Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-07-09
CHAPTER XIV.
AND A KNOT TIGHTENED.

deed In all his life PoleOn
DOret had never sunk to such depths
of despondency. for his optimistic
philosophy and his buoyant faith in
the goodness Of life forbade 1t. The
arrival Of the freight steamer afforded
him some distraction. but there was
only small consignment for the store,
and that was quickly disposed of; so,
leaving the other citizens Of Flambeau
to wrangle over their private merchan-
disc. he went back to his solitary vigil.
which finally became so unbcarable
that he sought to escape his thoughts,
or ut least TO drown them for awhile,
amid the lights and life and laughter
Of StarkS saloon.
Runnion annoyed him with his volu-
bility. for the news y his good for
tune had fred the man with Il reck-
less disregard for money. and he turn
ed to gaming as the one natural re-
course of his ilk.
1t was shortly after midnight that
Stark came into the place. Poleon
was not too absorbed in his own for
tunes to fail to notice the extraordi-
nary ferocity and eXhilaration Of the
saloon keeper nor that his face was
kecner. his nostrils thinner. his walk
more nervous and his voice more cut
ting than usual when he spoke to Run
Mon:
"COme here.
'I'll be with you when | finish this
hand" said the player over his shout
der.
Come herew Stark snapped his COM
mand, and Runnion threw down his
cards.
Drawing the reluctant gambler aside,
Stark began to talk rapidly to him,
almost within earshot of POleon, who
watched them. idly wondering what
Stark had to say that could make Run
Mon start and act so queerly. We'll,
it was their affair They made a bad
pair to draw to. He knew that Run
MON was the saloon keepers lieuten-
ant and obeyed implicitly his seniors
commands. He could distinguish moth
ing they said, nor was he at all curl
Gus until a knot of noisy men crowded
I'D to the bar and, forcing the two
back nearer to the table where he SAT,
his sharp ears caught these words
from Runnions lips:
mot with me! She'd never go with
mew Ard Stark's reply:
She'll go where l send her and with
anybody tell her to-"
The Frenchnan lost what followed,
for a newly dealt band required study
He scanned his cards and tossed them
face up before the dealer; then he
overheard Runnion say:
ITS the only one In camp. lie
might sell it if you offered him
enough" At this Stark called one OF
the men at the bar aside, ana the
three began to dicker.
Not a cent less" the third man an
nounced loudly. There amt another
Peterborough in town"
Going outside, Runnion said again to
Stark:
"She won't go with me, Ben. She
don't like me. You see, l made love
to her, and she got mad and wanted
me killed"
"She'll never know who you are un-
til 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"
ooh. III act square with you! But
look here. what's all this about any
how? Why do you want that girl!
You said you didn't care for her that
way. You told me so yourself. Any
way, l amt the safest kind of chap
eron for good looking girl"
Stark laid cold hand on Runnions
shoulder close up to his neck.
"Never mind what l 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 or
trouble"
ooh, all rightv exclaimed Runnion
testify. only it looks mighty queer"
He melted into the darkness, and
Stark returned to his cabin, where be
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 II vanished when Nicola came. and
he met her with smile.
IT was afraid you had weakened"
he said. Everything Is ready and
waiting. I've got the only canoe in the
place, a Peterborough, and hired a
good oarsman to put you through, in
ST. lcting 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 II 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 poling sSiffs
were chatting at their painters. The
up river steamer was lust clearing.
Stark's low whistle IS answered a
hundred yards below. ID they search
ed out a darker blot that proved to be
a mans figure.
as everything ready?" he inquired,
at which the shadow grunted unintel-
ligibly. So. holding Necia by the arm.