The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-10
IN THE DANGER ZONE
BY MARY WoRDEN BLISS.

| >~~>
Copyright. 1915, by W. G. Chapman.)
There was not one of the odd one
hundred choppers who did not know
the full history of Leoti Rogers and OF
Rob Marsh. A school had been start.
ed in the encampment, and the father
of Leod and an aunt had been given
charge Of it. Both had died. Leoti
was left without relative in the
world. A half-breed teacher and his
wife then took charge. 1t was pos.
sible for them to give Leou a posi-.
ton as assistant teacher. The gov.
eminent supplied quarters for them in
i the school building, and Leoti was
content to stay.
1t was wild, crude. even perilous
environment, but Leoti was glad to be
able to earn a living until she could
think out coherent future. The even
tenor of her life was at length inter-
rupted, however. Wineka. the son of
the chief, returned from a long Alas
kan chase. Leoti had shuddered the
first time the dark flashing eyes Of the
| impetuous young savage rested upon
her face. Every day after that he
managed to cross her path. He was
respectful, but determined. It became
known among the tribe that Wineka
had resolved to take Leoti as a bride.
Then came the logging gang. and
Rob Marsh among them. The young
lumber cruiser met Leoti one day at
the spring. 1t was a case of love at
first sight. Something of this Wineka
had learned. He began an active
counting, or rather attempted 1t, to be
! repulsed by Leoti.
Il will kill the pale face lover" he
told her fiercely one day. Leoti i'm
parted the dread information to her
lover. One evening both were miss
ing.
Between the lovers perfect under
standing had come about. They
would have then married at once, only
that Rob owned a mining claim a
short distance away from the lumber
camp. 1t was necessary, in order that
he might file claim upon this, that
he make a survey of 1t and stake it
out. Then he could sell 1t for a sum
sufficient to warrant his taking a wife,
and he and Leoti would settle down in
the city.
Rob had attended to the claim, and.
on his way back to the city, had
stopped at the lumber camp for a
food supply He hoped to evade no
tice from the savages. Someone had
seen him. Wineka had been appraised
OF the fact Bill Budd had discovered
his danger. He had hidden him away
In a cave. The question now was as
to getting Rob back to the city. One
of his men came to Budd about noon.
bill. I've been carrying out your
orders and nosed around the Indian
camp this morning It's a blockade"
You mean?" inquired Bill anx.
iously.
Bear Blur is completely surround.
ed. ! suppose there isn't hundred
foot space that hasn't q friend of
Wineka on patrol or in hiding. The
orders are to shoot Rob Marsh on
sight"
"All right" observed Bill abstract
eddy You and some of the others be-
gin shooting few logs into the river
in about an hour"
why" exclaimed the other, we're
not ready to make a run yet"
DO as ! say" ordered Bill, ant
himself proceeded to a part Of the
camp near the stream where the
bluffy formation was a shelter against
observation from the Indian camp.
Half hundred logs were sent adrift
by the men within the next two hours.
The current of the stream was rapid,
and the logs floated swiftly down the
river and past the Indian encamp-
ment. There was an interim of about
forty minutes. and then Bill and two
helpers came to the edge of the river
and set afloat another log.
The old foreman watched It shoot
down the stream like the others. He
gave utterance to fervent sigh of re-
lief as it passed the encampment
and rounded a curve in the stream,
taking II out Of sight.
Good" he muttered to himself with
profound satisfaction. "Holler-Rob
Marsh is in it, and Leoti will soon
greet her future husband"
But, wise and confident as was old
Bill, he had not sufficiently counted
on Indian vigilance and cunning
Two miles below the Indian camp a
canoe shot out into the stream navi-
gated by Wineka. He proceeded to
sink the hook of short pole into the
bark OF the log and pull it ashore.
Pale face come out" he ordered,
and kicked the plug loose. You and
Wineka, for Leoti," he added fero-
ciously as Rob stepped forth, and he
flung at his feet counterpart OF a
long hunting knife he held in his
hand
The young chief made a spring. Rob
warded him off. but he saw death in
some dexterous maneuver held in store
by his adversary. Then ne stared
From the brush an agile form bound
ed on tiptoe. He recognized an In
dian girl. the discarded fancee OF
Wineka
She held ou'spread a heavy blanket.
Just as Wineka was preparing for an
other onslaught on his opponent, she
flung the blanket over his head. As
he struggled helpless. she whipped a
stout lssso across arms and body,
pushed him to the ground, and, turn
ing to Rob, pointed down stream ST.
leptly.
Rob Marsh did not hesitate or lin.
ger. Within an hour he was safe
from pursuit, within six at a second