Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-12-24

growing yet frmer with its new pur-
pose. "But we try 10 do like my uncle
| did first only" with a note Of appre-
| hension in her voice these people
know things. and they have been to
! Quebec. The man who try to steal my
uncle's land was only a tramp seller
| Of pins. with slow wits. aud it was a
race Of legs. This may not be so easy,
| but we will Try. You hurry TO the
traps and find your father, Suzette.
and tell him to come quick. He must
start with the sunset. for it will be a
long. hard Journey, and he will have to
go on foot. When they 20 it will be
with fast horses. But there is the
weeks start. Hurry, SuZette"
But the girl only drew herself up,
shaking her head.
Not father" she said. He would
never get tU quebec. lie would run
at first, meaning to do everything, but
when he. found water or sign Of
game be would stop to fish or hunt
and forget everything. No, no, not
mon pere. Now. there is way we
must not risk. | will go myself"
"You, Suzettew incredulously. you
cannot, child. 1t is three days jour-
ney, and you have never been a day
from home"
"Only two days by water, mother,
and | shall go that way. 1t will be
straight course, and | cannot get lost.
l will take my so shillings and some
bread"
Ten minutes later the keeper of the
boathouse at the head of the falls saw
her running down the slope. Suzette
never walked when she could run. AS
she approached the man rose to his
feet. There were few visitors at this
hour.
"Oh. m'sieu," she called merrily as
she stepped on the platform and slip
ped past him to the riverside, where
the boats were kept. may take one
of the-er-shells to go over the falls!
You know you said could use them
any time when not engaged
Certainly. Miss Suzette," the man
answered respectfully. He had orders
to treat these first settlers with every
consideration possible that did not in
terfere with business or profit in any
way. Which one will you try"
The girls eyes swept over the boats.
instantly fixing upon the one she felt
to be the strongest and most seawOr-
thy.
This" she replied as she stepped
into it. "Now see ii not so down the
falls as nice as any of your hotel peo-
pie"
A minute later. with shoulders erect
and hair flying, she shot over and
down the falls. he man standing on
the platform watching ner.
After passing below the rapids the
man expected her to turn back by the
little side stream prepared for that
purpose. up which the boat could be
drawn. But no; she padded calmly on
without looking back and sOon disap-
peared round bend in the river.
The man stood there for some time
watching, then resumed his seat. with
a chuckle The girl had likely gone on
ing, or perhaps she was gathering
lilies or leaves or just keeping out OF
sight through some teasing mood. She
was a harum scarum thing anyway.
But when she had not returned at
noon nor at night he grew anxious
and at last went 10 the owner and
spoke with him in a low voice. then
sought the cabin with fatering steps.
Yet somehow, though Suzette's mother
anxiety in a volube voice,
he had a feeling that the words did
not reach much farther than the lips,
and the feeling Iessened his own con-
cern. Very likely the girl was aecus-
toned TO such escapades.
SO little was said about it the next
day, and it was not until the end of
the third that the disappearance be-
came generally known. Then it SEEM
ed chiefly to affect two men who had
just come in from fishing trip. They
had planned to leave the week follow
ing. but after a hurried consultation