Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-07-14
THE
BA RRlER
By Rex Beach
Copyright. 1908. by Harper & Brothers

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
You don't know what he-what he
did" she said through her shut teeth.
He" But the man waited to hear
no more.
Runnion saw him coming and scram-
blcd frantically to all fours, then got
on his feet and staggered down the
bar. AS Poleon overlook him he cried
out piteously, Il shrill scream of terror,
and, falling to his knees. groveled and
debnsed himself like a foul cripple at
fear of the lash. His agony dispelled
the savage faint of Alluna's aboriginal
training In Necia, and the pure white
blood of her ancestors cried out:
"Poleon, Poleon--not that" She hur-
ncd after him to where he paused above
the wretch waiting for her. you
mustn't" she said. THAT would be
murder. md-and-it's all over now
The Frcnchman looked at her Won
deringly. not comprehendlng this sud
den leniency.
LET him alone You've nearly kill
ed him That's enough" Whereat
Runnion. broken in body and spirit,
began to beg for his life.
Watts dat you say JUS now?" Do
ret asked the girl. WAS dat de truth
for sure wat you speak?"
Eyes, but you've done your work.
Don't touch him again"
He hcsitated. and Runnion, quick to
observe ii. added his entreaty to hers.
I'm beaten. Doret. You broke me
to pieces. l need llelp--I-I'm hurt"
wat you spec do wit 'im?" the
Canadian asked. and she answered:
II suppose We'll have to take him
where he can get assistance"
Dat skilf ain carry all tree of u.s."
IN stay here" groaned the fright
encd man. I'm wait for a steamer to
pick me up. but for Gods sake don't
touch me again.
Pelcon, looked him over carefully and
made up his mind that the man was
more injured in spirit than In body.
for outside of his battered muscles he
showed no fatal symptoms. Although
the svoyageur was slower to anger than
n child. a grudge never died In him
and his simple, self taught creed knew
no forgiveness for such men as Run
MON, cherished no mercy for preyins
men or beasts. He glanced toward the
wooded shores n stones throw above
then back at the coward he had beaten
and whose life was forfeit under the
code. There was II queer light in his
eyes.
Leave him here, Polenn. Well 80
away, you and l. in the canoe. and the
first boat will pick lin up Come
Necia tugged Mt his, wrist for fear she
might not prevail. but lie was bent on
brushing away Il handful of hungry
mosquitoes which, warmed by the
growing day. had vcnturcd cut on the
river. His face became wrinkled and
yet
"BicH!" he gruntcd. I'VE lef' i'm
here because dere amt 'nough room
in de hattcau, eli? All right. Dafs
good ting But he's seeck man, SO
mebbe fecs it him rice place for stop
till dem boats come"
''Yes. yes. Leave me here. I'll make
1t through all right" bcgged Runnion.
Better you camp yonder on de point
Were you can see desc steamboat w'et
she comes roun de ben. Dis is bat
place" He Indicated the thicket. a
quarter of a mile above which ran out
almost to the cut bank. Come. help
you get feeX.'
Runnion shrank from his proffcred
assistance half fearfuliy, but, rcassur-
ed. allowed the Frenchmun to help him
toward the shore.
f.n Il
an dcy pick you up. You wait here.
Necia.'
The girl watched her rescuer guide
Runnion up TO the level of the woods
then disappear with him in the iirs
and was relieved to see the two
emerge upon the river bank again far
Their on. for she had feared for an in
slant tl,at Po1eon might forget There
seemed to be no danger. however. FOL
he was crashing through the brush in
advance of the other who followed
laboriously. Once Runnion gained the
high point he would be able to com
mand Il view of both reaches of the
river and could make signals to ut
tract the first steamboat that CHANGED
W Noiit ttpiis5. w IlllOul ubllIil IL tEIll
of some sort would pass from one di.
rection or the other by tomorrow at
latest, or, if not, she and Poleon could
send back succor to him from the first
habitation they encountered. The two
men disappeared again, and her fear.
had begun to prey on her a secon(
time when she beheld the big Cana
dian returning. He was hurrying G
bit, apparently to be rid of the mos
quitoes that swarmed about him, ant
she marked that, i'll addition to whip
ping himself with handful of black
berry bushes, he wore Runnion's Goa,
to protect his shoulders.
Wool! Dose skeetcr bug is hon
gry." he cried.
"Dis nice batteau,'' poleon remarked
critically; II max it go fas'," and be
I'm to row swiftly, seeking the breez
of the open river in which to shak
off the horde of singing pests tina
had risen with the sun. II come wa,
queeck wit'out t'inkin' bout gun O
skeeter net or not'in'. Runnion she'
len me dis coat, so mebbe / don lool
so worse lax do JUS now, eh?"
"How did you leave him? Is h
badly injured"
mo; bus 1t up on de face an d
rib, but she's feelin' good now. Yes
Pm leave i'm nice place for stop an
wait on de steamboat--plaintee spruc
Dough for set on"
She began to shudder again, and
sensitive to her every motion, he asked
solicitously if she were sick, but sh
shook her head.
"I-I-was thinking supposin
you hadn't come! Oh, Polcon. 20
don't know what you saved me from
She leaned forward and laid tiny
grateful hand on the huge brown pa,
that rested on his oar. II wonder if
can ever forget"
She noted that they were running
with the current and inquired: