Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1934-06-08
CHAPTER IX-continued

AAo OAu 4ellOW ueScrlDeQ the smoke
and country as best he could. He
brought chair for her to sit in be-
cause she would not leave the door
way. He tried to quiet her when she
became frantic as he described the
way the smoke rolled higher and
spread across the upper end Of the
lake.
Are you telling me the truth, TimT'
she asked repeatedly and the man
swore that he was.
"Oh, for eyes!" she cried. "If I'd
stayed in Chicago the bandage was to
have been taken Off tomorrow. The
doctor insisted must not take It off
while was away from him. So you
must tell me, Tim, and tell every
thing. I'm depending on you, sol"
After time, as her agitation only
increased, Tim attempted to take her
mind at least partially from the fire.
He talked of her errand, of the saliva.
ton for the Job that requirement of
the Laird's timber meant.
"Oh, the brief casew she said.
where is It? Mac said he would put
It in the safe."
"And we will, too, Katie!"
Tim put the money away and went
on talking, trying to keep her inter-
ested in things of more reassuring
nature than the fire.
At noon they were still In the door
way of the store, with Kate showing
signs Of the physical strain she was
under.
Better come to my shanty md lay
down a WHILE" the man said solicit
tously.
She protested at first but Tim con-
tinued toSinsist that she rest and final
ly his way prevailed. Slowly he led
her across to his one-room cabin,
twenty rods from the store. She lay
down on his bed and turned her
bandaged face toward the wall. He
stood there watching as long sobs COM
menced to rack her body and then
busted himself preparing a lunch.
While he puttered about his stove a
man emerged from the timber on the
opposite side of the lake and stood
looking across the neck of water to-
wards the buildings. His brows were
gathered and he waited as one will
whose first objective is to be certain
that when he moves it will be in the
proper direction.
After she had rested and eaten,
Kate Flynn sat on Tins doorstep and
once more the old fellow functioned
as eyes for her.
"Hotter n hot but she don't spread.
That means tn backire's holdin'," he
said over and over.
Across the lake the man had ceased
his prolonged smoking. He walked
slowly back and forth behind the
screening bushes and impatience rode
him severely.
Afternoon waned and once he cursed
softly. He had gone further In his
pacing, that time, and when he halted
and looked across the water Tim Todd's
shanty was hidden from him by the
store building. Then he nodded sharp
~ In decision and fastened through
the brush to where canoe and pack
were cached. He launched and took
the few strokes necessary to send him
across the intervening water.
Then, very cautiously, looking all
about and with one long stare up the
lake toward where all the available
man power Of Goodbye battled the
flames he had set, ran across the sand
toward the store.
The lowering sun was reflected
dazzingly from windows in the side
Of the building. He approached one,
put his face close and stared within.
The place was empty and he smiled.
This was safe way; to use the door
would be at the risk of revealing him
self to Tim. Slowly he showed the
window open, careful to make no
sound, placed his hands on the sill and
vaulted within. A moment later he
was passing quickly around the end
Of the counter and dropping to his
knees before the safe.
Tim Todd had been talking con-
stantly to Kate for the last half hour.
The girl chung tightly to his gnarled
hand.
Looks better all tn time, Katie" he
insisted. "I'd like to bet they stopped
her at Otter creek, though how they'd
do It in slash like that md on day
like this"
he broke short as his gaze CHANGED
to wander to the store. Through a
window on the near side he saw q
man clambering through q window in
the otherl
'I'n be dustedl' he muttered, drop
ping the girls hand and rising. "How
come that-a-way1'
what, Tim7 What's happenedr
Kate rose. freshly alarmed at his
tone.
"Just somebody at tn store, Katie.
Likely they'll need somethin'. I'll skip
over"
He did not skip. He hobbled %
rapidly a. he could along the path
way, his old heart humping In alarm.
twenty-five thousand dollars reposed
In the old cheese-box Of q safe and
some man had Just entered the build
ing with stealth.
He tintood nm the atera and .noisoH