Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-03-24
The Swamp Secret

"this is rather n strange thing
to end here. 1t must be ut least three
miles from Mr.. Portcr's. ] can't imag.
inc what pleasure n man would lind In
thrcc.milc walk In these woods. at the
dead of night. among the mosquitoes and
gnats."
From which the reader viii readily un-
that he believed the track 10
have been made by Mr.. Wayne.
lie got down on his knees and exam
incd the footprint still more closely. IL
was certainly made by u foot that wore
Il boot from BLOWN below" That was
evident from the narrow sole. small heel
and general shape.
"No,w,ly wears such n boot hut
Wayne" said Dick. Wayne made that
track. II points toward the swamp. I'm
going to sec where he went to-"
lie followed the track for. perhaps.
half IN hour.
-Four. miles from Poricr's. or I'm no
judge "f distance" he said. as he paused
Ia take breath. Il wonder how much
farther the singing teacher walks on
moonlight nights. when everybody else
Is supposed to bc IN bcd?"
lie did not have to go much farther
before his question found an answer.
The footsteps led to large cottonwood
tree. and beyond that they did not go.
Aud then Dick made n discovery that
puzzled him. 1t was this:
The rough outside bark had been cut
away. down 10 the smooth white inner
lining, and Oh this were written Ia pen
Gil the following words and figures:
".Avcrill's. near Deer Creek. We'd. !
& q. No. l."
Dick read the message. or whatever it
might, Ike. over and Over. with very
pcrplexc,l look In his face.
"Avcrill's" he repeated. That name
sounds familiar to me-. Let me see.
tl,ongltrully. There's II man by that
name living about eight miles from here,
I think. lie moved IN lately. Yes, I'm
right, ! know. for I heard that Deacon
Snyder talked Ut trading horses with
him. hut what this has I" ,lo will, him
! cant imagine" Hc read the words OH
the tree over again. TITS u rather queer
thing tn come across IN such place as
this. I've known of folks writing on
trees for the fun of the thing. but ] new
or heard Of their getting ~ at midnight
and going four miles into the woods 10
do It. It's all a riddle to me. But it's
waync's writing. plain enough. His let
tcrs on the blackboard, ut singing school.
have Just the same nomrisl,cs TO them.
Yes. it's clear tO me that he wrote that;
hut what he wrote IL for 1 cant guess.
III see what can he made out of tho pnz.
zlc. though. IL keeping an eye on Waync'll
help any. '.\vcrill's. Wednesday" I won.
der IL that means that something IL going
To happen ut Avcrill's when Wednesday
concs!"
lie walked around the tree. examining
The ground closely.
lie could see no other tracks. Evident
~ there had been hut one person there.
The track from the tree led away n
little tn the south of the ono he had fol-
lowed to 1t.
"l'm going tn see what little mancuv.
cring will do said Dick. M lie spicd Il
little pine tree near by. lie took his
knife from his pocket AMI cut away some
of the rough bark an the outside. Is
| soon rs he l,ni reached the inner bark
piicl, began to cN,i'lc IN little. transpar'
cnr drops.
| lie had To wait some time before u
| sufficient amount {" answer his IiirpOs,
had accumulated. Then be- took chir
and ,crapcd some of the sticky stun On
upon II. Taking this To the cottonwood
he spread 1t over that part OF the tree
below the writing which would he mos,
likely to come IN contact with u mans
arm IL he were IN attempt Ia write OIL
The smooth space above.
"rhcrc! II | SEQ any pitch on Wayne,
coat sleeve. ! shall he pretty sure he,
been baci; here" Dick sud-; "and, sccinl
ihnt. | shall know when To come and SO,
what's been done"
| For. though he could not give his va
sons for It. he felt sure that tho wrltinl
had been placed there for some one {,
read aud to answer some special purpose
and that the party Tor whom Il had bcci
LEFT would understand precisely what i
meant. He meant tn understand wha
IL meant. too. before h. let the muttc
drop.
lie attempted 10 follow the trail from
the tree. While II ran along the low
land. Il was comparatively easy TO do vi
but as soon Ms Il came 10 the higle
land It disappeared. The rank growtl
of grass AMI other forest plants, tn
absence OF which was noticcablc as tn
land s,opcd castwarlly toward the Iii
Swamp. with the thick carpet Of las
years leaves still Wnroticd covering tn
ground. took no impression Of the fee
passing over them.
Dick made MP his mini 10 say nothing
about his discovery tn am one. II
would wait aud see what happened.
was barely possible that Wayne had writ
ten the words on the tree under tho I'M
pulse which men often feel 10 scribbl
On whatever surface presents itself ia
scribbling on. And ihrm--an,l this wa
the idea that took firm possession u
Dicks mind--it might have been writ
ten for u purpose. and doubtless was.
I'm keep my eyes open. M any rate.
thought Dick. 1T may amount 10 some
thing. IL IL don't. there's M harm done.
CHAPTER IN.
! Dick had made his discovery on Mon
day. Wednesday evening he went I
singing school
Tho mark on Waync's face had turne
} from purple to dark, green, ANA was IN
subject of much mcrrimcnt among IN
irrevcrent youngsters who attended sini
Ing school. Wayne heard them, an
; knew what they were laughing abou
but he pretended not to notice II.
Dick had ceased to take nm active paI
IN the singing school. lie did no, fe'
like receiving Instructions from ma
! he dislikcd rs much - he did Wayne
. But he would not stay away from !
II he were TO do that hc knew that
womld be said he stayed away on accoul