The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-08-13
CONTINUED

CONTINUED.
| emerged into a sotnewhat clearer
space of ground at the rear. The
rough boards, out with shingle root
The door stood ajar. and | glanced in.
only To lind the room empty. the pots
and pans used the night before still
unwashed
There was nothing there TO interest
me. aud | crossed narrow space OF
grass to where broken picket fence
was visible amid fringe OF weeds
No description can dtly picture the
gloomy deSoIation surrounding that
ramshackIe place. Evidently this fence.
now mere ruin, had once served IL
protect a garden plot But I SAW mere
~ a tangled mass of Wild vegetation.
SO thick and high as 10 obstruct the
view Narrow footpaths branched III
either direction. and | chose To follow
the one TO the right, thinking thus TO
skirt the fence and learn What Mis-
beyond before approaching the negro
abius on the opposite side. 10 my
surprise found myself suddenly
standing on the bank OF narrow
bayou. the water clear. yet apparently
motioulesS, the opposite shore heavily
timbered. Owing to 4 sharp curve /
could see scarcely hundred yards in
either direction. yet close in beside TIE
shore light boat was skimmins over
the gray water. Even as | gaze,i. the
fellow plying the paddle saw me ana
waved his hand. In another moment
the bow grounded on the bank and Its
OCCUPANT came stumbling up the slight
declivity.
He WAS medium sized. wtry look
ing fellow. With olive skin aud small
mustache. dressed In brown corduroy
a eulored handkerchief wound about
his head in lieu of hat. As he came
to the level where | stood he stopped
suddenly. staring into my face.
"Sacre. thought eet vas CoomhS
Who are you. m sieuT:
II came in last night" replied eva
sively. and was just looking about Il
nit
The black eyes searched my face
and / noted his right nand touch the
nilt OF knife in his beit.
What water is this | asked. Is
uortng his action. "BayOuT'
"Oui. m'sieur."
Are We near the SEES -
~Twenty-seex nile. You not know
where you are? lis odd you not
know. m'sleur."
laughed. enjoying his bewilder-
meut. yet not realizing how to turn it
to better account
~oh. no. / came by train in the
night aud am little hazy as TO ioca-
ton. You live about herei"
Som time. Then of again-sailor.
WHARF Coombsi You know. N sieur:"
No. don't" acknowledged
Asleep In his cabin likely"
The creole. for such he undoubtedly
vas. made swift resolve.
IT'S like, m'sieur | hnd out May
be you come too
The last was more OF an order tina
& question | gave il no apparent heed.
but turned In the direction of the cab
ins. | had no reason 10 avoid CoOmbs.
Indeed. | desired 10 see bin. and / bad
no intention OF permitting this lad to
suppose that feared his yelled
threats Without so much as gianeiug
back at him advanced along the foot
path. my hands in my pockets Yet
my mind ieapei from point to point In
ca ger speculation Little rs | liked
CoOuhs this creole was even nors
da ugerous The one was rough. the
other ! venomuus snake. So far as the
original purpose OF my adventure was
from reSullecuun The swift recur-
renee OF more startling events domi
ma ted.
lie right; turn TO Ee right. II sieur."
said voice behind NE. and then
saw COMBS standing before the door
OF the second cabin.
What does this mean. BruussarSii''
be srowied Savagely. Where did you
pics up thst fellowf"
AT the iauding.- the creole FASTENED
to explsin- How could teliE He
said be knew you. m'sieur.s
-Oh. be did. heyi Well all ] know
about him Is that be blew in here last
night with a woman. Claimed TO be
young Henley and took possession Of
the place | reckon its abont time I
saw some papers 70 prove what yer
sre. youus Teller. fore yer go saoOpin
round at daylight What's yer game
enyhOw:
The mans biuSter gave NE my ciew
The thought suddenly occurred 10 me
thst Tor some Reason De was more
afraid OF me Than | OF him.
You can See my authority. COMBS.
any time you are ready to exhibit -FOUR