Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-01-15
THE FREE TRADERS

whispered c0llOQuy, at the end of
which, turning away without another
word to Lee, they proceeded to set
up their camp at little distance.
Lee turned to the girl, who had
stood silent spectator of the scene.
81 ought to have explained, per-
haps," he said. "You recognized that
man who insulted you last night. A
1 little later I happened to overhear the
pair of them speaking of plan they
had formed for intercepting you to-
night. / didn't want to alarm you, In
case they failed to appear. but tt.at is
why I proposed to camp beside you.
think they are INSCRIPTIONS custom
ers, and you've probably reached the
same decision after the scene that has
just taken place"
THANK you, but assure you that
am quite capable of protecting my.
SELF" answered the girl, and Lee saw
her fingers stray toward service
size revolver holster at her belt.
"Of course don't want to intrude,
said Lee. "But as long as these men
are here, think 1 ought to remain
She took step or two toward him
looking at him fixedly. "Who an6
what are your she demanded with
quivering lips. "How am to know
that you are not those mems friend
that this is not all part of an arranged
plan?"
81 am not a friend, or associate Of
-
those men," answered Lee Indignantly
81 never saw either of them until one
Of them insulted you in the hotel yes
terday evening. / know that they are
planning to do you some HARM"
"Well, and-you?" she asked, trying
to keep her voice steady.
"You suspect me?"
ST don't know. I trust nobody.
ask you why you are here"
my object in camping here beside
you tonight is simply to protect you,
Lee equivocated.
She answered, with an effort a
irony "And my answer to you is tina
/ do not need protection, but that Thu
country is free for all-for those mel
and for you"
She went back into her tent, leav
ing Lee stupef1ed, The pair were al
ready seated in front Of their fire
munching slabs Of bread and raw
bacon. They had been watching LIE,
and the girl furtively throughout tn,
interview. Lee wondered whether tn,
girls demeanor had given them an.
inkling of its termination. He hat
never felt so foolish.
If they persuaded her that the,
were more to be trusted, the situation
would be serious one for her. Lee
position was certainly far more EN-
barrassing than he had anticipated
1t was almost as If the girl had de
cided to throw in her lot with the pal
Of Free Trader agents. He had no
succeeded in convincing her that thei
motives were evil, perhaps because b
had not ventured to voice his real sus
picions of them to her. And he ha
only succeeded in arOusing her hos
tility.
And, looking at the matter in
common-sense light, Lee realized tina
he had acted wrongly. He should hav
warned her on his first arrival. FL
could not blame her for refusing t
accept his word.
But what was at the bottom of he
evident fear of him?
The only thing left for him to d
was to try to protect her in spite O
herself
The friendly forest had student
grown hateful and alien. And the
Lee knew what the trouble was.
was the submerged memories of Els
telle She meant nothing to him nov
less than nothing, and yet-well, tina
had been years ago, and he had gon
through all that. Still, the imprin
was there
Suddenly, as on the night before, h
was startled by the low sound Q
voices. Peering across the grass, h
could just distinguish the shadow
outlines of two figures against tn
mems fire.
Very deliberately Lee drew his auto
matte from his belt. He had no doub
that Pierre and Shorty were plannin
mischief; most probably they mean
to attack him as preliminary to over
powering the girl.
And he lay watching them an
grimly waiting for their stealthy onse
He felt more than a match for the PAL
Of them.
Minutes went by, however The PAL
seemed an unconscionable time mal
ing their arrangements, and all tn
while the discussion, which was jus
audible without being ineligible, wen
on. Lee wondered how long he ha
been lying there. It was too dark t
see his watch. He wondered why the
Z had not waited till morning, whe
there would be better chance 0
taking him unawares.
At last the black shadows separated
: i q