Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-05-05

RPER q hAo1KENE ~
PICK me up. but for Gods sake don't
touch me again!"
Poleon 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 voyageur was slower to anger than
child. grudge never died In him
and his simple. self taught creed knew
no forgiveness for such men as Run
Mon, cherished no mercy for prey1ne
men or beasts. He glnnced toward the
wooded shores stones throw above,
then back at the coward he had beaten
and whose life was forfeit under the
code. There was queer light In his
eyes.
leave him here. Poleon. Well go
away, you and I. in the canoe. and the
first boat viii pick him up. Come"
Necia tugged at his wrist for fear she
might not prevail, but he was bent on
brushing away handful Of hungry
mosquitoes which, warmed by the
growing day, had ventured out on the
river. His face became wrinkled and
set.
"Bienv he grunted. I'VE lef' i'm
here because dere amt 'nough room
in de batteau, Ell? All right. OATS
good ting. But he's seeck man, SO
mebbe feex 1t him nice place for stop
till dem boats come"
eyes. yes. Leave me here. I'll make
1t through all right" begged Runnion.
Better you camp yonder on de point,
were you can see dose steamboat wen
she comes roun' de BEN. Dis Is bad
place." He indicated the thicket a
quarter Of a mile above which ran out
almost to the cut bank. "Come. help
you get feex."
Runn;on shTank from his proSerea
assistance half fearfully. but, reassur-
ed, allowed the Frenchman to help him
toward the shore.
1--WE tell it de first boat bout you
an dey 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 frs,
and was relieved to see the two
emerge upon the river bank again far
| Their on, for she had feared for an In
slant that Poleon might forget. There
seemed to be no danger, however, for
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 a view Of both reaches Of the
river and could make signals to at
tract the first steamboat that CHANGED
to come along. Without doubt a craft
Of some sort would pass from one d.
rection or the other by tomorrow at
latest, or, II not, she and Poleon could
send back succor to him from the first
habitatton they encountered. The two
men disappeared again, and her fears
had begun to prey on her second
time when she beheld the big Cana
dian returning. He was hurrying a
bit, apparently to be rid of the mos.
quitoes that swarmed about him, and
she marked that. In addition to whip
ping himself with handful Of black
berry bushes. he wore Runnion's coat
to protect his shoulders.
Woof! Dose skeeter bug is hon
CRY" he cried.
IBIS nice batteau,'' Poleon remarked
critically; Il maxi it go fas'," and be-
gan to row swiftly. seeking the breeze
of the open river In which to shake
of the horde Of singing pests that
had risen with the sun. II come way
queeck wit'out t'inkin' bout gun or
skeeter net or not'in'. Runnion she's
len me dis coat, SO mebbe dom look
so worse LAX do JUS now. eh?"
"How did you leave him? Is he
badly injured7"
mo; bus it up on de face an de
rib. but she's feelin' good now. Yes,
I'm leave i'm nice place for stop an
wait on de eamboat-platntee spruce
bough for set on.'
She began to shudder again, and.
sensitive to her every motion. he asked
solicitously if she were sick. but she
shook her head.
T-1-was thinking what-supposins
you hadn't comel oh, Poleon. You
don't know what you saved me from"
She leaned forward and laid tiny,
i grateful hand on the huge brown paw
that rested on his oar. 81 wonder II /
can ever forget!"
She noted that they were running
with the current and inqEseed:
"whete Ire s,gotng7"
WAL canHApuIl dis boat 'gainst
dat current SOL e4ess we pass on tn
] an' ny shin, deb bimeby we pick It
up sopS .ste3@bdi tsg 80 home"
| FIVE m4esbelext ai5 quick eye de-
tected IFS bit ssnbmerged "bark"
lodged beneath lsome Qverhanging frs
which from the waters action had
fallen forward intt the stream, and BY.
rare good fortune II Vas stu upright
although awAsh. He lowed it to the
next sand bar. where he wrung out
and donned his shirt. then tipped the
water from the smaller craft and,
making itffast astern Of the Peterbor-
ough. set out once more. Toward
noon they came % sight Of a little
stern wheeled craft that pulled and