The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-04-29

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Center pond where he would find st.
Germans canoe. Then he was to
cross to a big rock in the far edge Of
the pond beyond which he would find
the trail to Kildare. He, Nose, would
take the long trail around the pond.
Shad set out on the much Travelled
trail. He found the waiting canoe
and could see the rock of which Nose
had spoken, about quarter Of mile
away on the far shore. His treasures,
wrapped in his sweater, were now in
the pack basket. This he deposited
in the bow. A skillful paddler, he
pushed through border Of lily-pads
and out into the clear water.
He was well beyond the middle of
the pond. when shot from the shore
behind him shattered the silence of
the deep vale and filled 1t with
echoes. Shad jumped. A bullet had
whizzed by his head and struck the
water beyond him, and ricochetted on
Its surface. It had come from some
point on the shore he had left bit
east of him.
+ A thought flashed through his brain.
He flung his feet over the stern and
dropped into the water, and none too
quickly. Another ball had whizzed
through the air above him, in rush
of sound. Reaching up, he seized the
gunwale, and, keeping the canoe be-
tween him and the direction whence
the shot had come, swan with his
free arm. The shooting ceased. The
man whose rifle had been aimed at
him was no doubt seeking more
favorable point of attack. Shad. with
the skill Of a lad whose cradle, one
may almost say, had been a canoe in
water, made swifter progress than
his enemy had thought possible. He
got beyond the rock and ashore,
seized his pack basket and crept into
the thicket, dragging it beside him.
Now covered. he arose, thrust his
arms through the basket straps and
ran. He was about mile and a half
from Center pond when he came to
the abandoned lumber camp on Nose
st. Germans chart. It stood in
little clearing. His clothes, drained
and warmed by his exercise, were be-
ginning to dry. The first drops Of
cold rain were falling.
Night was coming on. He could
Just dimly see the outlines Of the log
structure. He knew that its roof,
covered with taxpayer, would protect
him. It did. In a moment the air
seemed to be filled with the down.
pour of cold water.
Shad stood by one of the window
embrasures looking out at the storm.
The rain turned to sleet and stopped
suddenly. The clouds passed. The
moon was peering through the tree
tops in the east. Shad had stepped
toward the door ready to go on his
way, when he saw man with rifle
on his shoulder stealthily approach
ing the camp. He seemed man of
prodigious size-bigger than any one
Shad knew The boys heart beat
fast. The stranger crossed a wide
path of moonlight that cut the shad-
ows. AS he did so Shad observed
IudL lis lace was SONChCO With q
handkerchief. The man was enter
ing the doorway when Shad leaped
through window opening in the rear
of the shack and ran.
A conviction had come to the boy
that he was the man who had been
shooting at him. Else why did he
cover his face? Shad reached the
trail and ran like scared deer. He
was soon at his destination a mile or
so farther on. He felt sure, and with
good reason, that he had seen the
murderer of Oscar Perry.