The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-12-20

smells you. But make 'em 20 10 thu
traps by followin' my scent"
The chagrln OF Elmer az the loss OF the
FOX was supplying. but the evident mys-
terry IN the character Of the man dead
enea MS wounded pride by making him
ieel more certain than ever chat ne was
competing with superhumau agencies
The wonder grew Tor week. During
that time. however. TAO more dogs died
one belonged Ia a hunter from the city
II died az Elmer's had done. rushing sud
ueny out OF swamp and dying ia
epasms. The other was owned hv the
foreman or lumber camp who was max
iug ms way 70 the railroad Ou snow shoes
The community was aroused over this
aroused. az least. a. much as an Adiron-
dack community Is ever aroused over any
thing In some way public sentiment con-
nectcd the mysterious death OF dogs With
the strange trapper. yet tho evidence that
the latter trapped his foxes was over
wheiming Ga the Adirondack mind. The
display Of steel traps. allied with the cer-
taihiy that foxes did follow this man. was
overwhelming. SO az least. thought the
community. Bus. after al. there was
something unlhnuy about the whole bust
ness
Il was not long after this that a land
iooker for an Albany firm came into The
village. and taking o guides and pro
visions for a thrce-day1' campiua-out lefs
10 estimate the tint Co on some land w.
ing IN tho Sacandagn region. Elmer ac-
companied as one 81 the guides They
were taking a short cut between Crane
ara Hackleberry mountain. when Elmer q
remaining hound cai.e bowling 10 the
parry and died IN s.asms Just as the
o'her had done Not Eve nj utes later
me toN-houud belonging 20 the llTd-
sooker. followed and expired tn the same
agony. To Elmer this was merely an
other evidence OF the supernatural char
acter or the wizard who was killing all
me foxes, 50 his wrath turned TO terror
nut not 80 with tho land-lo1kcr When
ne heard Elmers mysterious explanation
ne sWore great round oaths and set on on
the back track OF his hound Elmer fol-
lowed. Sure enough. few rods away
they came upon the track Of che Old hunt
e. They knew 10 from the fact that the
osd man was slightly pigeon-toed. And
running along beside Il was the ira X Of
a fox
"oh. Lord said Elmer. There A. f..
sure. It's f0llowin' him. ana he's done
this with some or his charms. Lets 60
back. II he can do that 90 dogs he can
do 81 10 us. and we'll die next
shut Up and come on" said the land
locker.
Elmer followed. trembling. and In less
than half a milo they came up With tho
old irappcr skinning q dead fox.
'Oh. Lord! wha'd ] tell you2" grOaned
Elmer. Now. he'll Kill us with some
blamed spell On. Lord. wish / was out
Of this, on. Lordr' But the land locker
knew the ways Of the world
Look there" said he. "the old cuss has
poisoned that fox. There's no trap there.
Hes poisoned 81. He's bcen poisoning
them rieh. along. That's what Killed our
dogs. That's what killed all the dogs"
The land locker grabbed Elmers rife.
I'm blow his brains sout" he yelled
and raised the gun as II 70 carry out the
threat. But the old man lost his brag-
garts altitude fell on his face and grow
eled IA the snow
Don't Kill me. don't kin me-" he beg
ged. Don't XIII me- and I'll pay for the
dogs. ! ~ pay Tor every one Of EN-" the
land-looker lowered his gun 10 his hig.
but kept tie muzzle pointing toward the
old man while they parleyed. The pois-
ouer agreed to give up half his fox skins
including that OF the black fellow. in pay
ment for the dogs and 20 leave the coun-
try az once. Elmer was sent back with
him 20 the village 20 see that the agree
ment was carried out. The Old man left
that afternoon with forty fox skins and
caught a train for the West.
When Elmer had finished telling the
tale al the Inn that night. he added:
And them traps he carried was moth
ing pit a blum. instead OF the fox fol-
loving his tracks he was followin' the
fox s. 10 see where Il died. And We didn {
have sense enough TO think of that"