The Rice belt journal., 1910-02-18
CHAPTER XVI,
An Odd Affair at Red Gate,

AS | rode through Port Annandale
the lifting strains of waltz floated
from the casino, and l caught q
glimpse Of the lakes cincture of lights
My head was none too clear from It's
crack on the cabin floor, and my chest
was growing sore and stiff from the
slash of the Italians knife; but my
spirits were high, and my ears rang
with memories of the Voice. Helen
had given me commission, and every
fact Of my life faded into insignificance
compared to this. The cool night air
rushing by refreshed me. l was eager
for the next turn of the wheel, and
my curiosity ran on to the boat-ma,
ker's house.
came now to lonely sweep, where
the road ran through a heavy wood.
land, and the cool, moist air of the
forest rose round me. The lake, /
knew, lay close at hand, and the Hart.
ridge cottage was not as l reckoned
my distances, very far ahead. had
drawn In my horse to consider the
manner Of my approach to the boat
makers, and was Jogging along at an
easy trot when rifle-shot rang out on
my left, from the direction of the
creek, and my horse shied sharply
ana plunged on at wild gallop He
ran several hundred yards before ]
could check him, and then l turned
and rode slowly back, peering into the
forests black shadow for the foe.
paused and waited, with the horse
dancing crazily beneath me, but the
woodland presented an inscrutable
front. | then rode on to the unfenced
strip of wood where l had left nv
horse before.
l began this narrative with every
intention Of telling the whole truth
touching my adventures at Annandale,
and | cannot deny that the shot from
the wood had again shaken my faith
IN Helen Holbrook. She had sent me
to the Tippecanoe on an errand of her
own choosing, and had been fired on
from ambush near the place to which
sne mad sent me. fear that my tower
OF faith that had grown SO tall and
strong shook on Its foundations: but
once more dismissed my doubts Just
as had dismissed other doubts and
lhlsglVings about her. My fleetine
glimpse OF her in the window of st.
Agatha's less than an hour before
mashed back upon me, and the tower {
'ouched the stars, steadfast and se. :
rene again. ,
strode on toward Red Gate with
my revolver IN the side pocket of nv !
norfolk jacket. A blackboard filled I
with young folk from the summer col. ,
my passed me. and then the utter 81.
ence OF the country held the world |
N moment l had reached the canoe q
MAKERS cottage and entered the gate
went at once to the front door and
Knocked. l repeated my knock several
INES, put there was no answer. The
font window blinds were closed tight
The houseboat was effectua,,v
screened by shubbery, and | had de.
cended half dozen steps before I
aw a light in the windows. II oc. {
urred to me that as l had undoubted. q
Deen sent to Red Gate for some pur.
ose' should do well not to defeat il q
y any clumsiness of my own: SO a
roceeded slowly, pausing several e
mes TO observe the lights below. q
card the Tippecanoe slipping by with
ne suodued murmur of water al |
lgnt; and then a lantern flashed on lt
eek and heard voices. Some one S
'as landing from boat In the creek n
MS seemed amiable enough as the G
intern-bearer helped a man in the b
oat to Chamber to the platform and Il
ON the open door OF the shon a b
road shaft Of light shone brightly tt
pom tne two men. The man with the g
intern was Holbrook, alias Hartridee
eyond a doubt; the other was a stran. II
er Holbrook caught the painter o, ly
10 BOAT and silently made 1t fast W
now, ne said. come in" W
(To BE CONTINUED.) cl