The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-10-27


warning.
Cor he exclaimed in a cultural
| voice and with look that was by no
means reassuring. "Must not come
here! Big bears here! Eat you'll"
AS he spoke he laid his brown hand
on Miss Grayman's shoulder. Indig-
nantly she shook 1t of. placating
smile came over the Indians features.
but he continued his insistbnce and,
finally placing himself in front of the
girls, pushed them back.
Must gog' he repeated. Cant stay
here! Much danger! Much bear! Go,
quickw
What have they been digging here
for If there Is danger?"
Indian Johns face assumed a most
menacing expression, and he exclaim-
ed fiercely. $50, gov'
He no longer hesitated to lay his
hands upon them, and they were pow
erless in his grasp. Besides, his mere
look now terrified them.
AS he hurried them along he sudden
ly asked, What here for?"
"Oh, l have only been gathering
fowersw replied Miss Grayman, now
DESTROYS to pacify him. Look at
Them" and she showed those that she
had collected.
The Indian scarcely glanced at them.
"Plenty flowers" he said, near lodge.
Dangerous to come here. Bad bears"
Then he urged them on still faster,
and before they were aware of their
approach to the stream they found
themselves beside the canoe. Indian
John unceremoniously pushed them in
and without another word took the
paddle and carried them swiftly back
10 the lodge
Mrs. Williams hurried down to meet
them. while the two women stood in the
kitchen door curiously regarding them.
"Oh, DEAR" she said; Il have been
so alarmed on your account! Indian
John came and told me that he had
seen the canoe on the shore of the
creek and your tracks leading off into
the wilderness. i was so afraid that
you would be lost, and the bears backe
in the woods are very dangerous.
sent him after you as fast as he could
run. Pm so glad that you're back
safe"
Indian John has been very rude"
said Miss Grayman.
But, please, Miss Grayman, don't
blame him." protested Mrs. williams.
HE is only an Indian, and he was act
ing under orders that were intended
for your safety. Dear me! If you
had been killed, what should I have
said when Commodore Brown and his
friends returnedT'
The good lady actually shed a few
tears at this terrible thought. But she
was not so perfect dissembler as her
master, and Miss Grayman still had
doubts. Her suspicious, once aroused,
were not to be so easily put aside.
What are they digging out there in
the woods for?" she asked.
Mrs. Williams was not adroit enough
to conceal the startled look that fash
ed over her face, but in a moment she
said, with assumed concern: "Why,
Miss Grayman! Did you go as far as
that? It's the place where they've
been burying the carcass Of an i'm
mense bear that one Of the men shot
the day before yesterday. The skin is
in the drying shed now. Indeed, you
were in dangerw
Miss Grayman only tossed her head. |
She was getting more and more sus-
picious, and yet without any definite |
ground that she could explain to her. |
self. Why should the fact that some
body had been digging in the woods |
concern her? She couldn't tell, and |
yet somehow she couldn't help think |
ing about It. 1t was a strange place |
for such a thing to be. If she had |
known what that digging meant! She |
did not even guess, and yet her wo-
mans instinct had warned her that |
something wrong lurked there.
Come" she said to Susan; "we'll 60
to our rooms, where we shall be safe,
since the forest Is so dangerous"
And without another word she left |
the crestfallen Mrs. Williams and as
cended to her apartments. Once there,
she sat down and tried to think 1t out.
Why had she been so disturbed in
mind? She couldn't tell-it was all
too confused and indefinite. Then the
thought Of her friends required, and
she glanced at her watch. 1t was after
1 o'clock.
"Good graciousv she exclaimed,
springing to her feet They ought to
be here now. They may arrive at any
moment"
And she threw open the window.
But her watching was In vain, and In u