The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-07
n TIE DANGER ZONE
BY MARY woRpEN BLISS.

2 BY MARY woRDEN BLISS. q
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 Leoti and an aunt had been given
charge OF 1t. Both had died. Leoti
was left without q relative in the
world. A half-breed teacher and his
wife then took charge. 1t was pos
sible for them to give Leoti q posi-
ton ~ assistant teacher. The gov
eminent supplied quarters for them in
the school building, and Leoti was
content to stay.
It was . wild. crude. even perilous
environment, but Leoti was glad to be
able to earn 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 q 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 bride.
Then came the logging gang. and
Rob Marsh among them. The young
lumber cruiser met Leoti one day at
the spring. It was a case of love at
first sight. Something Of this Wineka
ha6 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 fercely one day. Leoti i'm
parted the dread information to her
lover. One evening both were miss
ing.
Between the lovers a perfect under
standing had come about. They
would have then married at once, only
that Rob owned mining claim a
Nort 1istance away from the lumber
IL 1t was necessary, in order that
h. might Ale claim upon this. that
he make . survey Of 1t and stake it
out. Then he could sell 1t for a sum
sufficient to warrant Ills taking 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
food supply. He hoped to evade no
tice from the savages Someone had
seen him. Wineka had been apprised
Of the fact. Bill Budd had discovered
his danger. He had hidden him away
in 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 Hill anx-
iously.
Bear Blur is completely surround.
ed. suppose there isn't q 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 l say" ordered Bill, ant
himself proceeded to part of the
camp near the stream where the
bluffy formation was shelter against
observation from the Indian camp.
Half hundred logs we're 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 1t shoot
down the stream like the others. He
gave utterance to fervent sigh of re-
lief a. 1t passed the encampment
and rounded a curve in the stream.
taking It out Of sight.
Good" he muttered to himself with
profound satisfaction. "Holler-Rob
Marsh 10 In It. and Leoti will soon
greet her future husband"
But. wise and confident - was old
Bill, he had not sufficiently counted
on Indian vigilance and cunning.
Two miles below the Indian camp .
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 1t ashore.
Pale face come out" he ordered.
and kicked the plug loose. you and
Wineka, for Leoti." he added fero-
ciously ~ Rob stepped forth. and he
flung at his feet q counterpart of
long hunting knife he held in his
hand.
The young chief made q spring. Rob
warded him on, but he saw death in
some dexterous maneuver held in store
by his adversary. Then he stared.
From the brush an agile form bound
ed on tiptoe. He recognized an In
dian girl. the discarded fiancee Of
Wineka.