Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-16

He strove to keep the image OF Runnion
OUT of his mind, for his reason could
not endure II. At such times he cried
aloud, cursing in a way that was utterly
strange TO a God-fearing man, only to
break of and rush 10 the other extreme.
praying blindly, beseechingly, for the
girls safe-keeping. At intervals an I'M
holy impulse almost drove him to Stark q
cabin to finish the work Gale had begun
to do il coldly as a matter of justice, FOR
was he not the one who had put Necia
into the hands Of that ruffian? Greeting
Lee mechanically. he said to Gale:
Il can't wait much longer and sank
YEARLY into a seat. Almost the next in
slant he was on his feet again, saying
to the trader. as he had said it a score of
times already: "Runnion comes to me.
Gale! You understand he's mine, don't
your
The old man nodded Eyes! You can
take him"
well. who do 1 git?" asked Lee.
You can't come along" the trader
said 1--WE may have TO follow the hound
clean to the states. Think of your
mine"
ITO hell with the nlineg' exploded the
i men. II 1 am wrong, and he takes her
from you-well, may some other priest
re-wed you two-I sha'n't!'
Don't worry" laughed Burrell, ablaze
At the thought You're ! the only
preacher who'll kiss my bride, for I'm
| a Jealous man. and all the Starks and
all the fathers in the world won't get
her away from me. Do you think she IL
do itg'' .F
1 "A woman in love will do anything.
Burrel seized the little man by the
i hand. IF 1 had known more law you
needn't have given me this hint
i Il must go now TO this Stark" said
the father; he may need me. But
first l shall talk with Necia. Poor
child, she is In a difficult position
\ standing between the love Of John Gale
and the loyalty she owes her father.
u IL fear / cannot counsel her as well
as 1 ought, for l am very weak and
human. You had better come with me;
perhaps the plea of a lover may haYe
more weight than the voice of reason"
i AS they started towards the house, he
continued, energetically: young man,
I'm beginning to live once more. Do
YOU know, sometimes 1 think / was not
designed for this vocation, and, just be
tween you and me, there was day
when" He paused and coughed
trihe, then said, sharply Well what
are you waiting forY'
Together they went into the traders
house.
Back in the store there was silence
after the priest and the soldier went
out which Gale broke at last:
This forgiveness talk is all right, 1
suppose-but want Runnion"
'We'H git him. too growled Lee, at
which Poleon uttered curt eXclama-
ton:
Nor
why uot?'' said the miner.
Wal" the Canadian drawled, slowly
then paused to light the cigarette he
had rolled in a bit of wrapping-paper, in
hailed the smoke deeply to the bottom OF
his lungs, held it there a moment, and
blew it out through mouth and nostrilS
before adding, you'll JUS be wastin'
tam'r'
Gale looked up from beneath his thatch
of brow. and asked. quietly:
"why?"
''Yon 'member-story I toll you wan
day. two, tree mont ago." Poleon re-
marked, with apparent evasion, "bout
Johnny Plat wat ! ketch on de Porcu-
pine all ct up by skeeter-bugs?"
| I do" answered Gale.
"WaI."-he met their eyes squarely,
then drew another long breath from his
cigarette-'Tm JUS hopin nobody don
pick up dis Runnion Teller de same way.
Mebbe dey fin hees hans tie benin i'm
Good God" cried the trader. starting
to his feet. ''You-you-"
of course, I'm jus s'posin'. He was
feel putry good wen 1 lef He was feel
so good TAX hees coat for keepin' of
dem bugs from me, because / lef it my
own shirt on de canoe. He's nice Teller
dat way; he gives up easy. Ba gosh! [
never see worse place for skeetersr'
Gale fell silent, and mo Creek" Lee
began to swear in little, useless, inef-
fective oaths, which were but two ways
OF showing similar emotions. Then the
former stepped up and laid a big hand
upon Poleon's shoulder.
THAT saves us quite a trip" he said,
but no Creek Lee continued to swear
softly.
II seemed that Poleon's wish was TO
be gratified. for no news OF the missing
man came through in the days that fol-
lowed. Only at fishing village far dowr
the river, where few native families had
staked their nets and weirs for salmon,
a hunter told a strange tale to his broth
ers-a tale Of the white mans idiosyncra-
sizes. In sooth, they were a strange peo-
pie. he observed, surprising wise in many
things, yet ignorant and childish in all
others. else why should a half-naked man
go wandering idly through thickets holding
a knotted rag behind his back, and thar
when the glades were dense and the
moss-chinks filed with the singing people
who lived for blood? The elders Of the viii
lage nodded their heads sagely and COM
mended the hunter for holding aloof from
the inert body, for the foolishness Of this
man was past belief, and-well, his people
were swift and cruel in their vengeance,
and sometimes doubted an Indians word,
wherefore IT were best to pay no heed to
their ways and say nothing. But they
continued to wonder why.
Father Barnum found the three still
talking in the store when he had finished
an hours counsel with Necia, so came
straight to the point. 1t was work that
delighted his soul, for he loved the girl,
and had formed a strong admiration for
Burrell. Two of them took his anounce-
ment quietly, the other cried out siren
uous objections. II was the one-eyed
miner.
Right away! Not on your life! It's
too unexpected. You've cot to hold 'em
apart for an hour, anyhow. till I gel
. dressed" He slid down from his seat
! upon the counter. What do you reck-
) on I got all them clothes for?"
Come as you are" urged the father
but Lee fought his point desperately.