The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-04-08
ELEVENTH. episode.
In the Clutch OF the River ThIsevs


There was n cask OF water In the
hut. brackish and stale. but II was
water. and she drank OF Il from a
rusty old tin cup which hung 20 II.
She had Just set down the cup when
her quick ears detected low.
steady hum She stepped to the
door, ready TO make a dash for her
boat. but rs she set her foot upon
the threshold she saw the dark.
a gray prov OF skin protrud!ng It's
gpoint around the bend OF the lower
channel. She darted back out OF
sight and. looking through crack
in the board wall. saw in the skin
three rough-looking men and a
rough.looking woman. The skin
rode low In the water. and from un-
der its tarpaulin there Haunted a
fringe OF celery leaves.
June laughed In relief II was
good TO see human beings who were
not In pursuit OF her. who would
sbefriend and protect her. and she
had almost run down TO meet them
when suddenly loui. angry voices
came from the fraii little craft.
There was bitter quarrel. In which
the woman took a shrill part, and as
!. the boat landed the woman jumped
out and stopped swiftly. The man
with the scraggly mustache and the
scattered tufts Of beard on his face
jumped ashore. oursing. The woman
raised up swiftly and. with a shrek
like cat. jumped for the man with
q long knife gllttering In her hand.
The knife flashed dowa. and the
man staggered back. The cleaning
blade was raised again. but before
., could descend again. the huge.
raw-boned man. who had jumped
from the boat. caught the woman $
arm.
June saw no more She ran Wild
ly around the little hut. looking
vainly for some place OF conceal.
ment. A rusty stove. a rickety IA.
BILE. some rude benches. two straw
pallets-that was all There was
no other room. not even a cupboard.
In the ceiling June's frantically row.
! ing eyes found trapdoor. one OF
It's boards loose. On the wooden
wall beneath II was series OF
cross sticks. aud without hesitation
Jrne ran UP this rude ladder. shov.
cd the trap-door aside and scram.
bled into the attic.
a There were voices below. The
quarrel. whatever II had been about.
had evidently been settled. for the
woman was laughing. and so was
the big. raw boned man June peer.
cd dowa through a crack In the cell
ing boards These two and the lean
fellow with the hook-nose were
loaded with all they could carry.
The big man with the scar on his
chin dropped his heavy bags on the
floor with a clatter. and the brass
stop-cock OF washbasin rolled out
OF one OF them. The woman car
Red silks and nne linens In her bun
dies. and the lean little fellow was
loaded with siiverware. As they de-
posted their burdens on the floor
the other man came in and sat
heavily on a bench.
well, pabe. you sliced me. all
right" he grinned, and. throwing on
his coat, he loosened his shirt ~
sthe neck and barred his left Shout
der There was an ugly wound
near his armpit, and II was bleed.
Ing profuseiy.
The woman made a laughing re.
ply. and after the people exhibited
-SNerent articles OF jewelry, cloth
Ing. etc. they started cooking n
meal
The men were At the table In an
Incredibly short time. They gulped
their food. and then. tired and
sleepy. they lay down on straw pal
lets for a few minutes OF honest
rest, while the cold and starved 1T
tie runaway bride In the attic look
ed down with ravenous eyes on what
they had left. The oddr OF the hot
coffee made her feel faint. Only
terror kept her on the alert
CHAPTER nI.
The woman below was acting
strangely ~ she cleared away the
remains of the breakfast and washed
tho dishes. From time to time she
passed near her husband. bending
over slightly. and finally she stopped
beside him and listened TO his
breathing. but che shook her head
and went away. Big Ben was quite
plainly fast asleep. sprawied In com
piete relaxation. while lean Jake
was snoring with great energy. The