The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1910-04-15
CHAPTER XVI.
An Odd Affair at Red Gate.

AS 1 FOOe through FOrC Annandale
the lifting strains of waltz foated
from the casino, and I caught q
glimpse Of the lakes cincture of lights.
My head was none too clear from its
crack on the cabin floor, and my chest
was growing sore and stir 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.
l 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, I
knew, lay close at hand, and the Hart
ridge cottage was not, as I reckoned
my distances, very far ahead. 1 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
crock, and my horse SHE'D sharply
and plunged on at wild gallop. He
ran several hundred yards before I
could check him, and then l turned
and rode slowly back, peering into the
forests black shadow for the foe. I
paused and waited, with the horse
dancing crafty beneath me, but the
woodland presented an inscrutable
front. l then rode on to the unfenced
strip of wood where l had left my
horse before.
l began this narrative with every
Intention of telling the whole truth
touching my adventures at Annandale,
and l 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 I had been fired on
from ambush near the place to which
she had 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 l had dismissed other doubts and
misgivings about her. My fleeing
glimpse of her in the window of St.
Agathas less than an hour before
flashed back upon me, and the tower
touched the stars, steadfast and Sc.
rene again.
l strobe on toward Red Gate with
my, revolver in the side pocket of my
Norfolk jacket. A blackboard filled
with young folk from the summer COL
ony passed me, and then the utter ST.
lence of the country held the world.
In a moment I had reached the canoe.
makers cottage and entered the gate.
l went at once to the front door and
knocked. repeated my knock several
times, but there was no answer. The
front window blinds were closed tight.
The houseboat was effectually
screened by shubbery, and had de.
scended half dozen steps before
saw a light in the windows. It oc.
CURED to me that as I had undoubted.
ly been sent to Red Gate for some pur.
pose, I should do well not to defeat it
by any clumsiness of my own; SO I
proceeded slowly. pausing several
times to observe the lights below. I
heard the Tippecanoe slipping by with
the subdued murmur Of water at
night; and then lantern flashed on
deck and heard voices. Some one
was landing from boat in the creek.
This seemed amiable enough, az the
lantern-bearer helped a man in the
boat to Chamber to the platform, and
from the open door of the shop a
broad shaft Of light shone brightly
upon the two men. The man with the
lantern was Holbrook, alias Hartridee.
beyond doubt; the other was q stran.
ger. Holbrook caught the painter OF
the boat and silently made it fast.
Now" he said, come in"
(To BE CONTINUED.)