The Crittenden press., 1920-07-13
The WHITE CANOE
ey DORA NOLAN.


Now the tradition runs that Snow.
bird. an Indian maiden. was murdered
close by the shores Of the river. In
the moonlight. then set adrift In her
own canoe. long before the eye OF
white man FIRST fell on the Segatchle.
Ever since her ghost has appeared.
from time 10 time. TO mortal eyes;
80 goes the legend. And always has
the coming foretold the sudden aud
violent departure OF another soul.
Cecil Horton was nve when she
spent her first summer on the Sc
gntchis; she had passed her twentieth
birthday when the events here re
corded took place.
u was the tenIh of September The
Horizons were ~ return TO the city
on the fifteenth, Cecil was planning
a dance for The evening OF the twelfth.
the last OF n series In the Horton boat
house, Dick Harvey sat beside her on
the boathOus,~ steps.
Evidently the girls thoughts were
not bearing frul, FOR she turned to
her companion. "Oh. Dick" she
pleaded. ~" Try and think up some.
thing unique for the feature NJ my
last dance something exciting: sone.
thing thrilling"
DICK s"'scd hopefully upon his
opportunity You might announce
our engagement" Hut the hopeful.
ness died a-hornlng as he gllmpscd
the quick frown above his compan.
Ions eyes aud he continued, In tragic
moroseness, "Or We might stage
murder; I'd be glad to help you out
In that"
II have H. Dick" she CALCULATED
"the white canoe"
Followed nearly nm hour ~ eNpln
nations, plrndlngs and overriding of
Dicks objections by Cecil. and finally
q reluctant consent from Dick. Hut
ne made II conditional. "Now. re-.
member" he stipulated. mot single
dahc. with that Perrone crook while
Tn away pulling the fudcuway Indian
mai,icn sun"
OF course, Dick: I promise hut
you've un hu' ness 10 speak of him
that wa, Jus' because you don't know
every bit of hts past history. Why do
your"
"Shifiy eyes" was Dicks lnconlc re-
'oindcr
The night Of the dance cune and.
all too soon for Dick nj least. cam.
eleven o'clock. the time agreed upon
for him TO absent himself aud take
up the spectacular role Of "SnowhIrd."
The fun moon carried out n, par'
OF the program. Al half after eleven
-Cetti pleading fatigue. seated herself
by the broad rivrr.fr doorway. pre.
pared to jump up ~ any instant and
announce TO the guests. with becoming
dramatic effect. that the Indian maiden
was abroad In her canoe.
But she waited fruItlessly. The
''''''' PeFS'hs Hb NIHt canoe
appeared. Midnight. and yet nothing
stirred on the broad bosom Of the
Seraichie. Disappointed. q little angry.
Cecil Yielded at last to the pleading
Of the fascinating Prrrone md danced
three times In Succession with him.
Dick Harvey did not appear again
that night and next morning. when he
came over To the Horton place, he gave
most unsatisfactory answers 10 Cecirs
peremptory questions Also he wore
an inscrufnhle self.satlsHed expression
that enrnged the Young lady. She
let him know H. Vet Dick went on
whist,ing. which affected Miss Hor.
ton 10 extremely little that at mid.
night she was stlll awake.
Suddenly. ns her abstrncted gnze
turned 10 the farther shore. n shiver
ran through Cecll's frame. From on,
the shadows of the forested bank
g''ded 'cnuous. r'my something that
while she strained her eyes In awe.
took Clearly. Individually. ns II crossed
the pathway ~ the moon, the form OF
q white canoe. silently padded hy
girlish figure In white. crowned by
snowy feathers.
Cecil started from her seat, She
would call some member of the sleep.
ing household to witness this awesome
sight.
Then from the balcony roof out.
side. close by her. came n whisper. I,
was Dick Ilaryey's voice.
''There's u burglar inside. Cecil The
officers have gone In, Keep still don't
move, II he opens your door I can
see him from here In this Ilgh,.
Sh.sh. sh"
Slowly. without sound. the door
opened. A dark figure was vaguely
outlined on the threshold. Even In
the senl.darkncss II looked strangely
familiar 10 Cecil. From the window
Dick Harvey's stacatto baritone
snapped That's far enough, you-
stand stilll"
There was CLINT ~ steel as the In.
iruder flung back, "Iiold up your
hands aud keep"
In the open window a shot flashed
and roarcd. by the door there was
q crumpled hemp on the floor.
"Dobson, that detective friend OF
mine" Dick explained to Cecil af,er
the shock of the tragedy Ind softcned, |
wired me to keep tab on Perrone IN /
they could get here. That's what lep,
me away Inst night. Tonight we
followed him here. He was wanted
for burglary md murder Clcnr had. |
I hnd 10 sLoos. But It's a rotten thing /
TO kill your rival"
"Rfva,1 on. Dick"
Ceril hel'cyes the legend rnn true
Dick however. insists that Snowhird .
WIS drrnm mn'den. They often
argue nl,o,t N