Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-06-01

definite plan OF action had been agreed
upon SO far.
I'm going to let you manage this
affair" replied Martin, after pause,
You know the woods, you know the
danger. and what want. IL the her.
NIT is the man think, we must keep
him out Of these officers hands If we
have to tie him hand and foot and
carry him off bodily
II wished we'd got more time" re-
turned Levi, thoughtfully; we're in
sort o. pocket up thar, m bout the
only chance O. gittin out is down the
way we go in, n that means runnin
right into these ossifers, sure pop.
Thar's small stream comm into that
lake whar he Is. but we can't work up
1t more n a mile n 1t ends in a beaver
dam. DIN EN-" he muttered little
later, II wish we could start 'em up
toward the Moosehorn n the hut with,
the signal wire. That's one o. Nc
Cures hidin'-spots, I've notion"
But time was flying, Martin uneasy
to be off, and the moment breakfast
was eaten, the .smouldering fire was
drenched with water to leave no smoke
gign, and the canoes pushed off,
And now came an exhibition OF
woodcraft new even to Martin. Levi,
always the last to get into his canoe,
waited until the other had moved out,
then, stepping into the water, reached
back with his paddle and levelled every
track in the sand and smoothed down
the burrows cut by canoe bows when
they landed, then with a tin cup he
| threw water over them all.
''They may find somebody built a
fire." he said, as he took his seat, but
they can't tell when"
And now forward once more into and
up the slow-running stream, Martin
| and the doctor had assembled, as they
supposed In pursuit of wild man. 1t
seemed longer now, for pursuers were
| hot after them. 1t lent vigor to their
| padding, however, and when the quick
water was reached, and they halted for
| a breathing spell, Martin consulted his
watch and was astonished to find 1t
not yet ten. He had been so keyed
up with excitement, the night journey.
the brief sleep and ALL that he had lost
sense Of time. He had not even no
ticed the sun. 1t was reassuring in
| one way, for they must still be many
hours in advance of their pursuers.
and they pushed on with rising spirits.
For over two months now Martin
had been slowly reaching the conclu-
sion that this old hermit must be the
1ong-missing Amzi. At first vague
suspicion, then probability, and at
last-so many times had he thought OF
1t, comparing and shifting all data and
gossip, recalling the old hermit's looks
and nature as he found Them with all
reports, that now he was ready to stake
his life almost that the long mystery
would soon be solved and the hermit
found to be Angles father. There
were other and stronger chords than
curiosity. His memory of boyhood
days and Angie-his more mature and
deeper love for her now-the realiza-
ton of how she had been wronged. and
/ beyond these. burning desire to teach
that misery hypocrite. her uncle, q
lesson in common honesty and man
hood, moved him to action.
And just ahead, shining in the sun.
light, was the little lake across which
might be the one who could solve al
mystery and serve justice.
Martin could hardly wait, and, al
though weary by loss OF sleep and lons
hours of steady padding, when tht
Prov Of his canoe emerged from the
tangle of alders and glided into the
lake, he fixed his eyes on the thicket Of
spruce where the hut stood, and never
lowered them until his canoe bow
grated on the sandy landing.
/ Then, leaping ashore, he halted.
4 you had better go first," he said tx
old Cy, ''the shock of seeing you may
waken his memory. It's only a few
rods up this path to the hut"
Half dreading. and yet longing tt
end the suspense, Martin followed his
companion. Up the steep bank, amons
the thick-growing trees they crep
stealthily until the stump-dotted gar.
den opened into view, and beside i
the hut. The fence was still in place
weeds and dried corn stalks filled TIL,
garden, and as old Cy opened the littl,
gate and halted before the cabin, the
squirrels frisked and chartered will
sudden interest.
But the door was closed, and wha
was more discouraging, bank of DIR,
leaves had gathered at its foot eau
tiously, and with sinking heart MARTYR
crept up, pushed the door open ant
looked in.
The hut was empty.