Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1934-05-11
disaster, but was turned crosswIse Of

but he put into the paddle every energy
of his splendid body. The bow re-
sponded, swinging slowly at first.
swinging faster, threatening by that
spin to bash the one rock with even q
greater vigor than the current alone
could have impelled. But he won. Won
by inches. He Strengthened out,
slipped past and was in safe water.
At the foot of the rapid big eddy
swirled monotonously. AS Franz
came abreast the eddy, his jaw
dropped because along It's outer edge,
beside half-submerged log, fioated
heavily listed. meteorological canoe.
He altered his course and went
close, saw the shattered bottom where
rock had impaled the water-weight-
ed craft, observed the Polaris star
branded on the bow and let a long
breath slip through his lips.
"Sor he said and laughed. some
what uncertainty. $50, Young Jim
Flynn, or whoever-you-are! Old TWEEN
ty-Mile got you, eh7 You, and your
id option!"
Meanwhile, along the trail that led
through the timber out to the Shoe
string road, Steve Drake covered tho
miles at woodsman's swift pace. At
dawn he entered Shoestring and break
tasted. Inquiry developed no news
of Franz. He had moment Of won
der, Of doubt If the other had met
death in the rapid But he
shrugged that off. To prevent his ar
rival here Franz would have shot him
down without conjunction, concerned
only with escaping suspicion for such
an act.
Later, he fingered in the registers
Office until he saw that the entry had
been properly made and then, draw
ing the first really long breath it
seemed he had enjoyed since he first
stepped into the store at Goodbye
and picked up the gage hurled by Old
Jim Flynu's enemies he walked down
to the telegraph Office. Franz, thwarted,
might try for vengeance, now, but all
he could do would be to harm Steve
brakes body, and that was trifling
consideration.
"Sleep well?" LaTane asked that
morning.
"No,"-shortly.
II heard you rolling around. A boy
In your shape, who's done to himself
and his father what you have done,
shouldn't expect to sleep very"
"For the love of God, LaFane,
won't you please let up?"
Honest appeal was In both voice and
gesture. Tears showed in his eyes
and his breath caught. Slowly his
hands which had been wide spread
dropped to his sides, his head hung
and he turned away.
For an interval the older man
watched him. Then he walked close.
He put hand on the boys shoulder
and gripped it tightly.
Look at me, son." he said and his
tone was most gentle. "Look at
me. That's right And listen to
this: 1t was all you had left, your
sense of the decent thing. It almost
got away but you hung to 1t. You've
got 1t, now: it's yours; for keeps. If
you hate me, I'm sorry. But you
won't have much longer to endure
me. That's promise. AS soon as the
last shake is gone, we 60. The Job
waiting is not one for man who isn't
steady as rock!"
Young Jim stared at him and his lip
twisted as he fought back emotion.
II don't hate you," he said quietly.
"rm only hating myself the
myself that was!"
Busily, then, the other began dump
ing the contents Of the grub sack on
the rock. He smiled serenely as he
cooked that hearty breakfast.
Steve Drake wrote his telegram to
Kate Flynn with great care. He told
all that had happened as briefly as
was possible but re-read it carefully
to be certain that no word important
to the proposed transaction had been
omitted
His last line was:
"This deal is only way out. Money
must be in MacDonald's hands Thurs-
day at four p. M"
To the OPERATOR he said: "Send
that. And I'll wait right here until
an answer comes"
Butter would not melt in Franz's
mouth at times, McNally had said.
And this day was one Of those occa-
sions. He stood on high point be-
side the Laird and showed him where
he had found Steve Brakes canoe
He spoke in hushed tone as one
does of tragedy. He led the old man
slowly to where the wrecked craft
was beached and there Macdonald
stood with barred head while tears
ran down his wrinkled cheeks.
"Oh, guide lad he was! A fine,
guide lad. ND grand angler. :.
Why Why'd he chance tn
rapidY
Franz debated with himself craftily.
"The queer part Of 1t all, Mr.. Mac
Donald, is that the fellow was not
Young Jim Flynn. The real Young
Jim was drunk over on Moose lake
whom this follow shOwod IN opd