The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29
CHAPTER XIX,
Copyright. 1913, by the Bobbs-Mer-
rill Company.
Mine Enemy!


birds did not remember it. Seven
hours brought him to a lonely wagon
trail called Ozark lodge. because after
winding among hills several miles it
at last reached the clubhouse of that
name overlooking the lake. He left
the train in the dusk of evening. and
walked briskly away, the only moving
figure in the wilderness.
His pace did not slacken till a CLEAN
as of fallen sky cupped in night fringe
warned him that the clubhouse must
be near. turn of a hill brought ii
4 into view. the windows not yet aglow.
Nearer at hand was the boathouse.
seemingly deserted. But as Wilcox
now grown wary, crept forward among
the post oaks and blackjacks. well
screened from observation by chinka-
/ pin masses of gray interlocked net
/ work, he discovered two figures near
the platform edging the lake. Neither
was the one he sought. but from their
being there-they were Edgerton Comp
ton and Annabel-he knew Gledware
could not be far away.
mo" Annabel was saying decisively.
and yet with an accent of regret. mo.
Edgerton. can't"
But our last boat ride" he urged
"Don't refuse me the last ride-a ride
to think about all my life. I'm going
away tomorrow at noon. as l promised.
But early in the morning.
81 have promised him." she said with
lingering sadness in her voice. $50
must 20 with him. He has already en-
gagged the boatman. He'll be here at Z
waiting for me. So you see
"Annabel, | shall be here at alsor
he exclaimed impetuously.
But why? | must 20 with him. Ed
gerton. You see that
"Then shall row alone"
"Why would you add to my unhappi-
ness?" she pleaded.
81 shall be here at T." he returned
grimly. while you and he take your
morning boat ride shall row alone"
She turned from him with sigh,
and he followed her dejectedly up the
path toward the clubhouse.
She had lost some of the fresh beauty
which she had brought to the cove, and
her step was no longer elastic; but this
Wilcox did not notice. He gave little
heed to their tones. their gestures. their
looks in which love sought n thin dis
guise wherein it might show itself I'M
named. He had seized on the vital fact
that in the morning Annabel and Gled-
ware would push Off from the boat
house steps, presumably alone. and it
would be early morning. Perhaps Gled-
ware would come first to the boat
house. there to wait for Annabel In
that case he would not ride with An
mabel. The lake was deep-deep as
Willock's hate.
Wilcox passed the night in the
woods. sometimes walking against
time among the hills, sometimes seated
on the ground broOding. The night was
without breath, without GOODNESS. Oc-
casionally he climbed rounded eleva-
ton from which the clubhouse was dis
cernible. No lights twinkled among
the barren trees. All in that wilder
ness seemed asleep save himself. The
myriad insects that sing through the
spring and summer months had not yet
found their voices; there was no trill
of frogs, not even the hooting of an
owl-no sound but his own breathing.
At break Of dawn he crept into the
boathouse like shadow. barefooted.
bareheaded-the clubhouse was not yet
To oh
room for a hiding place. Walls. floor.
ceilings were bare. Near the door open.
ing on the lake was rustic bench. i'm
possible as refuge. Only in one cor
ner where empty boxes and a disused
skiff formed barricade. could he hope
for concealment. He glided thither,
and on the floor between the dusty wall
Of broad boards and the jumbled parti-
ton, he found a man stretched on his
hack.
At first he thought he had surprised
sleeper, but as the figure did not
move he decided 1t must be u corpse
He would have fled but for his need
Of this corner He bent down. The
man waS bound hand and foot. In
The mouth gag was fastened. Neck
md ankles were tied to spikes IN the
vail
Wilcox swiftly surveyed the lake
and the sloping hill leading down from
the clubhouse. Nobody was near. AS
he stared ut the landscape the front
door of the clubhouse opened. He
darted back to the corner. "Pardner,"
he said. Il got TO ask your hospitality
for spell. and if YOU move SO as to
attract attention. | got to fix you bet
ter | didn't do this here, pardner,
but you shore look like some Of my
handiwork In days past and gone. III
share this corner with you for awhile.
and II you don't give me away to them
that's coming. | promise to set you
free. That's fair. guess. "A man