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


t'day, Uncle Asburyf-you know 'er
don't y'uT'
"OP Slime Collins da'ter-the purity
leetle gal vi the brown hair an laugh
In eyes-well. l reckon l do know 'er
No. she hain't passed the gate tday,
nary way-why7"
"Oh-she rid up this way"
did she1-no. she didn't pass" He
hobbled a step closer "Oi Slime hat
Z let loose at last. didn't 'er Dern
shame. though. q had e be bumped
on. Reckon they ain't found the Teller
yit that done itT
The woodsman made no reply. II Is
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 froth on Grayiock'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 an he rode away. hut a boss like
that--hes welcome Z drink the well
dry
The concealed house-boat - the
woodsman pondered the Significance OF
M the possibilities OF II; the horrible
threat OF II as he galloped down the
road.
He glanced at the sun-within half
an hour OF tho tree-tops He had blum
dered-Hopkias had just undercut
him-but maybe the Hight would hold
20 redeem tho blunder. His jaw tight
ened and he gave Graylock the rein,
closely scanning every inch OF the road
and every foot OF riyer-that came
Into view as he passed.
Two miles shove Black rock. just
where a by-rosd. a mere wagon track.
led on 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 I'M they squeezed every mite
OF mlrth out Of II. lie had lost the
trail like hound at fault. had actually
run by it--and hers IL lay. right where
he had crossed II hours before.
lie had been bending low In the sad
die. lie Strengthened and rode eau
tiousiy down the by-road through the
dank aud dismal bottoms Where the
narrow by-road approached Mud haul
he again found what he was looking for
-Brownis hltched to a tree. restless
and prsncing from side 20 side.
Hiding Graylock ia a thleket. he I'M
buttonsd his blouse. loosened his re-
volyer In its holster and erept down
tho mucky bank toward the hiding |
place Of the housebost; crawled close
TO ia lurking place-lt was gone.
lie 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 a shapely small shoe. and the print
Of stylish boot heel.
A spsck OF color caught his eye near
the scar Of the gangplsnk--a spot OF
gold on the dank mud. lie stepped for
ward and bent over H. The next mo-
ment he had snatched up something
and stood gazing at ia yellow or
enid. nattened and faded. In all llkeli-
hood the very one he had found for her
the Friday hefore--lady slipper day.
over the mans nne face spread light
that TRANSPORTED H.
Hut there was task cailing-ten~:
mayhap horrible Taking
out his pocketbook. he put the flower
carefully away; frowned hard down
the river shore.
knowing that the narrow by-road led
through the wooded fats almost 10 Al
pine island. snxlcd sharply and crossed
10 the bluns something more than
mile above Blaek rock. he went hack
to Crpylock. left Brownie prancing and
paving the weeds. and rode cautiously
On down the river.
Just short Of the point where the
narrow Rad angled toward the hlurs.
he again hid Craylock. went on afoot
some distance farther and stole through
he trees 60 the river bank.
Creeping down TO the edxv % the
water. with = caution - great that
rrane wsdlnx q rod or two below failed
10 take the alarm. Jack crawied cat
amonx the limbs % cottonwood that
bad uprpoted and Topped over the
stream and pesred down the sides 81
'he island. lying less than two hundred
yards below
A short distance down the south side.
sime~t completely hidden amouk the /
willows and riding AZ the end u a rop-e ,
hitehst % a tree ca the bank. lar a
small houseooat with skiT tied AZ It's
ide--unmistskahiy the same tiny craft |
that had found eonc>alment at the
head u Mud haul
The ~oodsmsn was Just stealing
hack through the limbs oS the ccstoa-
wood. with the bold intention % creep
Ing further acwn the bank and swim
nlnx out TO the island. when man
came cut Of the snug little cabin. care
fully closed the door. furshieSi While I