Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-04-17
Copyright. 1894, by Robert Bonner's Sons
CHAPTER XIV.-tContinued.)

by crow, L laGuL Thought luGl.
said Bill, scratching his head. IN bet
anything you've hit the nail right sauar'
on the head. tell you that Dick Bray
toms a bad IN an no mistake. but we've
got him cornered, l reckon.
Il wouldn't have taken him for horse
thief" said Wayne. Il can't believe it
of him yeA and still
The break in his sentence implied that
it was impossible for him to believe any
thing else.
No, nor j, nuther," responded Bill,
but | tell you he is one"
1T certainly looks as if he WERE" said
Wayne, turning away as if to put an end
10 the conversation in which he failed
TO take great deal of interest. He was
satisfied that be had said enough to set
Bill going, and, that being done, he could
keep in the background and let the other
stir the matter up.
What's up now?" asked one of half a
dozen men who had been trying to over
hear the. conversation taking place be-
tween Wayne and Bill. "Suthin' new
in the wind, eb!"
Here was an opportunity for Bill to
display himself to good advantage. He
could cover himself with glory. He could
stand forth before his neighbors, who had
not heretofore had very exalted opin-
ion Of him, as d hero in the detective
line.
See here, neishbors, I've got suthin' to
say to We" said Bill. mounting a stump.
Draw round, all on ye."
By this time rumors that Bill had dis
covered something very important, and
was about TO disuge it. were current,
and the crowd surged about him. eager,
excited, anxious to know what it was
that he had to tell
Bill was not what could be truthfully
called natural orator. But it did not
require that he should be, on this occa-
sion, for the audience was already at
white heat of excitement.
lie began by telling of having seen
Brayton Eassfas his fathers place some
time after midnight on the night of the
robbery at Averilps.
An there's some here as heerd me
twit him of bein' off summers that night"
said Bill IAN they heerd him deny it,
TOO, or try to- anyhow. Amt that so.
Josh Balcomb?''
Mr.. Balcomb, thus being called on, adj
mitted that he had been witness of
the conversation to which Bill alluded.
Il thought So, said Bill. II don't
want nobody 10 take my word fer it
alone"
Then he went on to tell of his follow
ing Dick into the woods, and of seeing
him at work at something by the old cot
tonwood, and of the discovery he had
made there, after Dick had taken his
departure from the place.
Here's the thing, jest precisely as
you'll find it there now, less somebody's
meddled with it sense | see it." he said,
holding up the piece of birch bark on
which he had made a diagram of the
marks on the tree, at Waynes request.
You see these lines a-crossin' each other,
don't We? Wall, me an Mr.. Wayne,
we've studied it out like this: These here
lines a-crossin' each other, they stan
fer these here cross roads. This here
spot, 1t STAINS fer the very identical place
where we air now-Deacon Snyder's
farm, in the northwes' corner O. the cross
roads. An these here figgers, we take
EN- TO mean some o. the gang o. boss
thieves, an we b'leeve Dick Brayton s
at the head of it, we do SO; an this con-
trYance issa kind o. map fer the rest on
EN- to go by. What du y'u think about
it, neighbors ?"
The crowd about the stump was omin-
ously quiet for moment. Then the spell
was broken by some one calling out:
You say you see Dick Brayton make
that on the treeT'
Il did so, answered Bill, solemnly. Il
see him make that on the tree"
Let me do him the justice to say again
that think he was honest when he made
this statement. He believed that Dick
had left the diagram on the cottonwood,
and that he had seen him making it there.
Then Dick Brayton's a boss thief"
the man said. with grim decision that
told his mind was fully made up regard
Ing the matter. circumstances show
him to De jest that, 'cordin' to Bill
Green's story, an | reckon Bill wouldn't
lie bout sich things"
Yer jest right there, neighbour" said
Bill.
Speak oct. neighbors, an let's hear
what the rest of We hev tn say about it,"
said the man who had professed his be-
lief in Dicks guilt.
Though there was not great deal of
speaking out, it was quite evident that
most of the crowd indorsed his opinion.
But Dick had some friends left.
Both Mr.. Boone and Mr.. Porter were
strong and earnest in their protestations
of belief in his innocence.
"Hain't had a chance to know suthin'
about the boy, seems he's worked for me
right along sence he come to Browns
ville? demanded Mr.. Boone. Il tell YOU
what it is, neighbors: Dick Brayton didn't
steal them bosses no more'n 1 did or you
lid. wouldn't be bit more s'prised eff
you'd laid it onto me-"
How do you explain things, then -
asked Bill, resenting Mr.. Boone's cham
pioning of Dock as a personal affront.
Il don't pertend to explain en-" an
swered Mr.. Boone. Il perpose to let
Dick do that himself Give him a chance,
an I'll warrant We he'll satisfy We be
dain't no boss thief
At this juncture man who had been
looking the barn over with the hope of
discovering some clue. came up with the
air OF having made discovery which he
considered of some importance.
Does any one know whose knife this
Isl" he asked, holding up large, bone
handled pocketknife for Identification.
Mr. Boone turned pale and looked at
Mr. Porter with alarm expressed in bis
face.
For he recognized the knife as Dicks.
Il know the knife an could w'ar TO it
snywheres," spoke up young man,
crowding toward the possessor Of the ar
,icle under consideration. Its Dick
Brayton's knife. l snapped it 10 him fer
this one." displaying a knife which he
took from his pocket ITO prove it, Jest
you look at the small blade an see eff
there hain't crack in il, clost down to
the rivet."
"Yer right-there is" said the man who
held the knife. after looking il over.
Here's the crack. neighbors, jest as he
said"
Where did ye find the knifey'' asked
Bill Green.
Il found it in the straw nigh the man
ger where the boss stood whose halter
was cut was the reply.
Such was the excitement OF the crowd
al that moment that. had Dick Brayton
been there, he would donhiiess have Seen
strung nm ia the nearest tree without the
farce OF trial.