The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-03-20

when we get 70 his place m run
through without stopping. but there
isn't another priest between there and
st. Mixes, and by the time we get to
the mouth Of the river guess you'll
say Yes to most anything. However,
I'd rather marry you at Holy Cross
II you'll consent, and I'm pretty sure
you will when you think it over"
""We won't discuss it."
"You don't understand yet" he con-
tinued slowly. What will people say
when they know you ran away with
me?''
"I'll tell them the truth
Huh! I'm too well known. No man
on the river would ever have you after
that"
"You-you''- Hel voice was a-uuiv-
er with indignation and loathing, but
her lips could not frame an epithet
fit for him. He continued rowing for
some time, then said:
Twill you marry me-"
mo. If this thing is ever known
Poleon will kill you-or father"
For a third time he rested on his
oars.
me talk. l offered to marry you and
do the square thing, but if you don't
want to I'll pass up the formality and
take you for my squaw, the same as
your father took Alluna. Just re-
member you're alone with me in the
heart Of wilderness, and you've got
to make a choice quick, because I'm
going ashore and make some break
fast as soon as it's light enough to
choose landing place. If you agree
to come quietly and go through with
this thing like a sensible girl I'll do
what's right, but If you don't then I'll
do what's wrong, and maybe you won't
be so ID anxious to tell your friends
about this trip or spread your story
up and down the river"
She saw Runnion gazing over his
shoulder In search Of shelving beach
or bar. They rounded bend where
the left bank crumbled before the un-
firing teeth of the river, forming a
bristling cheval-de-frise of leaning,
fallen frs awash in the current. The
short side Of the curve protected a
gravel bar that made downstream to q
dagger-like point, and toward this
Runnion propelled the skiff The girls
heart sank.
The mind of Poleon Doret worked in
straight lines. Moreover, his memory
was good. Stark's statement, which SO
upset Gale and the lieutenant, had a
somewhat different effect upon the
Frenchman, for certain facts had been
impressed upon his subcOnsciousness
which did not entirely jibe with the
gamblers remarks, and yet they were
too dimly engraved to afford founda-
ton for definite theory. What he did
Because certain scraps Of disjointed
conversation required to him, a few
words which he had overheard In
Stark's saloon, something about Pc
terborough canoe and woman. He
knew every skiff that lay along the
water front, and of sudden he de-
cided to see If this one was where 1t
had been at dusk. for there were but
two modes of egress from Flambeau,
and there was but one canoe Of this
type If Necia had gone up river on
the freighter, pursuit was hopeless, for
no boatman could make Roadway
against the current, but If, on the
other hand, that cedar craft was
gone He ran out of Stark's house
and down to the river bank. 1t was
just one chance, and, if he was wrong,
no matter The others would leave on
the next up river steamer, whereas If
his suspicion proved certainty, II
Stark had lied to throw them off the
track and Runnion had taken her down
stream-well, PoleOn wished no one to
hinder him, for he would travel light.
The boat was gone. He searched the
line backward. but it was not there.
and his excitement grew now, likewise
his haste. He stumbled up to the trad
pOSl anu W tuC ACul, w hClC,
bottom up, lay his own craft, Il birch
canoe, frail and treacherous for any
but man schooled in the ways of
swift water. He laid it carefully In
the whispering current. then stripped
himself with feverish haste, for the
driving call Of a hot pursuit was on
him, and, although It was the cold,
raw hours of late night, he whipped
off his garments until he was bare to
the middle. He seized his paddle, step
ped in, then knelt amidships and push
ed away The birch bark answered
him like living thing. ieaping and
dancing beneath the strokes, while
ripping. rising ridges stood out upon
his back and arms as they rose and fell.
Runnion drove his Peterborough to-
ward the shore with powerful strokes
and ran it's nose up on the gravel, rose,
stretched himself and dragged it far
Their out, then looked down at Necfa.
"Well, what is it-yes or no? Do you
want me for a husband or for a mas
tpr?" She covered in tho storm q v,a1o