Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-05-04

'T'll die first. I'll call the first man
we see. I'll tell Father Barnum, and
he'll have you run out Of the country.
It would only take word from me-"
"If you haven't changed your mind
when we get to bis place III 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
ia rather marry you at Holy Cross
II you'll consent, and I'm pretty sure
you will when you think It over"
I'VE won't discuss It."
"You don't understand yet" he con-
tinued slowly. what Will people say
when they know you ran away with
! mey"
"I'll tell them the truth"
"Huh! I'm too we'll known. No man
on the river would ever have you after
that"
"You-you'- Her 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:
"Win you marry me7'
mo. II this thing Is ever known
Poleon will kill you-or father"
For q 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 II 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. II You agree
to come quietly and go through with
this thing like sensible girl I'll do
what's right. but II you don't then I'll
do what's wrong, ana 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 a shelving beach
or bar. They rounded bend where
the left bank crumbled before the un-
firing teeth Of the river. forming a
bristlfng 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-dke point, and toward this
Runnion propelled the skiff. The girls
heart sank.
The mind Of Poleon Doret worked in
straight lines. Moreover, his memor,
was good. Stark's statement, which SC
upset Gale and the lieutenant, had a
somewhat different effect upon the
Frenchman, for certain facts had bee,
impressed upon his subconsciousnes
which did not entirely jibe with tt,
gamblers remarks, and yet they were
too dimly engraved to afford founda
ton for definite theory. What he die
know was that he doubted. Why =.
Because certain scraps of a disjointed
conversation required to him, few
words which he had overheard In
Stark's saloon, something about Pc
terborough canoe and q woman. He
knew every skin that lay along the
water front, and Of sudden he de
cided to see II 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. II Necia had gone up river on
the freighter. pursuit was hopeless. for
no boatman could make headway
against the current but II, on the
other hand, that cedar craft was
gone He ran out Of Stark's house
and down to the river bank. Il was
just one chance, and. IL he was wrong,
no matter. The others would leave on
the next up river steamer, whereas II
his suspicion proved certainty, II
Stark had lied to throw them Of the
track and Runnion had taken her down
stream-well, PoleQn wished no one to
| hinder him. fof be keuld travel light.
The boat was gone. He searched the
line backward, but 1t was not there,
and his excitement grew now. likewise
his haste. He stumbled up to the trad
ing post and around to the rear, where,
bottom up, lay bis own craft, birch
canoe, frail and treacherous for any
but man schoolsd In the ways of
swift water. He laid It carefully in
the whispering current then stripped
himself with feveEish haste, for the
driving call OF q hot pursuit was on
him. and, although II was the cold,
raw hours Of late night, he whipped
OF his garments until he was bare to
the middle. He seised his paddle, step
ped in. then knelt amfdships and push
ed away. The birch bark answered
him like living thing. leaping and
dancing beneath the strokes. while
ripping. rising ridges stood out upon
his backand arms ~ they rose and fell.
.
Runnion drove bis Peterborough to-
ward the shore with powerful strokes
and ran its nose -. on theeravel. rose.
stretched hinseif and dragged It far
Their our, then s4aokedsdown at Necia.
well. whatiseit-yes,or no? Do you
want me for a4hus1and or for mas
sea: *: Sc ees>e.e. Z. ..:eas:.:.::, r.le
fearful creature.
She cast her despatsing eyes up and
down the river. then q tie wildarness
on either sknra but II was - silent
and unpespasa aIHx6aA nsan Great.
ed that motsing. III Abust have time.
She would tenDofAoA pretsaalng to