Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-07-07

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''-- Hell voice was a-quiv-
er with Indignation and loathing, but
her lips could not frame an epithet
fit for him. He continued rowing for
some time. then said:
"Will yen marry me:"
mo. If this thing is ever known
Poleon will kill you-or father
For a third time he rested on his
oars.
Now that we've come to threats let
me talk. / offered to marry you and
do the square thing, but if you don't
| want TO I'll pass up the Formally 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 a wilderness, and you've got
! to make 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
1 tulS lliliS llhe Il SSi,oipiC Eiii L "A w
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
4 about this trip or spread your story
up and down the river"
She saw Runnion gazing over his
shoulder in search of n shelving beach
or bar. They rounded a 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. Starli's statement, which Sc
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 IL definite theory. What he die
know was that he doubted. Why
Because certain scraps of disjointet
conyersotion racurred To him. n few
words which he had overheard Ii
/, Stark's saloon. something about Pc
terhoronph canoe and woman. HI
,no,v ayary s,,iff that Inv n,onp tn
,,tor front and of n Sudden he a,
lido, 10 s.e ,r t,;s ono was where
e hod heor If dusl, for there wore hi
: w., ,odas az ogross from F,ombao,
and tbero was Int one canoe of tbj
1vne n Necio had rome nm river O
tba f,nigbter nursutt was homeless FL
y M hoot,non could make beodwa
og,;nst tho current Inf IF on th
other hand that cedar craft wa
cone He ron ont of Starl,,s hons
and down to the river bank. 1t wa
iust ono chance and If he was wron
no matter The others would leave q
the next nm river steamer. whereas
his SUSPICION proved certainty,
Stark had lied to throw them off til
track and Runnion had taken her dow
stream-well Poleon wished no one
hinder him. for he would travel light
The boat was gone. He searched til
line backward, but it was not Their
and his excitement grew now, lillewis
, his haste. He stumbled up to the trat
;, ing post and around to the rear, wher
bottom up, lay his own craft, birc
canoe, frail and treacherous Tor an
but a man schooled In the ways :
swift water. He laid 1t carefully
the whispering current, then slrlppe
himseif with feVerish haste, LOT u
driving call OF not pursuit was Q
him, and, although 1t was the coli
raw hours OF late nisht, ne whlppe
OFF his garments until he was bare
the middle. He seized his paddle, ste
pea M then kheit amlushils ana pusl
ea away. me pirch DARE answers
MN lke hVlns tAils, iehpins an
danelhg peheath the s'rohes' WI
ripping, risihs rioses s'oou oul upe
us DICK ana arms Us 'ies rose anu ie
!,
i, Runnion drove his Peterborough t
ward the shore with powerful strok'
!, and ran its nose up on the gravel, ros
;, stretched himself and dragged it ia
i Their out, then looked down at Necia.
well, what is it-yes or no? Do ye
want me for a husband or for ma
ter?" She covered in the stern, pal
!, fearful creature.
!, She cast her desDairinc ewes up mn
lown the river, then at the wilderne.
On either shore. but 1t was as silel
:, md unpeopled as if If had been crea
- cd that morning. SIZE must have tim
E She would telnpo1i.e pretending
Weld. and then lctray him to the fir
= conner. A promise eractcd under d
\, ress would NOT be binding.
~ "Ill go ouietIy." she said I'm fai,
r. voice
~ 81 kney, World sou that Pm octir
ia SQUARE Come, Cot tho cr,mn off
- vonrsolf Wills / molo nor of cof,eo