The morning call., 1890-06-18
TRAILED BY
A BLOODHOUND.
A Big Dog Invades the AdirOn.
dack Region After FugitiYes.
What at One Time Promised to Be Tragedy
Turned Out Romance-A Frightened
Landlord and Girl in Boys Clothes.
Written for THE MORNING CALL.

York. The temptation to enjoy day or
two Of the early spring fishing was strong
upon him, and he yielded, and was soon
speeding up the Carthage and Adirondack
Railway TO its terminus in the Little River
country, far into the Adirondack wilder
ness.
1t was while returning from trip which
had afforded sport enough for one who is
more accustomed to angle for items of news
than for the speckled beauties Of the
mountain lakes and streams, that lie tar
ried for the night at an inn on the shores of
Star Lake. A few early summer visitors
and small party of lumbermen and guides
made up the complement of guests. The
fisherman was acquainted with most of the
latter and was given genuine Adirondack
welc ONE, and was soon listening to the
breezy stories told by the landlord of adj
ventures in the wood.
do you have many bl0odhoundS in your
c0untryY' finally inquired the landlord OF
the new conner.
The visitor was constrained to admit that
his acquaintance with that particular kind
of the canine species was sOmew hat limited:
"Weli," continued the hotel man, -
never saw but one, and from what noticed
of that specimen | haven't any use Tor that
kind of dog as house pet
1t was evident the host was loaded Tor
a story, and as mountain courtesy seems to
demand a hearing which at least has the
appearance of being respectful under such
circumstances, he was encouraged to pro-
coed with his narrative.
"Yes," he began, Il had visit from one
of those big brutes once and | had rather
meet the biggest bear in the Adriondacks
alone in the open than bloodhound out
for business.
ut was two years ago this spring. before
the new railroad was built through to the
iron mines, and everybody came In by
way Of Fine. Early one afternoon party
of US was sitting here in front OF the porch
when we heard a loud yelping, and looking
over on the slope there among the big trees,
we saw two men coming over from the
tote road. They were hanging on to the
biggest and savagest looking dog L ever set
eyes on. They had rope fastened to the
collar around the brute's neck, and he Just
dragged them along as if he was horse.
THE hound kept his nose down to the
ground and he never stopped until he had
pulled the men into the house and through
into the main hall. Then he seemed TO get
bewildeTed bit, and bis keepers had time
TO catch their breath little.
AFTER minute or two one OF the men
dashed the dog pretty hard with short
whip and pulled him out OF doors again.
Then he took continuance nearly as big as
peck measure-it was cross between
A WIRE RAT-TRAP AND A BIRD-CAGE,
And strapped it over the dogs head. Next
he made hitch around stump with
rope. After he had secured the dog he took
out a meerschaum pipe and lighted 1t and
coolly sat down, without having said
word.
"The older of the men we knew. He was
q guide from down Fineway. The other,
the man that bossed the dog, was trim
built slight young fellow, maybe q or y
years old. He was a city man and genu-
inc tenderfOot; anybody could see that;
but there was quiet and determined look
about his face that made everybody respect
him at once.
II opened the talk. Said l. Mister we
keep a summer hotel here, and Pm always
glad to accommodate people, but I'm telling
you straight l haven't got any use for that
menagerie. One would think you were
huntin' niggers in Florida swamp with
such an outfit as that! Why. he'll scare the
what few children there are
The young man didn't say anything In
answer, but kept on smoking and glanclng
out toward the thick timber over yonder.
The guide didn't open his mouth to speak.
1t was sure thing that he was in commits
sion.
"After few moments the boy got up, I'M
hitched his dog from the stump and led him
down toward the foot OF the lake. He led
the dog along until he struck that bit OF a
Then the hound made another bolt, with
his nose to the ground again. His owner
brought him up with twist on his muZzle
and soon had him back safe at his anchor
age again:
have lemonade and suggested incidentally
the use OF sticks, as timber seemed to be
plentiful. He was fine-looking though
rather delicate young fellow for tine wear
and tear Of this wild country; but somehow
be managed to have his own way in every
thing. He was dressed in snug corduroy
suit, with belt and odd-looking top-boots.
L guess they were riding boots In his belt
he carried two large self-acting pistols. His
whole outfit was strange to this country,
but 1t gave him natty look.
After everybody had drunk their lemon
ade, or its substitute, the stranger called
me out into the grove there, and he did not
wait long before he began talking business.
When L looked square in his face he puzzled
me. | knew l had never seen him before,
but his features seemed very familiar.
Landlord he began. L haven't much
time for talking. I'm here on business.
You have had young man and young
woman here within the last twenty-four
hours. They're not here now. or Nero
would have found them. They have gone
out over that path down there
IwANT TO KNOW WHERE IT LEADS To.
"You could have knocked me down with
UIUOlu otluN, UuI L ldliitu Ull anu Sdlu
You're wrong there, stranger. It's early
yet, and we've no lady visitors.
g. know better, he said, and he swore
bit. 'Pve traced them to this village back
here that they call Fine, aud Nero tracked
them into the woods and here into the
hall of your house. there he lost the trail
and picked 1t up again on that path. Now,
where. does it go to aud who went with
them I
"'Well,' said I, good deal put out by
the way he spoke. if you so far enough,
say sixty or seventy miles or such a matter,
you'll get to Lake Champlain. The only
party know of "going in =" that way this
season started early this morning. There
were two young men; one younger and
slighter built than the other. My wife said
the younger one did not seem stronger than
girl. / WAS busy and did not notice them
guides and if they have good luck they
wont get further than Cranberry Lake for
camp tonight. The boys were packed
pretty heavy for long trip
"That was all the stranger wanted to
know. He called his guide, and after call
ing everybody into the bar again he united
that brute of bloodhound again, took the
cage off from his head and prepared to start
in for Cranberry Lake.
"You can bet felt pretty streaked at the
part had to take in the business. and
tried to get the young man to muzzle the
dog again and fasten it in one of the cabins.
told him knew his guide and he could
take him TO Cranberry Lake without any
bloodhound work. l didn't know what the
brute would do when he came up with the
human game but knew the guides were
pretty handy with their guns and there
might be trouble. Besides, 1 was sorry I
had to give up the camping place but
knew they would find it with that dog.
What l said didn't have the least effect
Landlord said the young stranger, as
he handed me $40 bill, just before they
made their plunge for the timber, want
you to go to Fine, or whatever the name of
that last village back here is, and have
preacher come here in the morning and
wait till come back. He will have either
a wedding or funeral TO attend and the
young tenderfoot and guide, with the blood