Evening star., 1922-05-07


my names Gray; inspeceins tim.
Der for Chicago people: sep my
headquarters at Pepperton.
Tarleton nodded indifferently and
gave his name. Gray was tan and
broad Of shoulder. but he did not look
like an open-air man. But he was
we'll spoken, ana Tarleton decided
that he was probably Whist he pre-
tended to be.
'1rs a pity to spoil these woods"
he, remarked. "The trees between
here and Arrow Head are. the finest
I've ever seen."
"WeII, they've got to go some time.
lust at present there's loud cry
for more lumber. and I've got to turn
in 4 favorable report on q few square
miles up here or I'll lose my job
He laughed as though the idea Of
losing his job was not = serious mat
ter. ;..-~.
81 must be off," said Tarfston. after
a further exchange Of comn1onplaces.
$50 must T." said Gray. Then he
added, as though by an affefthought,
"You haven't seen a man ana woman
round here anywhere, have'you?
mo-" Tarleton replied, instantly on
euard. Friends Of yours camping
hereabouts?"
He was throwing his utensils into
the boat and did not turn around. but
he noticed that Gray hesitated before
answering.
"Well, yes. They came down from
the north a while back, but I lost
track of them" 81. :.
"Its a large world when you stop
to think of it, and lots Of room to
get lost in."S -
"No matter" Gray replied careless
ly. Thought if. could locate 'em
I'd say hello" :.
TARLEToN helped him to launch
l. bis canoe and Immediately set OF
in his boat. Gray Indicated that his
purpose was to continue north and
spend the night at q settlement where
his company had set up mill.
Tarleton raised his sail ana idled
about until Gray and his canoe van
ished, and then landed on the farthest
and largest Of the ISLANDS. He had
walked sonly q few rods along the
beach when he came upon evidences
that Boat had recently been drasged
out Of the water ana drawn into q
thickSt tin6et shelving bank. The
footprints of'a man and woman were
clearly indicated, the woman doing
her full share ~ the labef There
had beef many delays in the trans
fer Of the boat, he Judged fSoSu the
tramtlins III the sand where the two
had paused. and in one place the man
had fallen; the imprint Of his body
was plainly outlined IN the soft SAND.
He climbed to q point from which
he could look over the tree tops to
the encompassing waters. Nowhere
was tiiere' any break in the dense
woods to suggest a habitation OF any
kind, Then suddenly he experienced
an uncomfortable feeling that he was
being watched. and turned quickly,
peerins into the, thick undergfowth.
IA. gleam that flashed from log
caught ana heid his attention, and
he took step forward.
81 told you not to follow me. II
Won come 1 step nearer I'll fret"
! Il was the voice fhat had SO star
tled him the previous night, but more
dellberate. more assured. His hand
went to hts cap.
7 beg your pardon. i have no wish
to annoy you." +
aYou can prove that by leaving the
island at once.
She rose to her knees with 1.-THE
movement Of her body and without
for an instant relaxing her vigilance.
She held q: magasine rife to. her
shoulder. its muzsle pointed at his
head. She WIS dressed In khaki and
wore a email wool hat pulled down
low on the back Of her head Her
shirt coliar lay. open. expostns. i
throit "a brown 40 her ds4pIy tanned
He'd. Her brown sys6 exercised 1
6ufi0sia hTHSSffo SEVER dNo6 Afi&