The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-02-06

looking about him. He realized then
that, where he was, he was well hid
den and the canOeist must come closer
to see under the bridge. The man
stopped padding. Up and down he
looked. shading his eyes with his hand.
Sir George had strong feeling that
this was scout looking for him. He
determined to find out. He walked
from under the bridge to the middle
of the towpath. He could have sworn
that his movements were without
noise, yet something was overheard or
seen by the man In the canoe, for
looking back Sir George saw he was
gazing directly at him. Quickly the
canoe began to turn about to go back
down the canal.
Sir George had also used his eyes
and he felt confident that the man
was the same dark-haired fellow he
had seen with Roberta that night on
the towpath. Unless he was very
much mistaken he was also the youth
who had fled in the canoe the night
of the party and If he was, then some
where, at some time, Sir George had
known him.
1t was decidedly odd and suspicious
that he should turn up here and at the
first glimpse of Sir George scurry
away. 1t might, of course, be that
finding him here, the fellow was SIM
ply hurrying back to find Roberta
alone. Time would tell. but as time
counted in this game and Sir George
had good stiff walk to the trysting
place, he hurried on.
AS he turned his back on the canoe
and its occupant he knew in flash.
and positively, who the man was. His
minds eye pictured the deck of the
steamer he had taken from Central
America. Jack Navarro! Why had
he been so stupid all this time? That
oily snake would be the very man to
poison girls mind against him.
Halfway between the island and
the construction camp another quaint
little bridge crosses the canal. Here
Ray Browne waited.
Browne sat near the bridge beside
his car smoking cigarette, and rising
every few minutes to survey both tow
path and canal. After each survey
he sank back impatiently, keeping an
eye on the road. Presently he saw
Sir George running along the towpath.
Instantly he started his engine running.
Sir George flung himself into the
car with hardly a word of greeting.
sect on with it, and don't stop to talk.
I'm hot and bothered. / think I've
been followed. There's a fellow in a
canoe who could easily land anywhere
on the bank near the road and inform
a waiting motor"
Ray started the car, and once out
on the road, he began to show what he
knew about speed, and 1t was not until
they had passed several miles in their
journey that Ray asked:
"Safe now, isn't it?"
'NOthing's safe until the workmen
have the money in their pockets. The
bank was held up this morning."
"WhatI
Sir George nodded. "Once around
this point and I'll tell you" But when
they were round the point there was
a motor car, obviously placed so as to
block the road, while out on the canal
bank, looking up and down the tow
path, were three men. Without hesita-
ton Ray, who knew the road we'll,
ran up on the bank, passed around
safely and went on at full speed.
They glanced back and saw the men
running toward the car.
Ray and Sir George looked at each
other.
"That lad I saw in the canoe has
spread the news that I'm headed up
the river. 1t doesn't look healthy
here to me-"
"Say no more"
The road seemed comparatively safe
going, and Ray took curves and cor
ners in a highly exciting manner. Sir
George did nothing to discourage him.
They caught the sound Of a motor
boat on the canal. There was nothing,
Sir George told himself, frightfully
unusual in a motor boat coming along
the canal, but when a shot came from
the motor boat and by the narrowest
margin missed their rear tire, he
judged 1t to be an unusual motor boat.
"ZigzagI' he shouted. "Where do
your guards begin"
Round the next curve"
Luck held-at least long enough to
allow them to rock around the next
curve.
A car was waiting there, with one
of the workmen seated in it. Sir
George waved a hand, and as they
went by, the car followed and Ray
called, ''Don't start anything, Luigi,
but If they do shoot at their tires"
A cheerful "Alla righta!" followed
them.
ITO BE CONTINUED)