of the little stream,
we grounded on sand-bar.
+ This seems to be the head of navi-
cation, lima. believe this creek
was made for canoes, not battle
ships"
Between us we got the launch off,
and landed on convenient log and
crawled up the bank to observe the
country. l followed stake-and-rider
fence, half hidden in vines of various
sorts, and tramped along the bank, with
the creek still singing it's tortuous way
below at my right hand. Soon the
rail fence gave way to barbed wire;
the path broadened and the under
brush was neatly cut away. Within
lay a small vegetable garden, care
fully TILED; and farther on saw a
dark green cottage almost shut in by
beeches. The path dipped sharply
down and away from the cottage, and
moment later l had lost sight of it.;
but below, at the edge of the creek.
stood long houseboat with an ex-
tended platform or deck on the water.
side.
can still feel, as / recall the day
and hour, the utter peace of the scene
when first l came upon that secluded
spot: The melodious flow of the
creek beneath; the futter of homing
wings; even the hum of insects in the
sweet, thymy air. Then step farther
and / came to gate which opened on
a fight of steps that led to the house
beneath; and through the intervening
tangle l saw man sprawled at ease
in steamer chair on the deck, his
arms under his head. AS watched
him he sighed and turned restlessly,
and caught a glimpse of close
trimmed beard and short, thin, slight
ly gray hair.
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