The Washington times., 1909-02-14

I 8
| that went to the Browns hunting
! shack. But old Dan, the trooper, lived
/ IN the shack the year round, md seldom
! came into town.
/ Bess knew that she would nave to
! make the journey without anybody
! finding out about her going. That would
be exceedingly difficult. She did not
/ like 70 ask Gordon to accompany her.
| and there was no hope Of getting hold
! of old Dan. Evidently the trip would
| have 70 he made alone But how?
! By this time Bess had reached her
aunt's. She hurried in at once and went
! 10 her room, where she changed to a
/ short skirt and outing hat,
/ The maid entered with telephone
! message.
ITS from your fathers house" she
! told Bess. John, the groom, teie-
phoned that a man YOU would want TO
| see would be right over here. and said
/ you had better wait FOR him"
Bess could not imagine who if was,
| but she had hardIy finished dressing
when a knock was heard on the back
! door. Bess ran down at once, hoping
/ that it was for her
On opening the door she saw old Dan,
| the trapper-the one man who could
| help her out at that moment. Sine could
have embraced him I'm her joy
John said yer might want to 20 up
ter the shack with me, Miss Bess.' ne
/ explained.
Are you going now cried the girl
happily.
yep, presently. Just have to get A
few groceries
Bess looked around, found that no
body was in hearing distance and
asked. rs George there?'
well. T have orders not to say
smiled the kind old trapper- "But II
he is there. he's met with a siICht
accident, and is Iyin' in bed right now
with his right arm fun of bird-shot,
and Pm down here 10 get few sup
plies and things
Bess smiled 10 herself az the care
fuIness with which the old fellow
obeyed his orders.
where is the boat inquired Bess.
"It's hid I'm the bushes up above the
water-tank, at the second turn re-
piled Dan
when will YOU get thereZ
about as soon as YOU do" was the
answer. 81 guess these legs Of mine
will take me over to the grocery store
and back up there in about the same
time that YOU can walk IT from here.
Does George need anything more
that I could take?" asked Bess.
who said George was there" an
swered the old fellow quizzically.
"But if he were there would heI
need anything Bess changed her
question 10 suit the mans whiEr,
u guess moneys about the only
thing he needs. He's sllus a-1eedin'
that though
Bess made no reply. She had moth
ing TO spare for George.
"WeIl, youu be there all right, Miss
Bess? added old Dan.
eyes. Can we make ia by to-
night
easy enough. There's = good cur
rent this time OF year, and it's not
much Of a Job rowing down river, but
had a hard pull uD today
They parted, and Bess went = E once
90 the meeting place.
She had hardly reached the cllmp OF
bushes where Dams canoe was hidden
when the lUng-leEged trappe- came
pounding through The undergo owth
and pulled eut his boat
They were soon adoat, Bess had
explained To- her aunt that she would
not be back until the next day, and
they got under way without being
seen by anybody.
rs George badly hurt2' queried 8ess.
'lSo, the wound itself amt so bad.
replied old Dan, "bLt somethin' seems
10 be vorryin' him an he don't mend
well. He thinks he's worse hurt than he
really is. picked out all the shot and
fixed him mp fine az a fiddle"
IT'S TOO bad" said Bess. Poor
George, he's always getting into trOu-
bic"
Ever since he was a boy ADDED the
trapPer.
Twilight had already settled down,
and everything looked misty when AT
lest they went ashore at landing
place near the hunting shack
Bess knew the path and hurried on
alone. while old Dan pulled up the boat
She made out "a light In the cabin, .
and turned the knob quickly. The door
was Locked Bess knocked. The light
vas suddenly evtiuHuizhed-
what can George be- afraid OFF"
Bess wondered
II was strange to fnd him there i'm F.
hiding, afraid 90 open the door.
locked the door. Ress went in first and /
rushed al Gree to cot in the corner. /
where George lay, nursing his wounded /
arm.
At sight Of her ne caught his breath |
and stared.
What are sou doins here. Bess.'' /
His cry was hard and strange
Il came 10 see YOU. George was /
her reply. rs she sat down on the edge /
OF the cot
Me- What can YOU want OF me2"
Il want you to save Jim Holden from |
dying for a crime that ne did not com |
nit"
The tone was firm, and she looked her .
brother fairly iu the eyes.
George sank back A weak hand nut /
tered 10 his forehead.
"Eut Eess." he cried. what do 7 /
know about it2 don't know any more /
than YOU"
Yes, Won do. George" and she fixed
him with a look that pierced 10 his
soul.
lie lay quiet ror some time his eyes
fastened ON the walt Bess fe}g tina.
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