Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-04-16


sand, only tilted little as Joyce
struggled.
"Jim, what does 1t mean? You
swore-you swore you'd leave her in
the hut" screamed Estelle frantically.
Railway swore at her. She ran at
him like a fury, and he dealt her a
blow in the face that struck her to
the ground.
She got up dazed, staggered toward
him, and stood still as the bright
spire Of light burst upward from the
burning hut. At the same instant a
single pistol shot came from the end
of the promontory, followed by a sud
den cutlery.
"Hold that d-n she-wolf for a mo-
ment, Shorty" said Railway, coolly;
and, as Shorty threw himself upon
Estelle, who had begun to scream
frantically again, he turned aside,
found the bag Of gold, and, lifting it
in his arms, staggered to the boat,
and, with a migAty heave, raised it
over the gunwale and placed it in the
bottom.
With a mighty heave of his Shout
ders he pushed the motor boat into
the water.
The shouting on the promontory
broke into yell. Figures came run
ming toward them; then, at Estelles
screams, broke and doubled back
again. Only Railway had seen-not
Shorty, gasping as he wrestled with
EStelle.
"W-what'll I do with herr" Shorty
gasped.
Pathway regarded the pair compla-
Gently. Everything was his; one in
slant now and every care would have
fallen from his shoulders. And there
was that d-n woman screaming!
Shorty dealt Estelle a blow that
sent her staggering back. He swung
around to Railway.
"Good bye, Shorty" said Railway
softly, and shot him through the head.
The body tottered and dropped at
Estelle's feet. Railway leaped into
the boat, pushing it from the shore.
As Estelle ran into the water he felled
her with an oar.
Next moment he was at the engine,
and the put-put began. The boat shot
out into the lake. The rattle of the
motor was like music in Railways
ears. He held the craft steady with
out difficulty against Joyce's incessant
efforts to overturn it. Seeing that she
had too much leeway, he stopped and
frightened the rope that bound her to
the seat.
On the margin Of the lake EsteIle
stood with arms raised to the bright
ening sky, screaming as if she were de-
mented. Suddenly she turned and dis
appeared among the reeds that fringed
the Shore
Behind the promontory the hut was
going up in a vast sheet Of flame.
Railway chuckIed. All his fears
had disappeared forever. He looked
at Joyce, who was now lying quiet in
the bottom of the boat He looked at
the gold. The girl and the goldl He
said that over and over Already he
was far out upon the breast of the
lake, and the promontory was dwind-
ling behind him.
He looked at the drum of gasoline
IN the bow, tried to lift it, and assured
himself that it was full He smiled.
Nothing could thwart his plans. He
bent over Joyce.
Its all ended, dearie," he said.
"Soon as you nod to show you're
willing to work with me, I'll unfasten
you"
Joyce did not nod, and he continued:
"You know I don't want to hurt you,
my dear. Just nod to show you won't
try to upset the boat, and Til set you
Free
Joyce took no notice Railway took
the gag out of her mouth. But,
though he had been prepared for an
outburst of invective, such as he
would have expected from Estelle, she
did not utter a word.
Railway knew the navigation of
every river and stream within a radius
Of a hundred miles. AS his motor
boat shot down the short arm Of the
lake the promontory disappeared from
view. And it seemed to him that
long chapter in his life was closed
forever.
He spoke to Joyce again, and per-
haps a little element of unselfishness
in the man made his appeal pathetic:
"Joyce, if you'll let me unfaster you
and not try to upset the boat, II
promise you I'll not harm you or try
to touch you-not till you want me TO.
But Joyce made no response, and
Railway. perplexed, loosened her
bonds sufficiently to protect her from
injury to the circulation, without en-
abling her to take any rash action
Unexpectedly. She took no advan-
tage of this, but lay with her blazing