IJLL.J I r.-
The Girl
fromfim's
Place
By CHARLES CLARK MUNN
(Copyright 1906, by Lothrop, Lcc tc Slienard Co.)
SYNOPSIS.
dhip McGulrc. a lG-yoar-old rM living
at Tim's place In tlio Maine woods la
sold by her father to Peto Bolduc, n
half-breed. Sho runs away and reaches
tlio camp of Martin Friable, occupied by
Murtln, his wife, nephew. Raymond Stet
son, and Rubles. Sho tolls her story and
Is t'nred for by Mrs. Frisblo. .Tourney of
Frlsble's party Into woods to visit father
of Mrs. Frlsblo. an old hermit, who has
resided In the wilderness for many years.
.When camp Is broken Chip and Ray oc
cupy same canoe. The party reach camp
of Mrs. Frlsble's father and aro. wel
comed by him and Cy Walker, an old
friend and former townsman of the her
mit. They settle down for summer's
stay. Chip and Ray are In love, but no
one realizes this but Cy Walker. Strange
canoe marks found on lake shore In front
of their cabin. Strange smoko Is seen
across the lake. Marllu and Levi leave
for settlement to Ret otlleers to arrest
McGulre, who Is known as -outlaw and
escaped murderer. ,
CHAPTER VI. Continued.
"It's tlio spites," whispered Chip to
Ray. "They alius act that way when
it's stormin'."
The next day the gale .began to
lessen, and by night the moon, now
half-full, peeped out of the scurrying
clouds. At bedtime it was smiling se
renely, well down toward the tree
tops, and Chip's spites had ceased
their wailing.
Fortunately, however, Martin's
quest for game had been successful.
A saddle of venison, a dozen or more
partridges and two goodly strings
of trout hung In cold storage.
But utter and almost speechless as
tonishment awaited Old Cy at the ice
house when he visited It the next
morning, for the venison was gone,
not a bird remained, and one of the
two strings of trout had vanished.
In front, on the sand, was the same
tell-tale moccasin tracks.
"Wall, by the Great Horn Spoon! if
that cuss hain't swiped the hull busi
ness," Old Cy ejuculated, as he looked
in and then at the tracks. "Crossed
over last night," he added, noting
where a canoe had cut its furrow, "an'
steered plumb for my Icehouse! The
varmint!"
Hut Martin was angry, thoroughly
angry, at the audacious insolence of
the theft," and the thought that just
now this sneaking half-breed was
doubtless enjoying grilled venison and
roast partridge In some secure shel
ter. It also opened his eyes to the
fact that this chap would hang about,
watching his chance, until they
started out of the wilderness, and
then capture the girl if he could. For
a little while Martin pondered over
the situation and then announced his
plans.
"There's law, and offlcors to exe
cute It," he said, "If a sufficient re
ward bo offered; and to-morrow you
and I, Levi, will start for tho settle
ment and fetch a couple in. I'll glad
ly givo $500 to land this sneak behind
the bars. If he can't be caught, we
can at least have two officers to guard
us going out"
All that day he and Levi spent in
hunting. Anothor deer was captured,
more birds secured, and when evening
came plans to meet the situation were
discussed.
"You or Hay must remain on guard
daytimes near the cabin," Martin said
to Old Cy. "My wife and Chip had
better keep in it, or near it most of
the time; and both of you must sleep
there nights. One or the other can
fish or hunt, as needed. We must bo
gone a week or more, even If we have
good luck; but fetching tho officers
here Is the best plan now."
Lovl was up early tho next morn
ing, and had tho best canoe packed for
a hurry trip ere breakfast was ready.
No tent was lo bo taken, oi.ly blank
ets, a rifle, a bag of tho simplest cook
ing utensils, pork, bread and coffee.
A modest outfit barely enough to
sustain life, yet all a woodsman car
ries when a long canoo journey with
many carries must be taken.
ThoPe wore sober faces at tho land
ing when Martin was ready to start
-Chip most sober of all for now sho
realized as never before how serious
a burden she had become.
No time was wasted in good-bys.
Martin grasped the bow paddle, and
with "Old Faithful" Levi wielding tho
stern one, they soon crossed the lake
and vanished at Us outlet.
And now, also, for tho. first time,
Angle realized how much the presence
of these two strong and resourcoful
men meant to her. All that day she
and Chip clung to the cabin, while
Old Cy, a long, lf.nky Leatherstock
ing, patrolled the premhes, rifle In
hand.
"We hain't n mite o' cause to
worry," ho said, when nightfall drew
near. "The pesky varmint's a cow
ard, n' knows guns are plenty here,
an we folks handy In usln' 'am. I've
rigged a fish Hue to the Ice house door
so It'll rattle some tinware In the cab
in if he meddles it again. I sleep
with one eye n both ears open, un' If
he comes prowlln' round night-times,
he'll hear bullets whlzzln' an' think
Fourth o' July's opened up arly."
Hut for all his cheerful assurance,
time passed slowly, and a sense of
real dungor oppressed Anglo and Chip
as well. 'Hay shared It also. He
was not as yet hardened to the wilder
ness, and like all who axe thus tender,
Its vast somber Holltude Seemed om
inous. Only the hermit, with his moonllko
eyes and Impassive ways, showed no
sign of trouble. What this half-breed
wanted, other than food, ho seemed
not to understand; and while he
helped about tho camp work and fol
lowed Old Cy llko a dog, he was of
no other aid.
One, two, three days of watchful
guard and evenings when oven Old
Cy's cheerful philosophy or Hay's
banjo failed to dispel the gloom, and
then, just as the sun was setting once
again, a canoo with one occupant was
seen to enter tho lake and head for
the landing.
CHAPTER VII.
An unexpected canoo entering a
lake so secluded and so seldom visited
as this lake must needs awaken tho
keenest surprise, and especially in the
case of a party situated as this one
was. Hay, who had just returned from
a berry-picking trip over at the "blow
down," and Old Cy, carrying his sug
gestive rifle, were ut the landing some
time before this canoo reached It,
From Behind a Low Spruce One Evil,
Sinister Eye Watched Her.
while Anglo and Chip waited almost
breathlessly on the cabin piazza. A
stout, bure-headed Indian, clad In
white man's raiment, was paddling.
He glanced at the two awaiting him
at the landing,'' with big black, onto
tlonless eyes, and then up to tho
cabin.
As his canoo now grated on the
sandy beach close by, he laid aside his
paddle, Btepped forward and out, drew
his craft up, nnd folding his arms
glanced at Old Cy again, as If waiting
for a welcome. None was needed,
however, for on tho Instant, almost,
came an exclamation of joy from
Chip, and with a "Hullo, Poppy To
mah," sho was down the bank, with
both her hands in his.
A faint smile of welcome spread
over his austere faco( as ho looked
down at the girl, but not a word, as
yet, came.
Old Cy, quick to see that ho was a
friend, now advanced.
"We'ro glad to see ye," he said, "an'
as ye seem to bo a friend o' the gal's,
we'll make ye welcome."
Tho Indian bowed low, and a "How
do," like a grunt, was his answer. A
calm, slow, motionless type a now
almost extinct race, as ho seemed to
be, ho would utter no word or movo
a step farther until invited. Hut now,
led by Chip, he advanced up tho path.
"It's Tomah, old Poppy Tomah," sho
said with pride, as Anglo rose to meet
them, "und he's tho only body who
was over good to me."
"I am glad to see you, sir," Anglo
said, with u gracious bow and smile,
"and you aro welcome here."
"I thank tho white lady I not for
get,' came tho Indian's dignified an
swer with a stately bow.
Not a word of greotlng for Chip or
d surprise at finding her here only
tho englo glance, accustomed to bright
sunlight or to following tho flight of
a bird far out of whlto man's vision.
"Wo shall have suppor soon," Anglo
added, uncertain what to say to this
Impassive man, "and sonic for you."
It was n deft speech, for Anglo, ac
customed to tako In every detail of a
man from tho condition or his nails
to the cut of his clothing, ns all wom
en will, had ero now absorbed tho ap
pearance of this swarthy redskin, and
was not quite sure whether to Invito
hlin to share their table or say noth
ing. But tho Indian Bolvcd his own prob
lem, for spying the outdoor fire to
which Old Cy now retreated, ho bowod
again and strode away toward it.
"Mo cook here?" ho said to Old Cy.
With an "Of course, an' you're wel
come t'o," the question was settled.
Chip soon drew near, and now for
the first time the Indian's spooch
seemed to return, and whllo Old Cy
busied himself about tho cooVlng,
theso two began to visit.
Chip, as might he expected, dld
most of tho talking, ajked questions
as to Tim's place, when he was thove,
and what thoy said about her running
away, In rapid succession. Her own
ndvontures and how sho came hero
soon followed, and It was not long be
fore he knew all that was to be
known about her.
His replies were blunt and brief,
after tho manner of such. Now and
then an expressive nod or grunt flllod
In tho place of an ordinary answor.
He knew but little about the recent
happenings nt Tim's place, ns ho had
stayed there only one night since
Chip had departed with her father
as he was told. He had boon away
In the woods, looking for places to
set traps later, and hnd no Idea Chip
was bore.
As to Pete's movements, ho was
equally In the dark, and when Chip
told him what her friends hero sus
pected, he merely grunted. As ho
seemed to wish to do his own cooking,
Old Cy, having completed his task, of
fered him a partridge and a couplo of
trout fresh from the Icehouse, also
pork and potatoes, and left him to
care for himself.
He became more sociable later, and
when supper was over and the rest
bad, as usual, gathored on tho piazza
of the new cabin, he joined them.
And now came a recital from Ray
of far more Interest to these peoplo
than they suspected.
"I saw a bear over back of the ridge
this afternoon," he said, "or I don't
know but It was a wildcat. I'd just
filled my pall with berries, when way
up, close to tho rocks, I saw some
thing moving. I crouched down
back of a bush, thinking It might, be
a bear, and if it was, I'd get a chance
to see it nearer. I could only see tho
top of its back above the bushes, and
once I saw Its head, as If It was stand
ing up. Then I dldn'tsee it for quite
a spell, and then I caught sight of Its
back again, a good deal nearer, and
then It went Into one of the gullies
in the hog-back. I didn't wait to see
if it came out, but cut for home."
"Did this critter sorter wobble like
a woodchuck runnln'?" put In Old
Cy.
"No, It just crept along evenly," an
swered Ray. "I'd see It when It would
come out between the bushes."
" 'Twa'n't a b'ar," muttered Old Cy,
and then, as If the unwisdom of wak
ing suspicion in Angle's mind oc
curred, he added hastily, "but mebbe
'twas a doe, walkln' head down 'n'
feed In'."
No further notice was taken of
Ray's adventure. The sight of deer
everywhere about was a ten-times
daily occurrence, and Old Cy's dismis
sal of tho matter ended it.
His thoughts, howevor, were a dif
ferent matter. Full well, ho knew It
was no bear thus moving. A deer
would never ehter a crevasse, nor a
wildcat or lynx ever leave tho shelter
of woods to wander in open sunlight.
"I'll go over thar In the mornln',"
he said to himself; "I may git a
chance to wing that varmint 'n end
our worryin'."
CHAPTER VIII.
Old Cy's suspicions were correct. It
was neither bear, deer, nor wildcat
that Ray saw skulking along tho
ridge, but the half-breed.
Bollovlng Chip's rather had taken
her out of the wilderness, or more
likely up-stream to find a place with
these campers, he had como hero to
seek her. To find her here, as he of
course did, only convinced him that
his suspicions were true and that hor
father had thus meant to rob him.
Two determined Impulses now fol
lowed this discovery; First, to make
tho girl he had bought a prisoner,
carry her into tho woods, and then,
whe.n tho chance came, rovengo him
self on McGulre. No sense of law, or
deconcy evon, entered his calculation.
Ho was beyond such scruples, and
what he wanted was his only law.
Tho fear of rifles, which ho knew
were plenty onough at this camp, was
tho only factor to bo considered. For
days ho watched tho camp from
acrons the lake, hoping that the girl
he saw canoeing with a boy so often
might corns near esiough for him to,
make a capture. Many times, when)
darkness served, ho puddled close to
where tho cabin stood, and once land
ed and watched it for hours.
Growing bolder, as the days wore
on, he hid his canoe below the outlet
of the lake and taking advantage of
this outcropping slato ledge with its
many fissures, secreted himself and
watched.
Hut Borne shelter, at least to cook
and cnl in, he must have, nnd this ho
found In a distant crevasse of this
same ledge, nnd from this he sneaked
along back or it until he could hide
and watcli tho camp below. From this
vantage-point ho saw that tho girl no
longer went out upon the lake, but re
mained neur tho cabin; thon, later, ko
noticed the two mon leave the lake one
morning. This encouraged him, and
now ho grew still bolder, oven de
scending the ridge and watching those
remaining at tho cabin, from a dense
thicket.
From this new post he saw that but
one man seemed on guard, and almost
was he tempted to shoot him from
ambush and make a dash to capture
his victim, Cautious and cunning, he
still waited a chance Involving less
risk.
And now he snw that certain duties
were performed by these people; that
one man and the boy always started
the morning lire; that the girl Invari
ably went to the landing alone for wa
ter, at about the sume time. Here for
the moment sho was out or sight from
either cabin, and now in this act of
hers, he saw his opportunity to land
from his canoe near this spot before
daylight, and hide in tho bushes fring
ing the shore hero and below the bank,
watch his chance and seize and gag
her before an outcry could bo made.
To tie hor hands and foot -and to push
the other canoe out Into the Inke, thus
avoiding pursuit until they could got a
good start, was an easy matter.
It was risky, of course. She might
hear or see him In time to give one
scream. Tho old man who had said
foolish things to him, and now scorn
ed to be on guard, would surely send
bullets after him as he sped away;
but once out of the lake, he would
be safe. It was a dangerous act; yet
the other two men might return any
day, and with this in prospect, this
wlley hulf-breed now resolved to act.
Old Cy was up early that fatal
morning. Somehow a sense of Im
pending danger haunted him, nnd call
ing Ray, he unlocked tho cabin door
and began starting the morning fire.
He wanted to get breakfast out of the
way as speedily as possible, and then
visit this ridge, feeling almost sure
that he would find where this half
breed had been watching them.
When Raycame out, and before tho
hermit or Chip appeared, Old Cy hur
ried over to the Ice-house, and now
Chip came forth as usual, and with
out a word to anyone, she took the
two pails and started for the landing.
It was, perhaps, ton rods to this, dowii
u narrow, path winding through the
scrub spruce. The morning was fair,
tho lake without a ripple.
Above tho ridge, and peeping
through Its topplngof stunted fir, came
the first glance of the sun, nnd Chip
was happy.
Old Tomah, her one and only friend
for many years, was bore. A some
thing Ray had whispered the night be
fore, now returned like a sweet' note
of music vibrating In her heart, and as
If to add their cheer, the birds were
piping all about.
For weeks tho cheerful words of one
of Ray's songs had haunted hor with
its catchy rhythm:
Par was an old nigger and Ills name was
Undo Ned.
He died long 'ko, long 'bo.'
They now rose to hor Hps as she ncarcd
the lake. Here she halted, filled a
pall, and set it on the log lauding.
From behind a low spruce one evil,
sinister eye watched her.
And now Chip, still humming this
ditty, glanced up at tho rising sun and
out over tho lake.
A crouching form with hideous face
now emerged from behind the bush;
stop by step, this human panther ad
vanced. A slow, cautious, catlike move
ment, without sound, as each moc
caslned foot touched tho sand Nearer
and nearer that unconscious girl it
crept! Now 20 feet away, now ten,
now five!
And now came a swift rush, two
fierce hands enclosed tho girl's faco
and drew her backward on to the sand.
Ray and tho hermit were beside tho
Are, and the Indian just emerging from
the hut whore he had slept, when Old
Cy returned from the Icehouse.
"Where's Chip?" he questioned.
"Gone after water," answered Ray.
And tho two glanced down the path.
(TO UK CONTINUKD.)
Light-Toed Gentry.
"The best pickpockets," said tho de
tectlvo, "uro the Hindoos. You have
to call them light-toed as well as light
fingered, for they can lift a watch 01
purse as easily with thoir feet as with
their hands. Trained from childhood,
thee bare-footed rascals aro wonder
fully skillful with their toes. This
gives them a groat advantage A Hin
doo In a crowd will stand with his
arms ostentatiously folded and sneak
with his. foot tho wallet from your
trousers pocket."
VIRGINIA MERCHANT RID OF' A
VERY BIG GRAVEL STONE.
Another Remarkable Cure of Serious
Kidney Trouble.
C. L. Wood, a prominent merchant
of Fentress, Norfolk Co., Va., was suf
fering some months
ago with frequent at'
tacks of hard pain In
tho back, kidneys
and bladder and tho
kidney secretions
were irrogulnrly
scanty or profuse.
Medical treatment
failed to euro him.
"At last," says Mr. Wood, "I began
using Dean's Kidney Pills, and before
one box was gono, I wont through four
days of lntcnso pain, finally passing a
stone, ono-half by llvc-alxteonths of an
Inch In diameter. I haven't had a sign
of kidney troublo since."
Sold by all dealers, GO cents a box,
Fostor-Mllburn Co., Buffalo, N. Y.
THEN IT LOOKED ABOUT RIGHT.
Coal Dealer Understood When Told
What Load Represented.
John D. Rockofcllor, Jr., In ono of
the last addresses that ho mado to his
Sunday school class beforo abandon
ing it, said of carefulness In business:
"Too many business men are care
ful on one side, their own side, only.
Thus a coal doalor whom I used to
know shouted ono afternoon to an em
ploye who wns driving out of tho yard:
'"Hold on thcro, Jim! That coal
can't have been weighed. It looks a
trifle largo for a ton to mo.'
"Jim shouted back:
"'This ain't a ton, boss. It's two
ton.'
" 'Oh, all right,' said tho dealer, In a
modified tone 'Beg your pardon; go
ahead.' "
TRUE AFFECTION.
Rthel Jimmy, do you love me?
Jimmy -Great Scott, girl, do I love
you! Ain't I kept my hands and faco
clean for more than a week all on ac
count of you?
Both Worked Well.
A correspondent sent this "pome"
to the New York Sun: .luck Spratt be
neath his hat concealed a shining
pate; his wife she woro a budding
beard, most foeful to relate. Apothe
cary shops thoy sought In uttorest
despair. "Sure Hair Restorer" Jack
then bought; his wlfo bought "Antl
Hair." Ono night some sprite in dlro
delight the bottles did misplace, nnd
Mrs. Jack applied, alack, .Tack'B lotion
to her face. While Jack, alack, took
from tho rack a bottle on which read:
"Depilatory, Uso with Care," and
doused It on his heud. .Tuck Spratt
boneath his hat now sports a lion's
mano, his wlfo Is happy, for her faco
Is soft and smooth again.
FOUND A WAY
To Be Clear of the Coffee Troubles.
"Husband and myself both had the
coffee habit and finally his stomach
and kidneys got in such a bad condi
tion that he was, compelled to give up
u good position that ho had held for
years. He was too sick to work. His
skin was yellow, and I hardly think
there was an organ In his body that
was not affected.
"I told him I felt sur6 his sickness
was duo to coffeo and after somo dis
cussion ho decided to give It up.
"It was a struggle because of tho
-powerful habit. One day wo hoard
about Postum and concluded to try It,
and then It was easy to leave .off
coffee.
"His fearful headaches grow IesB
frequent, his complexion began to
clear, kidneys grow better until at
last ho was a now man altogether, as
a result of leaving off coffeo and tak
ing up Postum., Then 1 began, to
drink it, too.
"Although I was never as bad off
as my husband, I was always very
nervous and never at any time very
strong, only weighing 95 lbs., boforo
I began to use Postum. Now I weigh
115 lbs. and can do as much work as
anyono my size, I think.
"Many do not uso Postum. because
thoy havo not taken tho troublo to
mako It right. I havo successfully
fooled a great many persons who have
drunk it at my table. They would
remark, 'You must buy a high grade
of coffee. Ono young man who clorked
in a grocery store was very enthusias
tic about my 'coffee.' When I 'told
him what it was, ho said, 'why I've sold
Postum for four years but I had no
Idea It was like this. Think I'll drink
Postum hereafter.' "
Name given by Pontum Co., Battlo
Crook, Mich. Read "Tho Road to Woll.
vllle," in pkgs. "There's a Reason."