Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-01-19

troduce you to-" replied, and turned
away into the broadest part of the
lake. The launch was capable of q
lively clip and the engine worked cap
italy. I had no fear of being caught,
even if we should be pursued, and
this, in the broad light of the peaceful
Sabbath afternoon, seemed the re-
| hottest possibility.
1t had been understood that we
were to remain out until the sun
dropped into the western wood. and I
loitered on toward the upper lake
where the shores were rougher.
"That's a real island over theraf-
they call 1t Battle Orchard mhst
have glimpse Of it." i"
ooh, nothing is so delightful us an
island!" exclaimed Helen. -
lima had scanned the lake con-
| stantly since we started, as was his
habit. Miss Pat turned to speak to
Helen of the shore that now swept
| away from us in broader curves as we
| passed out of the connecting channel
into the farther lake. lima remarked
to me quietly, as though speaking of
the engine:
'*There's a man following in a row.
boat"
! And as replied h. some remark by
Miss Pat, I saw, hail mile distant,
it's salts hanging idly, ssoao that an
swered Gillespie's descriptions Of the
Stiletto. Its snowy canvas a6oae
white against the green verdurg 60
Battle Orchard.
"Shut off the power a moment. Wa
will turn here, Ijima'-and I called
Miss Pats attention to a hoary OLD
sycamore on the western shore.
"Oh, I'm disappointed not to cruise
nearer the island with the romantic
name," cried Helen. "And there's a
yacht over there, tool"
II already had the boat swung round,
and in reversing the course + lost the
Stiletto, which chung to the island
shore; but saw now quite plainly Gle
rowboat lima had reported as follow.
ing us. 1t hung off about quarter 81
a mile and it's single occupant hdd
ceased rowing and shipped his cars
as though waiting. He was between
us and the strait that connected the
upper and lower lakes. Though not
alarmed 1 was irritated by my care.
lessness in venturing through the
strait and anxious to return to the less
wild part of the lake. I did not dace
look over my shoulder, but kept tA1k.
| Ing to my passengers, while Ultima,
with the rare intuition of his race, i'm.
derstood the situation and Indicates
by gestures the course.
| There's boat sailing through the
green, green wood" exclaimed <HeIRn;
and true enough, as We crept IN close
to the shore, we could still see, acroeg
a wooded point of the ISLAND, the saisz
of the Stiletto, as of boat of dreams
drifting through the trees. And as
looked I saw something more. A tiny
signal flag was run quickly to the top;
mast head, withdrawn once aud
flashed back; and as faced the bpw
again the boatman dropped his oars
into the water.
what a Strengthening man." re-
marked Miss Pat.
HE doesn't look like native" re-
piled, carelessly.
The launch swung slowly around
cutting half-circle, of which the Ital
lan's boat was the center. He dallied
idly with his oars and seemed to pay
no heed to us, though he glanced sew.
eral times toward the yacht, which
had now crept into full view, and un
der freshening breeze was bearing
southwark.
Full speed, Ijima."
The engine responded instantly, and
we cut through the water smartly
There was a space of about Is yards
between the boatman and the nearer
shore. did not believe that he would
do more than try to annoy us by for
cling us on the swampy shore; for II
was still broad daylight, and we were
likely at any moment to meet other
craft. was confident that with any
sort OF luck I could slip past him
and gain the strait, or dodge and run
round him before he could change the
course of his heavy nkiff.
kicked the enA of an oar which
the launch carried Cor emergencies
and lima, on this him, drew it toward
him.
"You can see some of the roofs Of
Port Annandale across the neck here
remarked, seeing that the women
| hnl IN til $t4
boat uneasily.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)