Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1920-03-26

might be lurking In the bushes nearby. |
However, by the time they reached the
little open space they satisfied them
selves that he was not following them.
"we've passed our landing place"
said Hilary.
Looking out across the gray waters
he perceived, close at hand. and APP
parently beached ON the shore, the
white sail of si0op. 1t seemed to be
the vessel which they had seen earlier
that afternoon, lacking toward the
south shore.
The men looked at each other, and
the same unspoken question was In
the eyes Of each. Then LATE grabbed
Hilary by the shoulders.
'See herei" he said. ''We amt go
Ing to stay and fight Brousseau's gang
just for the fun Of 1t. ] guess it's
Pierre and Leblanc In that boat all
right, and that they're on their way
home. We beat 1t for ours as hard as
we can gO-seef You amt fit to do
no more fighting anyway" he pleaded.
"And / won't, no matter what happens
that's straight to you. I'll fight any
man with fists IL got TO, but I'm
darned If I'll stand up against that
scum with camp knives"
you're quite right, Lafe," answered
Hilary. Come. let's get 20 the boat as
quick as we can"
But as they started there rang ont
woman's cry. Again came the scream;
and In an instant forgetful OF their
resolution, they had turned and raced
back along the trail.
Not many steps. and. breaking
through the trees, they saw Marie Du-
pont struggling in Pierre's arms, while
Leblanc and Nanette stood near them,
laughing.
LATE leaped at Pierre, and his bony
fist caught the outlaw beneath the
chin. Pierre went down in a heap.
Hilary made for Leblanc, whose ex.
preston would, under other circum-
stances, have been comical In IT'S sur
prise.
He turned upon the girl ana
knocked her down savagely. Then,
without another glance az Hilary. he
made for the sloop.
Leaving Pierre where he had fallen,
LATE Joined In the pursuit. But Lee
blanc had several yards start. and his
experience of Hilary's prowess lent
wings to his feet. He plunged into the
water and, by a miracle of strength,
swung the sloop clear of the sand ON
which she had been beached. AS the
vessel was carried clear by the swift.
flowing tide the ex-jObber scrambled
aboard. dripping, and pushed of with
the oar. Lafe and Hilary stood. baf
fled, upon the brink Of the water
while Leblanc, at an ever increasing
distance, began to put up the sail
shouting back defiant curses mean
while.
They heard a sound Of feet upon
the single behind them, ana turned
quickly. T. was Pierre, but he wat
boiling for the woods. They ran al
him, but he had gained the shelter Of
the trees, and 1t was growing too tlarl
70 follow. They stepped and looked
back. Leblanc was now quite a dis
lance from the island, and making fol
the north shore upon the incoming
tide.
Lets CO." said Hilary. and he tool
Marie gently By the arm. She wen
with him obedIently, and Lafe fol
lowed with Nanette, whose lip wa
. bloody from LebIanc's blow.
The tide was running fairly for 81
: Boniface. IL was almost dark nov
but the wind had died away and tn
stars were brilliant. Hilary. takln
OF his oyercoat. wrapped It abou
Marie. The girls bewllderment ha
yielded to AFFECT gratitude. Sh
raised Hilary's hand to her lips an
pressed Il. Beside her Nanett,
wrapped IN Lafe's waterproof, wa
sobbing wildly and wipIng be
wounded lip. The words that passe
were drowned il the sound OF the Lar
ping waves before they reached tn
ears Of Louis, ct the tiIIer.
'Now, what happened7" asked HI
airy Of Marie. TELL me, and We
clap those rutians into jail, assui
you. How did they get you into thu
boatTs
Marie sobbed out her explanation
but when Hillary gathered. with dif
Guilty from the broken words. stan
mered In French, that she had gor
aboard with Pierre 10 marry him
Quebec. be could hardly believe b
ears.
~And your father knows nothing |
thisT' he Inquired. when she ha
ended.
HE knows nothing, monsieur. Al
monsieur. yOu saved me before, and
!. II was ungratefuL Promise m
" swear TO me. that he shall new
knOw!"
e "And you, Nanefte." continued Ell
.. airy, addressing the weeping giI
10 what have you 20 say, who Iured b,
a. here, knowing thisT'
III did mt kHnVv. FnnuRlnxp@ asrff