The Red Cloud chief., 1910-02-03
CHAPTER XIV.
C.ttic Orchar

When | called ut 81. Agatha's the
following morning tho maid told me
that Miss Pat WAS Ill and that Miss
Helen asked TO be excused. | walked
rcatleSsly about the grounds until
luncheon, thinking Helen might ap-
pear; and latcr determined to- act on
IN impulse with which | had tritied
for several days. to seek The cottage
on the TippGcanoe and satisfy myself
OF HobrOpk's absence. \ sharp show.
cr had cooled the air, and | took the
canoe for greater convenience in run
ming into the shallow creek. | know
nothing comparable To padding as a
litter of the spirit, aud with my arms
and head barred and cool breeze at
my back | was soon skimming along
rs buoyant OF heart as the responsive
canoe beneath me. II was about four
o'cloc!, when / dipped my ..a5 into tho
farther lake. and as Ia water broad.
Cued before me- at the little strait | saw
the Stilc,to lying quietly at anchor of
the eastern shore OF Battle Orchard.
| drew close 20 observe her the better.
but there were no signs of life on
bOll VI, anu IsiAAh'NN w Wv n'Nlti II
side OF the island.
IL had already occurred TO me that
HOi5roOk might nave another hiding
place than the cottage AT Red Gate.
where ! had talked with him. and tha
island seemed a likely spot for II.
ran my canoe on the pebbly beach and
climbed the bank. The trail bore up
II 4
clearing about an acre in extent that
had once been titled, but ii was now
pre-emptcd by weeds as high as my
| head. Beyond lay an ancient orchard,
| chiefly of apple trees, and many hoary
| veterans stood faithful to the brave
! hand that had marshaled them there.
| (Every orchard Is linked to the Hes.
peride5 and every apple waits Tor At
alEpta-if not for Eve,) | stopped to
pick Wild flower and found an arrow
head lying beside It,
Fumb'ing the arrow head in my fin.
! gers, passed on TO log cabin mid
den away in the orchard. l approached
! wariiy. remembering that IL This were
Holbroot's camp and he had gone
I
to lock after the yacht. which could be
seen irom the cabin door. | mad" a
circuit OF the cabin without seeing any
signs OF hsbitation. and was about to
enter by the front door. when heard
the swish % branches in the under
brush to the cast and droppcd into the
| grass.
In. I.. al -.NH
carrying n pair uf oars over his shout
der. He had evidently just landed
~ the blades were dripping. tio threw
them down by the cabin door. came
roInd to the western window, drew
. on the bin from an irCn staple with
A wnich Il was fastened. and thrust his
! head In. lie was greeted with now
1 and lond demand oi some sort. Il
: which he replied in monosy llsbes. ant
after several minutes ct this parley
J. caught 4 fragment of dialogue whicl
J. seemed to be FINAL In the subject undo
y discussion.
Let ne GU, or IL will be he worse
u Tor YOU; let Inc out. say"
My boes hC sometime come back
a then you get ont 4, maybe"
With this deIivrrance, sccomplishe
:, With som" difficulty. the Italian turnn
= away. guiHg 10 the rsar OF the cabi
= 'Uy pal! with which he trudged O.
-, toward the lake. He had not close
=, ne TiadOw aad would Gndonbtedl
- return In n few minutes: so | waite
- unlii he was out OF sight. then roS
-, and Crawiod through the grass 10 tn
=, opening.
k looked in upon a bare room who's
70 orp door opened inward. aud did nc
Ia lGy moment account Tor the voic
lc Thea something stirred IL the fartht
corner. and | slowly made out The IL
of IRE Of a man tod hand and foot, iyin
I'd on his hack IN 4 pile OF grass an
y leaves.
90 GRO Bi: CDNTINU,.DD