The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1924-04-24

on the rear door equally useless; rs
tened a moment to the quick restless
steps inside; crawled under the hand
rail to the bank and, with every pre-
caution known to woodcraft 10 hide
his trail, recrOssed the island TO the
skin.
He showed the skin into the water,
rOwed w around the head OF the
island, down the south channel and
back to the hOuse-bOat. Fastening the
skin to the rail, he unhitched the rope
from the willow, on the bank; sprang
lightly TO the forward deck. being
careful 10 keep out Of range Of the
creylce between the door and jamb;
picked up one Of the two light poles
with which such craft are propelled;
pushed on; suffered the snug little
vessel 70 catch the drift Of the cur
rent and, being careful TO keep well
within the shadow OF the willows, let
IL drift down the channel.
Far down toward the lower point OF
the island a narrow pocket gashed
lulO lut ldlutI rlttP PAdtf
well known 10 the woodsman. Care
fully Withdrawing the boat from the
current as he approached, he deftly
turned the PROV; poled the little yes
sci into the slack water Of the pocket
and far up under the overhanging
vines and branches. where ii would
likely escape anything short OF the
very closest scrutiny. either from land
or water; hitched II securely to
tree on the bank; went back to the
deck and stood listening.
The girl inside the cabin had re-
peatediy wrenched at the doors as the
vessel drifted down the channel. Sew
eral times she had called the name Of
Hopkins. begging him TO release her.
doubtless believing 1t was he that set
the boat adrift. To all this the woods
man had returned no answer.
She must have known when the boat
stopped. must have heard the scrape
Of the limbs and vines as II was poled
up into the pocket. for there followed
an Interval of silence. He could not
resist the longing to steal once more
TO the narrow crevice where the bar
OF candle-light escaped He brought
his eye close; peeped within.
She was standing near the middle
Of the floor. listening intently and APP
parently In deep thought. AS he
watched. he saw a sudden light leap
TO her face and wake the wonder OF
her eyes. She crossed the floor; came
close 10 the door and. with the eau
ton OF a woodcraft almost as fine as
his own. softly called:
Jack
II took the utter sum OF the mans
resolution to keep still He watched
the wonder OF her eyes transform to
disappointment and despair; watched
her stand clasping and unclasping the
slim fingers OF her shapely small
hands.
One consideration alone restrained
him from beating TO fragments the dis
abled paddock and setting her free
right In that stout cabin, with it's
doors secured by jammed locks that
could not be opened without breaking,
securely hidden at the end OF COW
cred trail. was the safest place in the
Flatwoods for her just then. There
would be hard faces and quick fingers
In the red-roofed cottage that night.
But even so. It was the most diff
cult thing the big woodsman had ever
tried to do In his life TO turn away
from that door and go back to the
skin.
With set and serious face he rowed
up the channel. around the head Of
he island, across to the mainland and
stepped ashore; dropped
10Th oars into the river; set the boat
drift; stood a moment watching II
Loaf away and. with extraordinary
,alns to hide his trail. hurried back to
iraylock.
CHAPTER XVIII