Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1934-05-11
CHAPTER vI-Continued
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-12-
"Never mind. Just try to get any
evidence on me for anything, now,
and see how far you'll get Just be-
cause you've gotten hold of an option
don't think you'll pulled Polaris up by
it's boot-straps! Not yet, you"
He broke short as the Laird opened
the door, bearing in both hands the
precious Jug.
Steve thought for moment that
Franz was only awaiting chance to
20 on and unmask him before the
Scot and he was prepared to meet any
such move with an admission of the
truth. The option was made out to
the company, to no individual, and he
would claim rightful possession Of it
no matter what came.
But Franz said no more and Drake
put this down to the others knowl-
edge of Macdonald, his whlms and
moods. Likely Franz did not dare, in
this mellow moment WELD the club he
held.
They drank together and Steve
folded the document, slipping it into
his breast pocket.
"The time Is none too long now, Mr..
Macdonald" he said, bound to leave
before any complications arose. I'LL
have to be on my way, now. This
means lot Of quick work in Chicago"
"Ay. Seven days, James. f. md
'twus grand troot, a grand, bonny
troot."
The old man did not rise, as Steve
picked UP his hat.
It'll see you, trust, on the seventh
day, sir. Ny thanks for your hos
pitality."
With no more farewell, except curt
nod to Franz, he left them and strobe
down to the river.
The option in his pocket was
warm, living weight against his breast,
charge to keep, trust to guard.
Where his own safety was concerned
he would have laughed at any menace
Franz might present, but more than
his personal safety was at stake, now.
He bore the hopes Of Old Jim Flynn
in his pocket and until he had 1t safe
~ recorded in public files he could not
rest.
His canoe was waiting, having been
brought downstream from where he
had fished by one Of the Laird's In
dams, and as he launched for the first
stage of the Journey he had flash of
pursuer, ruthless and determined.
Drake was unarmed he we'll knew
that the shoulder holster beneath the
others shirt was not empty.
He did not hasten so long as he was
in sight Of the Macdonald establish
ment, but when he rounded the first
bend he bent forward and padded
until his canoe leaped and weaved at
the drive of the blade.
He knew the country and the trails
well enough, but Franz knew them
more intimately than he. The landing
above Twenty Mile rapid was the OBJ
vious place for one to leave the river
and take to his legs for transport. To
run the white water, Of course, would
cut miles from the journey but the
risk Of tragic disaster was great.
He speculated as he speeded along,
trying to put himself in Franz's posi-
ton, trying to reason as Franz would
reason. When he reached his decision
he commenced to smile with tongue
in cheek He relaxed his padding and
chuckled and sat back, drifting with
the current.
He could hear the grumble of the
treacherous water below, and ran his
canoe into shadows where 1t was
screened by overhanging alders and
waited, looking backward.
OF course, Franz might not do what
Steve expected Of him, but he was pro-
ceeding on the belief that to block
the recording Of that all-important
document he would be forced to fol-
low.
"RightI'' Drake muttered aloud as
q canoe shot into sight far behind,
coming fast.
He showed off and bent to the paddle
and in a moment from the tail of his
eye he saw the other sweep into sight
of him, and then he was rounding q
bend with the voice of shaggy old
twenty Mile growing louder In his
ears.
He Looked over his shoulder just
once. Franz had not rounded the
bend yet. A leaning cedar was fifty
feet beyond him. He rose to one knee,
dropped his paddle and balanced there,
arms raised.
The cedar rushed at him. The first
twigs brushed his hands. His right