Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1924-03-27

| uOH u!
"OP Slime Collins da'ter-the purity
leetle gal wi the brown hair an laugh
In eyes-weIl. reckon do know 'er.
No. she hain't passed the gate t'day,
nary way--whyf"
"Oh--she rid up this way"
ibid she?-no, she didn't pass" He
hobbled a step closer. "Ol Slime ha,
4 let loose al last, didn't 'ef Dern
shame. though, e had Z be bumped
on. Reckon they amt found the Teller
yit that done IT."
The woodsman made no reply. II IL
even doubtful II he heard. His mind
was flying fast from point to point of
every possibility that lay between
Black rock and the tollgate. He washed
the frotb or Graylock's nose; frightened
the saddle girth; paid his toll and
mounted.
Thanks rr the drink. Uncle As
bury"
II don't make no business o. water
In hosses." the old man called after
him AS he rode away, but a boss like
that-he's welcome L drink the well
dry"
The concealed house-boat - the
| wOodsman pondered the significance of
1t; the possibilities Of II; the horrible
threat OF II as he galloped down the
| road.
He glanced mt the sun-wlthln half
an hour Of the tree-tops. He had blum
dered-Hopkins had just undercni
hlm-but maybe the light would hold
TO redeem the blunder. His Jaw tight
ened and he gave .Graylock the rein.
closely scanning every inch OF the road
and every foot Of river--that came
Into view as he passed.
Two miles above Black rock. just
where by-road, a mere wagon track,
led of across the wooded bottoms. he
found what he was looking fora mass
Of horse tracks, with a print or two Of
a boot heel that he knew.
His lips twisted into hard grin ;
frightened till they squeezed every mite
of mirth out of 10. He had lost the
trail like a hound at fault. had actually
run by it-and here II lay. right where
he had crossed II hours before.
He mad been bending low In the sad
die. He Strengthened and rode eau
tiously down the by.road through the
dank and dismal bottoms. Where the
narrow by-road approached Mud haul
he again found what he was looking for
Brownie hitched TO a tree. restless
and prancing from side to side.
Hiding Graylock In a thicket. he I'M
buttoned his blouse, loosened his re
volver In Its holster and crept down
the mucky bank, toward the hiding
place of the houseboat; crawled close
to its lurking place--lt was gone.
He came out of the bushes and found
where the gangplank had freshly
Scared the mud: searched the shore
for footprints; found them-the marks
OF shapely small shoe. aud the print
OF stylish boot heel.
speck of color caught his eye near
the scar of the gangplank--a spot OF
gold ON the dank mud. He stepped for
ward and bent over II. The next mo-
ment he had snatched up something
and stood gazing nj TIA yellow or
child. fattened and faded. In all likeli-
hood the very one he had found for her
the Friday before-lady slipper day
Over the mans fine face spread u light
that TRANSPORTED IL.
but there was u task calling-tense !,
inslstent; mayhap horrible. Taking
out his pocketbook, he put the flower
aar Pal mn .l
the river shore.
Knowing that the narrow by.road led
through the wooded flats almost to Al.
pine Island, angled sharply aud crossed
to the biuffs something more than a
mile above Black rock. he went back
TO Graylock. left Brownie prancing and
paving the weeds, and rode cautiously
on down the river.
Just short of the point where the
narrow road angled toward the bIuffs.
he again hid Graylock. went on afoot
some distance farther and stole through
the trees to the river hank.
Creeping down To the edge of the
water. with caution so great that
crane wadlng rod ar two below failed
20 take the alarm. Jack crawled out
among the limbs of a cottonwood that
had uprooted and topped over the
stream and peered down the sides of
the island. lying less than two hundred
yards below.
A short distance down the south side.
almost completely hidden among the
willows and riding at the end OF rope
hltfhed To tree on the bank. lay a
small houseboat with skin tied at Its
Enthusiastically the same tiny craft
that had found concealment at the
head OF Mud haul
The woodsman was lust stealing
back through the limbs Of the cotton
wood. with the bold intention of creep
ing farther down the hank and swim.
ming out 10 the island. when q man
came out ot the snug little cabin. care
fully closed the door. fumbied . while
as n locking u and stood on the diminu.
tive forward deck looking gusrdediy
about.
There was no installing the somber
frock coat. neck stock and high hat
Il was Caleb Hopkins A moment he
stood listening at the door: glanced
around again In every direction and
ahmed over the AID, .,f tha houSaf,oaf