The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-01-31

likely that She would have asked the
advice of total stranger, is it? Es-
pecially in so simple matter as going
home when she felt like it"
Lapelle shrugged his shoulders
again. II quite forgot that you are
lawyer. Mr.. Gwynne," he said, drily.
rs 1t your purpose to hang out your
shingle in the town of LafayetteT
My plans are indefinite"
you could do worse, assure you.
The town is bound to grow. 1t will be
an important town in a very few
years." And SO the subject uppermost
In the minds of both was summarIly
dismissed.
They came at last to the point where
road branched Off to the right.
Follow this road" said Lapelle,
pointing straight ahead. at will take
you into the town. must leave you
here. shall no doubt see you at John
sons inn, in case you intend to stop
there. Good morning, SIR"
He lifted his hat and. touching the
spirited mare with the CAD, rode swift
ly away. A few hundred feet ahead
he overlook his mud-spattered friend
and the two Of them were soon lost to
sight among the trees.
Kenneth fell into a profound cogita-
tion. Evidently Lapelle had waited at
the edge Of the forest for a report of
some description from the farmhouse
belonging to Rachel Carter. In all prob
ability Viola was still at the farm with
her mother. and either she had sent a
message to her lover or had received
one from him. Or was 1t possible La
pelle had dispatched his man to the
farmhouse to ascertain whether the
girl was there, or had been hurried on
into the town by her mother. In any
case, the disgruntled lover was not con-
tent to acknowledge himself thwarted
or even discouraged by the miscarriage
of his plans for the night just ended.
Kenneth found himself wondering If
the incomprehensible Viola would
prove herself to be equally determined
II SO, they would triumph over opposi-
tion and be married, whether or no.
He was conscious Of an astounding,
almost unbelievable desire to stand
with Rachel Carter in her hour of
trouble.
His thoughts went back, as they
had done more than once that morn
ing. to viola's artful account of his
own father. He had felt sorry for
her during and after the recital and
now, with the truth revealed to him,
he was even more concerned than be-
fOre-for he saw unhappiness ahead
of her II she married this fellow La
pelle He went even farther back and
recalled his own caustic opinions of
certain young rakes he had known In
the East, wherein he had invariably
asseverated that II he "had q sister
he would sooner see her dead than
married to that rascal" Well-here
he was with q sister-and what was
he to do about 1t?
Zachariah, observing the dark frown
upon his masters face. and receiving
NO answer to thrice repeated Ques-
tlon. fell silent.
The nrst log cabin they had seen
since entering the wood nestled among
the scrub oaks Of the hill hard by.
The front wall Of the hut was liter
ally covered with the pegged-up skins
Of foxes, raccoons and what were de-
scribed % Kenneth as the hides Of
''linxes," but which. In reality, were
from the catam0unt. A tall. be-
whiskered man, smoking q corncob
pipe. leaned upon the rail fence. re-
garding the strangers with lazy in
terest.
Kenneth drew rein and inquired how
far 1t was to Lafayette.
"Bout two mile an hail." replied
tie man. NY name b Stain. Isaac
Stain. I reckon yen must be Mister
Kenneth Gwynne I heerd you'd be
along this way some time this morn-
in'."
II suppose Mr.. Lapelle Informed E
you that was coming along behind"
said Kenneth, smiling.
"Twuxn't Barry Lapells A. told me.
hain't seen him today"
II met him back along the road. He
was coming this way"
There hain't no other road.
reckon he turned of into the wood
an lowed youIto pass" said Mr.. Stain
slowly.
But he was in great haste to reach
town. He may have passed when you
were not"
HE didn't pass this place unless
he was astraddle of an eagle er some
thin like that" declared the other.
grinning. Il guess he took to the
woods, Mr.. Gwynne, for one reason er
mother, an it must ha' been mighty
good reason, cause from what I know
about Barry Lapelle he allus knows
which way he's goin' to leap long be
fore he leaps He's sorter like paint
er In that way"
ut is very strange" he said, frown-
ing. 1t was suddenly revealed to him
that II Lapelle had tricked him 1t was
because the messenger had brought
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