The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-01-26
THE SKYLINE
OF SPRUCE
BY EDISON MARSHALL
Copyright. 1899. Little. Brown & Company

loved sho would not yet yield 10
the dreadful truth, yet even now ter
ror was clutching at her throat.
strangiing her: and the cold drops
were beading her brow. stu the
dark drama of tho fireSidc continued
before her eyes.
Chan suddenly turned 20 Nelson.
evidently imbued with Rays fervor
what do you think OF that. old
mann" he asked menacingiy. Thus
Chan. too. had escaped from Nell
sons dominance. plainly Ray was hts
idol now. II was also plain that no
recognized attributes OF mercy and
decency In hts griKxled leader that
might interfere With his own and his
companions plans. whats worry
Ing me-whcthor you're goin' TO join
In on the sport when We catch the
weaSeli-
SPORT The word was more ter
rible 90 Beatrice than the vilest oath
he had used 90 emphasize H. She
crouched. shlveriug. Watching In
tcntly. she saw Ray look up. too.
waiting for the reply: but her father,
sensing his lost dominance. bowed his
head.
You could hardly expect me 20 let
him off easy--seetng what he did to
my daughter--"
What he done 10 your daughter
Amt ALL don't care ~ he treated
her like queen OF the realm all the
time" Ray Interrupted harrhly
THAT makes no difference 20 neither
me nor Chan. The main thing is
he brought US out here. away from
the elaim--and gave us months OF
tho worst hell ever hope 10 spend.
l guess you aint forgotten what
Chan found out In snowy Gnleh--
that the claims reeoried--ln old III
rams name. This Darby's got let
ter In his pocket from Hiram's
brother that would stand In any
court We've got 60 &c, that first.
II Darby was an angel ia mash him
under my heel Just the same: we've
gone too far 60 start crawfishing.
Just LET me see him tied up In front
OF me-
AftAtANN AtA AaA " " AtNAN
more. she had her answer only IN
Ben's continued concealment lay the
least hope OF his salvation Thea.
wolves about tire IRE meant what
they said But already her plans
were shaping: and now she saw tho
light.
In tho kyack % venison lay her
own and her lovers safety: II con-
tanned enough nutritious food 20 sus-
tain them until the fall rains could
swell the Yuxa and enable them 10
escape down 90 tho Indian eneamp-
ment. Her mind was swift and KEEN
as never before: swiftly mhe perfected
the las, detail OF her plan. Tho
canoe. due 10 Ben's foresight. was
securely hidden IN a maze Of tail
reeds on the lake shore: they were
however. was almost certain to be
discovered In the next days search.
They must make their escape to-
night.
Ben. tho terribly weakened. would
hc able 20 walk q short distance with
her help. They could slip Into the
deepest forest. concraiinR them selves
IN she cov~rts until the THREE men
had given up the search and gone
away. She would take their robes
and blankets 20 keep them warm. a
campfire would of course reveal their
hiding place. The work could easily
be accomplished In the midnight
shadows: deiivcrancc. salvation. life
itself depended on the tide OF fate In
the next few hours
She intended 70 steal the kyack Of
dried meat without which Ben and
herself could not live She crept bark
further into the underbrush: then
waited. scarcely breathing. while the
fire died down. Already the three
men were preparing 10 40 20 their
hunks Chan had already laid down:
her father was removing his coat and
boots Ray. however. stiii sat In the
freight.
The moments passed. Would he
never rise and got The fire. how
ever. was dying: ist circle Of ruddy
light ever drew inward. The kyack
was quite In the shadow now. yet
she dared not attempt It's theft until
the three men were asleep. She
waited. thrilled with excitement.
Chan and Nelson were seemingly
asleep. and now Ray was knocking
the ashes from his pipe. He yawned.
stretching wide his arms: then. as ~
held by some Intriguing thought. sat
almost mo'ioniess. gazing into the
craving Goals Presently Beatrice
heard him curse. softly. In tho
shadows
He got up. and removing HIS outer