Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-04-07
The Swamp Secret



with an interest that gratiHed Bill great
~. He felt that he was acting In a role
Of greater Importance, perhaps, than he
was aware Of. That would be decided by
after events.
The sense Of the possible. IL not proba-
BILE, Importance OF what he had to tell
induced him to assume a dignity as gro
tesque a. IL was unnatural. He put on
a patronixing air as he asked Wayne's
advice. 1t implied that II was not at all
necessary for him to ask advice Of any
one, but, under the circumstances, he
would be willing to listen to any sugges-
tons the other might have to offer.
Wayne looked at him with u singular
expression on his face as he told about
the mysterious inscription he had seen
Dick make on the old cottonwood tree.
You say you saw him make 1t, do
your asked Wayne.
II did So" answered Hill.
And you are sure you saw him going
past your place ut one or two o'clock on
the night Averill's horses were stolen?"
Il did So" replied Bill, as solemnly as
10 he were answering questions on wit
ness stand.
Gould you make me 4 copy III what
you saw ON the cottonwood trecT' asked
Wayne.
II reckon replied Bill. 81 looked at
II long enough an sharp enough to git 1t
all by heart, l allow"
He took the singing book from the
teachers hand. and proceeded to make
an awkward but correct copy Of the In.
scription on the old tree, on one Of the
ny-leaves.
There" he said after q critical inspcc.
ton of his work, as he handed the book
hack to Wayne, that's precisely what
I see him mark out on the tree. an I'm
willin' to make ahdsvy to 1t any time"
ITS more Of q puzzle TO me than any
thing else" said Wayne, turning the book
In oil ways, and evidently falling to get
any key as to Its meaning.
""Tis So" responded Bill, who felt that
he had enlisted Q keener and cleverer
brain than bis own In an attempt to solve
the mystery, and was content to let him
puzzle his wits over Il, while, while he
looked on with IN air Of reticence that
limited at deeper knowledge Of the mat.
ter than he felt willing to divulge.
You say that you can't lind that he
was at apybody's house on the night In
which the horses were stolen-the night
houseY'
1--WE took pains to ask ev'ry Twin soul
In the whole neighborhOod, an he want
nowher's," replied Bill.
And he denied being away from home
on the aight In question:
wall, Jest the same rs denied It," a..
swered Bill. He tried to make me bleeve
I was mistaken. s'pose he dassen't say
right out that ! lied. but he did just as
nigh as be dared 10. Now, I know 1
want mistaken. an he knows It,"
"Wsll, what do you think about itT'
asked Wayne, apparently at \ loss to
know what to think himself.
"Gol burned ef I know what to think"
answered Bill. II never took any likin'
to Dick Brsyton. but I snum, 1 never
would ha' b'lecved he'd got mixed up In
boss stcalin', ef I hadn't seen what It
pears to me means suthin' like that, .
near's I can jedge. DoA't II look to yo,,
o. ef circumstances kin o pinted that
wayT
ITO be frank with you. Il does" replied
Wayne. But I wouldn't care to say %
much to anybody but you, because II ID
! well understood that Brayton and myself
are not on the best Of terms. and they
might think ! was trying 10 injure him,
, because Of my dislike for him. You have
taken the matter 10 hand, and ] advise
you to 20 on with It. Keep your eyes
open and see what happens. II your sus.
! picions are correct, something will turn
! up to prove them 10 before long"
"l'll keep MY eyes skinned" said BILL.
| And Bill was as good as bis word.
| He lost NO chance OF creating suspicion
against Dick BY sly insinuations. which,
In such cases, generally tell more efrec.
lively against person than open asser.
lions do.
10 some Of his particular cronles he
told the details Of what be had seen In
manner that made his story not only
plausible but somewhat convincing one.
With the minds of the settlers greatly
excited by the recent occurrence, they
were ready and eager to accept any clue
or what seemed likely to prove clue to q
solution Of the mystery surrounding the
theft, even when their better judgment
told them they were acting hastily and
unwlsely In forming an opinion on no
more reliable evidence than that which
Bill Green had TO offer. At such times
men do not stop to cOolly and disposition
ately weigh the testimony presented. II
1t bears the stamp Of plausibillty on the
face Of II, they seem to consider that
enough to warrant them safe In accepting
It In place OF something better.
"Ah, my Hne fellow, who's likely ia
come out aheadY" chuckled Wayne, ~
Dick went by the house that afternoon
His face wore q look Of intense satisfac.
ton as his eyes followed the man whose
mark his features still wore very plainly
impressed on them. 1.-THE game IL mine,
he laughed, as Dick passed out of sight
1--WE got q whole handful Of trumps, q
full hand, SO to speak,"
That afternoon young man came from
down below" to visit Dick. He was q
harmless, inoffensive sort of fellow, and
has nothing whatever to do with this
story, except in so far as his coming to
Brownsville helped to increase the sus
picion which Bill Green was creating
against Dick Brayton.
When Bill found out about the visitor
he had no scruples about limiting that
1t was his firm belief that he belonged
to a gang of horse thieves.
"He hain't come up here for nothin','
said Bill, with wise look and shake
of his heA.
Coupled with the various suspicious cir
cumstances surrounding Dick, Bill sue
ceeded In making the visit appear as Q
link In the evidence against him In thu