Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-04-17
The Swamp Secret



Seems as eff we hunted everywhere for
the Ayeril bosses, an we knowed no
more about 'em when we got thru hunt
IN than we did when we begun"
DO you think Brayton had anything
TO do with itY' asked Wayne.
mo, stree. | DON'T" answered Mr..
Porter, with an emphasis that left no
doubt of his belief in the innocence of
Dick Brayton.
But the knife and the writing that
Bill Green says he SAN him make on
the tree-how do you explain those
things?"
Il don't explain en-" replied Mr.. Por
ter, looking as if he wished he could do
SO. But don't b'leeve Dick Brayton
stole them hosses."
Nor |, nnther,' said Samanthy,. that
night at the supper table, when the mat
ter came up for consideration. Nobody
need tell me that Dick Brayton's took 10
stealth bosses fer hyin'.''
1T seems TO me that YOU are quite
champion of. HIS said Wayne, with a
sarcastic smile.
Il dunno it's anybody's bisness eff |
be-" responded Samanthy. Il know you
wouldn't stick up fer him. His mark
shows 'twixt yer eyes now onct in a
while, where he left his opinyun O. you
in black an blue"
I'D thank you to mind your own bust
ness" said Wayne, angrily.
''Sho, now-would ye?" replied Saman-
thy, provokingiy; Il ruther recken I'll do
jest about as | take Il notion to about it.
hain't the least idee o bein' bossed
round by you, eff you DO come from down
below, an air fust cousin to the Lord,
eordin' to yer opinyun o yerself. Id
a 'nough sight sooner think you're the
boss thief that's maxim all this how-de-
low round these parts than Dick Bray
ton. | would SOP
Wayne looked at her sharply and suspi-
ciously.
Samanthy stood the scrutiny bravely.
Have We got any more pitch on yer
sleeve, or hain't ye ben where the pitch
is, senceg she asked. as Wayne turned
away. Il wouldn't be a great sight
s'prised eff ye went where they keep ket-
ties o. pitch b'ilin hot all the time one o.
these days
With which parting shot she made her
retreat TO the kitchen.
That afternoon the GOODNESS which had
existed for some days between Mamie
and the singing teacher eliminated in
open hostiities on Nannie's part.
Wayne made some sneering remark
about Dick in the roll of horse thief. The
reaction which had been setting in in
Nannie's mind for some time disposed her
to think remorsefully OF poor Dick and
her treatment of him, and when she
heard of the suspicious afoat regarding
him, she took up weapons in bis defense
at once. The result was that when Mr..
Wayne took his departure that afternoon
she gave him to understand in very plain
terms that he need not take the trouble
to call again.
"Dick Brayton a horse thiefv, she said
to herself Indignantly. "The idea!''
But the thought troubled her, and as
soon as her father came home she be-
gan to talk about it.
do you mean to say, father, that any
body believes a word of it? 1t can't be!
Nobody but a fool would think of such a
thing twice.
But some folks that can't be called
fools do" replied her father. "'Tain't
no use to mnce matters. We've got to
look things squar' in the face. We've
got TO own up that what Bill Green says
he see does look bad ag'in the boy.
don't know what to think, myself. | don't
b'leeve he stole the bosses, but l can't
deny that twas his knife they found in
the deacon's barn. It's bad. mighty bad,
all round"
Il wish Dick'd come back" said Nan
ME. IF he'd only come back and ex-
plain things, now
Il dunno as l want him to come back, !"
said Mr.. Boone, with troubled look in
his face.
"Why?" asked Mamie.
"Mebbe he's safer where he is jest at
this pertickler time" answered Mr..
Boone.
You don't think they'd dare to do any
thing to him, do you?" asked Mamie,
with startled look
She was just beginning to realize the
gravity of the situation.
Yes, / do" was her fathers reply.
"'Most everybody round here thinks he's
guilty. An you know how they deal
with boss thieves. That's why | say
that mebbe he's safer where he is. Jest
now
At that Mamie turned very pale and
ran out of the room, saying to herself:
poor Dick in such awful danger, and
used him so meanly! oh, dear! oh,
dear!
Then she sat down on the step of the
woodshed and threw her apron over her
head and began TO cry.