The Argosy, April 1912 — page 111: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

SHIFTING “T can’t tell you how grateful I am, and shall always be to you, Mr. Border,’ she said. “Ves. The sheriff has done a great piece of work, in such quick time, too,” went on Huntly. “We can never thank him enough, can we, Mildred?” “Indeed we can’t,” replied the girl. It was Border’s time to speak now. “Tf it hadn’t been for Mr. Huntly here,” he said, “I would never have been able to finish the rescue.”’ “Why, what do you mean?” asked the girl, eT Oh, he just saved my life,’”’ explained Border, “by killing one of the biggest bears I have ever seen in this part of the country. The beast was making dead for me. I stumbled and fell. The next minute it would have been all up with me if Mr. Huntly hadn’t landed a bullet right in the bear’s forehead.” “Oh, that was brave of you,” said Mil- dred, her eyes shining with pleasure at the story of her lover’s pluck. “It was nothing at answered the young man. “Excuse me, Miss Temple,” went on Border, “I don’t like to interrupt this ten- der meeting, but would you mind telling us about this strange abduction?” “Oh!” exclaimed Mildred. “It’s all a mystery to me. Why anybody would want to kidnap me is something inexplicable.” She then related the story of the happen- ings concerned with her leaving home. “My poor, little girl,” murmured Huntly sympathetically, as she finished. “Well, it’s all over now,” she said, “and let’s forget it. Take me home to my mother. I know she must be nearly distracted.” “But what became of this man?” the sheriff wanted to know. “JT haven’t any idea,” answered Mildred. “As I told you, he left me after pointing out the cabin.” “When did he say he would return?” “He said that I would never see him again.” “You don’t say!” exclaimed the sheriff. “Ves. I was afraid of him, and never dreamed that he would leave me as he did. He even handed me my pistol, which I didn’t know I had, and which had fallen from my dress. He _ told me too keep it, that I might need it later on.” “Well, I'll be blowed,” exclaimed Bor- der. “He was a cool one, all right.” toe ? all,” modestly SUSPECTS. 97 ‘Oh, he was cool enough,” said Mildred. “IT asked him why he was carrying me away, and a great many other questions, but he always laughed, and I got no infor- mation whatever from him.” Border shook his head. ‘What did he look like?” he asked. “YT can only tell you about his figure,” rephed the girl. “He wore a black mask, and only his eyes gleamed through. Since it was night, of course, it was impossible to learn the color of these. They might have been blue or black, for all I know. He was tall, with broad shoulders.” She looked from Border to Huntly. ‘About my build?” asked the sheriff. “No,” replied the girl with decision. “T should say,”’ she added thoughtfully, looking closely at her fiancé, “that he was just the height of Ned here.” Huntly started. “You must be mistaken,” he said. “Why, no I’m not,” declared Mildred frankly. ‘He was very much like you, dear, very much.” Huntly looked at the sheriff, to find the latter’s keen eyes studying him closely. Neither spoke. “His voice wasn’t the same—not any- think like yours, Ned. It was much deeper,’ Miss Temple went on. ‘Then the man with the mask said he wouldn’t return?” said the sheriff, chang- ing the topic. “Yes, but I am afraid he might come back after all,’ declared Mildred. ‘“ The sooner we get away from here the better.” “You are quite right,” agreed the sheriff. Just then Mildred’s eyes fell on the squaw. ‘“Please, please, set her free,” she said. “What! To run and tell your captor what has happened? It wouldn’t be safe,” answered the sheriff. “Oh, no, I'll take her home with me as my maid. I have taken a fancy to her.” CHAPTER XII. HOMEWARD BOUND. THE squaw gave way to expressions of great joy as soon as the gag was removed from her mouth. Mildred helped unbind her hands, and then assisted her to her feet. “There. There, Watonka,” she said. “T won’t let any one hurt you.” CONMUC NOOLK CO