The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-01-28

stretching out his long arms, giving tre-
mendous yawn as he did so, then moving his
chair 10 the end Of the table between the
two men. who had seated themselves on op-
posite sides, their feet Of course, on top,
where. resting his elbows on il, his immense
paws supporting his shaggy head, Jack
looked his iuterlocutor squarely in the eyes
and continued:
Naal, ye knows, sence ] war satisfied
thet war a bein' watched an bounded an
'specled by you-uns hyar en- Whooping Hol-
Ter, lowed ter myself thet ] would do a
leetlc detective work on my own 'count-ez
hey told Bradford hyar-so j gifts onto my
mewol, tuks Jupe-thets thet thar yaller,
no count ornery dorg o. mine-an' we jess
naturally comminces ter prOwl thet thar trail
from iother side O. Ike Podgett's. 'twiXt thar
an thcr Holler, fer MORN er week. But
we-uus didn't see nothin' spicious till day
'afore Yesterday, long en- ther shank O ther
evenin9 Then j war ridin' by Podgetts
plaee-Jupe he'd run way he'd o me- war
goin' toleI'ble slow an thinkiu' powerful,
an when I got clost ter ther cabin, seed
thet ihar fool dorg O. mine er diggin' an er
PAWN ct suthin' he he'd unyearlhed-ther
no-'count cuss ez always hungry an al
ways buntin' fer suthin ter eat; then ez /
obsarved thar warn't no one ter home, gifts
down often my mewcl. bitches him. an lites
ont ier ther rar' o. ther cabin whar ther dorg
war, ter see wat he war so consarned bout (;
an when reached thar gentemin,
Er WAR A HUMAN LEG AND FOOT!
An stoopin' down picked this hyar outen
ther dirt ther dorg he'd paved up"
Getting mp from his seat as be said this
Jack pulled out Of the breast pocket Of his
flannel shirt a little mass of iron pyrites, an
octahedrite in shape-a rare form Of that
common combination Of iron and sulphur
which was drilled on 10 plate Of gold, max
ing Il perfect but unique collar button!
Great God!" exclaimed Bartlett and Brad
ford simultaneously, as they both jumped up
exctely at the sight OF the triukot Jack held
in his hand
Tom Bradford gave vent 10 his feelings first
Shaping bis fist on the table, and then point
inc hs finger al Jack. who stood as calm as a
statue said yebcmently:
Judge Bartlett either this mans story is
true nf he is the murderer hmself!"
"Grpat God! f." reiterated Bartlett putting
his hand 10 bis head 10 his evident bewldor-
mcui: " Bradford-l don't know I'm com
pletely dumiuunded! Everybody in the
mines knows that collar hutton There's not
another one like ID ia the mountains hnaggs
always wore il az the neck Of his flannel shirt.
Hes told me many time that he'd refused
$50 Tor it. This matter must be
THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED"
Tie then reached for the button which Jack
promptly handed to him, aud which he exam
lined carefully for few moments IN silence,
sitting down for that purpose Then turning
suddenly 10 Jack, WhO-now conscious that he
had at least caused Bradford and Bartlett 10
believe bat he might DC innocent aud that his
story might be true-had resumed his seat, and
was coolly filling his pipe again, the Old Judge
asked him:
Jack. did YOU leave the leg and foot where
the dog found 1t, OF what did you do with t2 F"
lef 20 than" replied Jack, but kIvcred
et up agin an ] stpmVed tber grOuu' down
'r0uu' et 50 ~ et looked like Ct hedut been
techd. Then ] went ter my cabin; then j
kim avaT ter Bradiord's Their Ony thing i
brungrd way war thet button, an fer which
I'll thank yer Ter gin me agin. wants TO kip
ct er while yith
Bartlett hesitatcd a moment rolling the mute
evidence Of crime committed over in his fin
gers looked at Bradford iuterrogativcly, who
nodded significantly, aud then be handed the
curious object back % Jack.
Thank sc, gentemu said he as he put 1t
carefully into his pocket again; I'm ct yer
ERTEicc et emmy time aud so s this hyar but
Ton wen We wants Ct; an ] hopes you-uns
means ter 'vestipate this hyar matter ter onct.
Ike P0dgeu 3 way now, an wen he kims
back. cts mebby too late"
Bartlett and Bradford consulted aside in a
low tone fora few moments, then walking back
20 the table where Jack was still sitting, pull
ing at his pipe and almost invisible because Of
the great cloud OF smoke the old Judge said
" Jack this h. a strange piece Of business,
and we arc both staggered. Yet we arc not uu-
reasonable we know that nothing is more de-
ceptiye than
NAN's ESTIMATE or HUMANNATURE;
81 seems mighty hard 10 come 10 your way Of
thinking; but we ell may have been most ter
Tibly deceived iu Ike Podgett We will exam
lne bis promises aud investigate the matter 10
the end. Now we want you 30 90 quietly out
70 your cabin from here say nothing TO any
one about what you have told Us. TO night
we viii discuss, with some OF our best citizens
what Is best 20 be done, and tomorrow meet as
at f0dgetts. III we arrive there first We will
wait right on the tTall for you, and take no nc
tion before you come; but IL you get 10 the
place before we do, wait for our party don't
EA AlitiA AllE HA1iA aiiA Anu tUAEA "a AlllNG ana
then nobody can raise any suspicious Of Job
which some 0r POdgetts friends might accuse
yOu oa We will try 10 be there by II O'Clock
and that VIII allow you ample time TO reach
thcre ns soon as that hour too
ihU old Judge having finished his instruc-
tious ana warnings, the three men went ont Of
the cabin and separated Jack mounted his
mcWc, whstod 10 Jupo and rode slowly M
thc steep divide into the hills, where he was
soon lost 10 sight Bartlett and Bradford
walked down 90 the main street, their feelings
wonderfully affected entered the little build
1nR tlat did duty as the pOst0ilice for Wh00p-
aug Hollow aud surrounding mining camps, 20
look up the proper persons with whom 20 con
suit on the terrible revelations oil q few mo.
ments before.
That evening just after the candles were
lighted Tom Bradford. Doctor Chase. and
lssaclar Noe the last Of whom was Postmaster.
met in The .Itlle rectangular space bc ssud tie
IuuC rack Oi letter boxes iu Noe. store 20 for
mulate plans Tor their Jrip on the morrow "a
lku f0dgetts cabin, the bloody story concern.
lng b having been impaired 10 Noe and tie
Doctor when Bartlett and Bradford came down
town that afternoon Immediately altog theii
interview with Jack
A stt.c after daylight next morning tie
fouf prominent citizens Of Wh0opiug Hollow
who had secretly met at The pgstofice The pre-.
NlOus evening were well on the trail 10 pOdg.
uth. They had only - miles 10 co but tht
yiEzag up 90 the crest of the divide was sC
rocky rough, aud PERCEPTIONS. that they were
compelled % Wlul their horses every G.y