The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-06-03
by Victor Rousseau


house came into view.
Father McGrath got down, Mapping
his arms. Lee helped joyce out
They set down the supplies.
an help you In WI these goods :
said the priest, "but wilma come IN
side And dinna We be coming back
to me, Mrs. Anderson, Joyce looked
adorably confused at the address
"and tell me tales ABBOTT your hus-
band because all the men are alike
as we ha' yet to learn, and ye're IN the
| trap o. matreemony moo, the pair O.
ye-tied fast, and there's naethlng
this side o. deith can unfasten the
knot for We.
"Guid-bye and guild luck to ye," he
added, extending hand to each.
But in the middle Of that hand
clasp he stood still, listening. His face
grew grim. Lee listened too. And at
| first he heard only the night wind SUR
ring among the trees; then something
more ominous. yet very faint, coming
out of the distance.
1t died away. The two men watched
each others faces with surmise that
did not find vent In utterance. Per-
haps 1t had been-the wind, the waves
tapping the shore--but now 1t came
again, louder and unmistakable. Lee
dared not raise his eyes to- meet
Joyce's questioning gaze, lest she
should discern the sudden fear
For 1t was the put-putting of Rath-
ways motorboat.
The three might have been figures
of stone as they stood there, listening
to the sound Of the engine. which
grew rapidly louder None OF the
three uttered a word.
Then the boat came into view, near
ing the bank. 1t contained four men.
One Of them was Railway. And even
though Joyce was his inseparably, Lee
waited for the sensation Of an Icy hand
clutching his heart.
Father McGrath spoke. "Tis Rath-
way, and I doot not but he's some
de'il's wurrk afoot. But baud steady,
Anderson. He wilma dare-he wilma
dare"
His voice trailed off into silence.
The engine Of the motorboat had been
shut off. Railway and his men had
stepped out. They were ashore, they
were coming up from the river toward
the house, Pathway little in the lead
Of the others. With his hunched Shout
ders and his great muscular strength,
his look of malignant, hooking fero-
city, he seemed the nearest thing that
Lee had known to incarnate evil.
His face, as he drew near the group,
was twisted in wry, triumphant
smile. He looked mockingly at Lee. He
looked ironically at Father McGrath.
But there was possession anticipated
In the look he cast at Joyce, and Lee
drew the girl to his side, his arms
about her, standing little in front Of
her to protect her from the sight Of
Railway.
Father McGrath stepped forward.
Eye ha' ma business here WI my
friends, James Rathwayl" he cried.
Eye ken vera weel the agreement
we've entered into. So We can take
yersel and your de'il's crew awa'l'
aver" sneered pathway, regarding
the priest with ironic banter. "But
have followed you and this party here
because you were not at the mission.
It's not my plan to stay
"What do you want?" McGrath de-
manded.
my wife," Railway returned,
stretching out his hand to place 1t on
Joyce's shoulder.
With loud cry Joyce leaped back,
staring about her as If she did not
know where she was. Lee let his
clenched fist fall. The situation was
too big for physical retort.
cay my wife, Father McGrath,"
Railway said again. Married TO me
two years ago in Montreal. And there's
the certificate"
He held out document.
Father McGrath's first words before
looking at 1t were characteristic
s~Tis the first time I've heard O. the
mon and ma the wumman keepin' the
marriage lines, James Railway"
Lee was holding Joyce, who swayed
in his arms. "Nhat does he meanf"
he kept repeating. "It's some trick.
Tell them it's trick, Joyce!"
But Joyce seemed neither to hear
nor to understand anything. Mean
while Father McGrath, who had been
examining the paper, handed 1t back
with an ironical bow.
'Mees Pelly that was, was united In
the bonds Of holy matrimony wi Mee--
tair Anderson here these three hours
syne," he said. "Td tax her wuurd
against your own and ca that forrg-
cry"
But the priests face shone deathly
white In the moonlight.
layer" sneered Railway, pointing
a long finger at Joyce. LET her deny
1t II she dare!"
Joyce said not word. She lay In
lees arms as II she had been mortaIly
stricken. A deadly fear began to creep
over Lee over McGrath. Rahfnd