Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-18
& Ole q e
Silver Horde
Author of The Spoilers" and
The Barrier
ARPER & THEIRS

-SS%%%&sS+re ! . = . + . + . + . = . Sc =
relieved. 1t was as If he had been
freed of a burden, and this caused him
a vague uneasiness. Was 1t because
he was tired by the struggle for this
girl for whom he had labored so
faithfully? After three years of I'M
tagging devotion was he truly relieved
to have her dismiss him2 Or was 1t
that here in this primal country. strip
ped of all conventions. he saw her and
himself in a new light? He did not
know.
The late twilight was fading when
Mildred came from her stateroom.
She found Boyd pacing the deck,
cigar between his teeth
where are those people?' she in
quired.
"They went ashore. Marsh doesn't
care to press charge against the In
dian"
81 hear he is not badly hurt, after
ALL"
That is true. But it was a close
shave"
Mildred shuddered. "It was hor-
riblep'
81 never dreamed that Constantine
would do such thing but he is more
Russian than Aleut. and both he and
his sister are completely under the
spell of the priest. They are intensely
religious, and their idea of damnation
is very vivid"
Have you seen father?'
I'VE had short talk"
Ibid you make up?'
NO But l think he is beginning to
understand things better-at least as
far as Marsh is concerned. The rest
is only matter of time"
What a frightful situation! Why
did you ever let father announce my
engagement to that MANI
Emerson gazed at her in astonish-
ment. ~? Pardon ne. How could
l help it,"
You might have avoided quarreing
with him. ] think you are very incon-
siderate of me-"
Boyd regarded the coal OF his cigar
with slight CLEAN Of amusement in
his eyes as she ran on:
Even that woman took occasion to
humiliate me in the worst possible
way"
ut strikes me that she did you a
very great service. I have no doubt
it was quite as distasteful to her as to
you"
Absurd. 1t was her chance for re-
venge, and she rejoiced in making me
ridiculous"
Then It is the first ignoble thing I
ever knew her to do" said Boyd slow
ly. she has helped me in a hun
dred ways. Without her assistance
could never have won through. That
cannery site would still be grown up
TO moss and trees. and I would still
be a disheartened dreamer"
It's very nice of you, of course. to
appreciate what she has done. But
she can't help you any more. You
surely don't intend to keep up your &C
quaintance with her now" He made
no reply, and. taking his silence for
agreement, she went on: 1.-The trip
home will be terribly dull for me- Pm
afraid. ! think-yes, l shall have ia
Their ask you to go back with u.s.
But I am right in the midst Of the
run. can't leave the business"
"Oh. business! Do you care more
think you realize how terribly hard for
me all this has been. I'm still fright
ened. 1 shall die of nervousness with
out some one tO talk to-"
cts quite impossible! I-don't want I
to go back now
Indeed! And no doubt it was i'm
possible. for you to come out here last .
night for the same reason"
at was. The fish struck in and I /
could not leave"
at was that woman who kept you! /
cried Mildred. ut is because Of her
that you refuse to leave this country
''Please don't" he said quietly. 81
have never thought of her in that
way
Then come away from this wretch
ed place. l detest the whole country