Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-04-29

the SnOtS naQ come, always keeping
out of sight of the enemy by taking
advantage of every depression of the
ground, concealing his body under
cover of the trees and bushes, craw-
ling slowly and noiselessly till at
length he reached a slight elevation,
behind which he was completely hid
den from the eyes of the person he
was stalking.
"Ha." he said to himself upon OBJ
) tanning a full view of the person who
| had fired the shots, "ha! my friend,
so it's really you is it? well, by gum
figured it that away, though in
course l wa'ant quite sartain of it,
there's somethin' gained in this in
terestin' hunt anyhow" With these
words he sprang to his feet and
bringing his rifle to his shoulder,
cried out, Throw up yer hands!"
but the other was just second too
quick for him, for the instant In
ness raised his rifle he sprang be-
hind a tree and keeping it between
himself and his pursuer, made off
leaving the huntsman to return
chagrined to Jesse who was impati-
emily awaiting him.
well, | guess now we can fol-
low the trail agin; maybe we might
find another mitt or somethin' fur
der on" he said. But no further evi-
dences of the presence of Frances
appeared and as night drew on they
were compelled reluctantly to aban-
don the search for the time being.
CHAPTER XVI.
Upon making known to Jesse her
desire to find the red lady slippers,
Frances had left him, making her
way toward a place at the foot OF
the bluffs which was so Swallowed by
overhanging rocks and thickly strewn
i hazel-brush, as to completely shut
off from view any object from the
river front, or the bluffs in the rear,
thinking it would be likely place
to find the flowers. She was not
disappointed for there were several
fine specimens before her, STOPPING
to pick one of the blossoms before
digging up the root, murmuring to
herself how pleased her mother
would be at her success in finding
them, she was all unconscious of the
fact that two pairs of keen eyes were
eagerly watching her every move
ment, and only waiting till her. quest
brought her a little nearer the place
where they were concealed. They
did not have long to wait, for al
most Immediately she discovered a
beauty which drew her with quick
ened step within reach of the pos
SCISSORS of the wicked eyes. Before
she could make any cutlery to alarm
her friends, she found herself close
lily held in the powerful arms of a
man, who, with one hand covered
her mouth, and then, after brief
struggle, hurried her away from the
spot, leaving behind them only the
evidences of the Intellectual struggle
found by Jesse and mentioned in the
preceding chapter.
Now girl" said her kidnaper,
as soon as he thought they were out
of hearing of her friends, If you
keep your mouth closed and quietly
come with us, no harm will come to
you, but if you try to scream, or
make any effort to escape, or at
tract attention TO us in any way,
you will be strangled and your body
will be given to the wolves who will
hold wild revels over it, so ! advise
you to be good and keep your tongue
very quiet in that pretty mouth OF
yours"
who are you? Oh! who are you?
cried the terrified girl, and what
have done to merit this outrage?"
why! as to who / am, it does not
matter, nothing matters just now
only that you must speak in lower
tone hereafter, or not speak at all.
\ GU see my dear, have already eau
toned you once and now this makes
twice; there is charm about your
voice, as well as your looks my lady,
that makes it very sweet, and l con-
fess l delight to hear it. If the stu
alton was favorable | should be far
from saying or doing anything to
discourage the use of it, neverthe-
less. under the peculiar circumstan-
ces in which we find ourselves at
present placed, | am obliged to re-
quest you once more to use your
voice a little more judiciously than
YOU did just now. By the way, we
have with us a friend of yours,
who, up to the present has kept him
self in the back ground, out of sight,
so to speak, lest peradventure his
presence might recall some unpleas-
ant memories which he would fain
blot out, but which, alas! is alto
gether beyond his power.