Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-08-06
NI RANDALL PARRISH
ILLUSTRATED 81 D. J.LHVIN
cHAPTER xxlI-continued.
geNaUW ACNeHWaC q 90. IQx5

CHAPTER xxii-continued.
He lowered himself into the stream,
which was deep to the shore, as silent
ly as q ghost A dozen feet away I
Lost sight of him entirely amid the
dim, dancing shadows. Then I fol-
lowed with equal caution, my face
turned up to the sky. 1t was a dark
night, but with a few stars visible
peeping down through riffs Of cloud.
The small river was not wide. o the
current particularly swift, and ] mad
not been carried far down stream
when the overhanging branches Of the
opposite bank gave shelter. l drew my
self ashore. and sat there, shivering in
my wet clothes. the night air chill. and
stared anxiously about, and across to
the shore we had Just left.
moved down the shore cautiously,
keeping well below the concealing
bank until I found Brady. He was
crouched in the shadow OF a great tree
root. his whole attention riveted on
the opposite side.
There are no signs of pursuit."
"Not that l can see. have watched
here some minutes. but there has been
no movement along the bank We VIII
move on down stream
1t was hard walking amid the tangled
roots, and We made slow work OF It
Brady. In advance, stumbled once or
twice. and. noticed, held one hand
pressed against his side as though
nom pain. breathing heavily. To u
EFT, but some distance away. a voice
called. and was answered by another.
SO, toiiins on, we came 70 sharp
bend In the stream
1T must be about opposite here,
hayward he said stopping. the girl
TOLD you the a would be. What IL
maj Jumping III yonder! Your
eyes are younger than mine"
l looked where he pointed. shading
my eyes. n gradually focusing the
outlines until they assumed definite
shape.
1T is a big tree bent down over the
river; no doubt the one she meant"
You see NO movement"
strained my eyes, searching the
dark shore inch by inch. but could per
ceive nothing: tbs lights Of the fires
were far away.
1t Is still as death over there"
He shot \ swift glance at me, as II
the words p sased him little. In the
dim starshine hts face appeared ghast-
ly white.
Perhaps the days OF miracles are
not gone.' he said doubtfully, and
Girty may have played fair. Anyhow
there is nothing to be done now but
test it. Come on lad; well take To
water again"
The cheerful note In his voice BOZ
stored my own courage. We swan
straight this time. with steady stroke.
our eyes scanning the bank we were
approaching. And the canoe was there,
struggled under the leaning tree. bow
to bank. rendered shapeless by a COW
ering OF broken branches. We lay
hold OF the sides. standing waist deep
In water. our eyes searching the high
bank towering dark above us. There
was no movement. no sound, and i low
r h branches n by one into the
water. and permitted then to hoat 81
lently down stream.
Concealed by the shade OF the great
tree waded cautiously ashore and
crept out into a maze Of roots. The
higher bank rose sheer before me. To
the right there was an opening, as II a
trail led down to the river, and re-
vealed there against the upper sky,
something moved. For an instant !
could tell no more; then / recognized
a human figure stealing cautiously to-
ward me through the gloom. 1t moved
silently as a spirit. and my heart beat
hercely as l rose up and stared. She
was close upon me before was sure.
Rene"
Oh a little catch In the quick
whisper; "then-then It is you; how
now did you come here"
drew her a into the deeper
shadow. and told her the brief story in