The Coolidge examiner., 1934-04-27

were bis eyes playing tricks. also
An odd warmth lay over his aide.
now II was almost comfortable. e.
Increment hurt him. now. He
moaned from the pain and then. a
few yards beyond. came q ru1ilng
of the surface. Bubbles
Bubbles. coming upward from deep
down.
stay back !" he EaSped over his
shoulder and the sounds Of the pad
die ceased.
lie waited an interval for breath.
The sun broke through the clouds
again Somehow. IS llgh, seemed
feeble. Perhaps his sight was DIM
ming. Nevertheless. he let him
self under water and stared about
and saw what he saw.
speech was impossible when be
rose that time. lie scarcely had
strength 20 beckon Kate forward
II seemed that she would never set
across that intervening strip Of
water: seemed SIS II be gould not
stay aaoai another fractional sec
ond.
But be aid. His fnEers found the
gunwRle and curied over H. With
great effort be raised his other
hand and took hold and leaned his
forehead against bis wrists. breath
quick and shallow. not caring a
great deal. now. that what strength
remained IN bis body seemed 20
BE pouring into the lake through bis
side.
Get In" the girl said husklly.
Here Lc, me help you"
NO he tried 10 say s,outly. but
the words came only in a whisper.
Please" be added. Let me .
just rest moment"
That was better. Resting was
sweet but the fingers of one hand
wanted 10 let 30. lie shut his teeth
as be fought 10 retain a hold on
consciousness. His sob was not
done He had one more obligation
10 discharge
where be began. without llfi-
lng bis face. where !" What
was Il be had wanted 10 say1 What
had prompted a question: q.
where's FranxT- he finished duly.
-FranEf Hes hes gone.
You saw. lie dldnt come up.
what's wrong With youf'-sharply.
What's happenedT"
The lovely iimbre OF her voice
shot through his veins like a slim.
ulailng drug. lie raised bis face
TO look into hers Her eyes. those
clear. widely set. blue eyes which
bad been bandaged when he looked
al her closely before. set up a
strength within him which gathered
wit. marshaied his resources. gave
him strength aud clarity OF mind.
I'm all right. he mu,tered.
Tired What I started 10
ask was. where's the brief easef"
That was the thing be had left
go dol To-day was Wednesday. To
morrow az four the contents OF that
portfolio must be In MacDonald's
hands or all that he had tried 10
do for old Jim Flynn would be az
nothing.
1T must be here" the girl said.
lie had II In the store. Rut that's
no matter now. ARE you Are
you all rlght7"
Right" he answered. bur his
voice was thick despite the com.
parailye ease with which his mind
functioned for the moment
Get In. then. oh. this Is terrible
And we must hurry back to head
quarters They'n have found Tim
and will be searching the whole
country for u.s.
Yes" he muttered and tried 10
smile. They'd be searching. well
enough They'd been on his trail for
long. now. But he must finish his
JOB before more strength drained
from his body.
~Ill rest here" he said. Paddle
into the shadows | might !.
upset you. !"
Kate picked up the paddle and
headed for the little island. Steve
did not look up again. but be knew
that the girls eyes were on him
much OF the time. His feet trailed
helplessly behind His side began
to throb aud sting. He felt bottom
and floundered 10 a stand. clinging
dizzily to the canoe so he would not
fall
should be In here" he num-
bled. reaching uncertainty for
pack-sack- We've got to know
now"
He loosed the straps OF the pack.
'Tbere." He pulled back the
flap. exposing the duff1e within.
There II is" He drew out the
light leather case as II It were
great weight His hands were cold.
fingers like sticks OF wood. He tried
to open 1t and failed.
You better" he said. He couldn't
let her know that he was hurt
He'd worked for her. fought for
her; she was dependent on him.
now. II she knew that everything