Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-06-03

on one side, the whitened skulls and bones of moose and deer scattered around and grinning ghastly greet ing to the caller. It is a weird, lonely, and somewhat grewsome spot, where ! man once lived in a savage manner, and as you peer around, guessing how long this rude home has been vacant, you instinctively feel that a human skull may greet you next, or a spectre appear from behind the hut.
 The same mystery and invisible pres ence haunts your own temporary home | each night, and every wilderness sound become magnified and fraught with danger. A squirrel leaping from a bough, mink or an otter plunging into the stream, the cry of loon on. the neighboring lake, all have an ominous significance.
 This mysterious forest influence was familiar to Martin. but now, as he jour- neyed onward, downstream, upstream, across carry with the two officers, and camping where night overlook them, it seemed to him that he had under taken fools errand. We all ought to have an interest in the cause of justice, but to go in pursuit of an in trenched murderer hiding in a vast wilderness was, at least, not to his lik- ing He had, on the spur of impulse, and to prove his own assertions, prom ised to do this; but when the broad, slow-running Moosehorn was reached and night found them at the camp site where he and Dr. Sol were visited by wild man, he wished himself back with old Cy.
 The spot had not changed in the months that had elapsed except that the North Branch was lower, and the summers growth had sprung up where, undergrOwth had been cut away. The old tent poles still remained in place. the same endless procession of foam fecks came down the Branch, and the same low murmur of running water issued from above.
 When the tents were up, fires started. supper cooked and eaten, council of war, SO to speak, was held. l
 Tt was here" Martin said to the of fcers. "that friend and myself first discovered that some mysterious hu- man being or wild man was haunting this wilderness, and, as told you, he gave us good scare. Whether he was this Snan, Mcclure, whom you want, can't say. We found peculiar se- cluded cabin late the next day, and if we make an early start tomorrow, we can reach it before night. I will pilot you to it, but more than that you must not expect. If this escaped criminal is there, you must act as you see fit. His arrest Is not my affair, and don't care to make it such. I've no doubt if it is your man, that the first one of us to approach his hut will be called to halt, and, falling to obey, will meet bullet I've described the location and situation, and would suggest that you now decide upon plan of action. A desperate criminal like this Mcclure, who has kept in hiding for years, won't hesitate to add one or even three more murders to his list. Now know ing what you are likely to meet, what do you propose to do?''
 For moment the two officers con- sidered the matter.
 We are here to arrest this chap" the leader, Scott, responded firmly at last, "and shooting is a game two can play at."
 ''True enough" answered Martin, la conically, sbut with one shooter se- cure in log cabin the play part will be all on one side. shall not mix up in it, as I said, but if you two feel that your duty calls for suicide-well. I'm sorry for you. I should hate to be called upon to bury you under a flag of truce in that clearing, and as for conveying you out of the wilderness if wounded-well, frankly, can't spare the time."
 It was such a matter of fact state ment of the possible outcome that both officers laughed.
 T don't believe in tolling bell un- til corpse is ready" said Scott, land I've found that desperate men some times wilt easy. We will wait and see how the land lays around this fellows lair."
 And that night Martin felt worse than the man who bought white ele- phant.