Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-08-24
CHAPTER NINE.

ft-Af Elk NINE,
After breakfast the next morning
Pierre sat on the doorstep reading
when Bessie Dopefield came around
the corner of the house. She had been
helping Marie wash the dishes. and the
elder woman admired her tdiness in
housework They had been talking
about the wickedness OF the liquor
business and the recklessncss of the.
smugglers. An idea had struck Bes-s
sic with irresistible force. Tugging at
Pierre's sleeves she drew him around
behind the house where they could not
be heard and said:
Il want YOU to help ne capture
FIatfoot D'Ericn.'
An right he laughed, but how
are we going to do it o.
Well. he was wounded by your
father. wasn't he? He is now hiding
somewhere in the woods. or is dead.
All we have got to do is to take Jules.
Your bear up to that clearing by the
Old well and have him ferret him out.
Then. if we are armed. we can capture
him or kill him in the attempt
Good" exclaimed the girls admir-
er. but suppose he shoots first
He can't shoot straight if he is
wounded And if We capture him it
would be a kindness to him. and we
will get the 500 that my father offered
as q reward
And what will We do with it,
DO with it? We can decide that
after we get it. Come. will you help
me?"
only too glad. Shall we start at
and
there is fathers rifle
An hour after this they were on
their way. Jules swung his great
body along the road in front and
Pierre followed with the rifle Bessie.
in one of Marie's working suits.
brought up the rear with the two re-
volvers stuck in her belt The climb
to the top of the mountain was a long
one. but at last they We're there.
Nothing was disturbed. The rope lay
beside the well. and the stone over the
entrance to the dungeon in the cellar
of the place was still open. Wolves
and foxes had been in the hole trying
to eat the canned goods. but had only
tumbled them around
Jules pried around the place shifting
suspiciously and growing a good deal.
Flatfoot O'Briens hat lay on tn floor
and this Pierre took up and carried
out to the light He held it down to
Jules saying as if he had been dog.
Go seek him, jules, Go seek him,
say
The monster-and he was monster
for he had grown with the years
smelled the hat carefully and began
nosing around on the ground till he
found the place where Flatfoot had
stood when the ball from Croteau' S
rifle had broken his left arm. From
here the bear followed the trail down
over the mountain to the north. bear
ing away to the east after a mile or
TWO. There were places where the
smuggier had evidently stopped to
rest. or had tainted from loss Of blood.
Inc leaves were pressed down. and
these wef@- ffrnri clotted now and
then.
Poor fellow. said Bessie pityingIy.
He may be suffering tor;ilres some
where
More likely we shall find his body
lying in the bushes" SAID Pierre. Il
don't care. He deserves to die
Think of the people his liquor ha
ruined. Remember the families i,
has broken up.
oh, ] cont know. | am not such
strong prohibition woman. | thinl,
the law ought 20 be enforced bccaus,
1t is Il law. But as for happy homes
broken UP. 4 man wac is weak enough
to let liquor hrclk him 90 will go t.
the dogs anyW"Y sooner or later. Il
1t isn't drink it viii be something else
OH.