Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-04-29

pIONdl SOOu udlultuly do nc ldhOh
everything in life SO far, and only
smiled gently as he slid from the
cracker box, and nodding to the circle
of men drifted slowly up the main
street
Out of eye range his expression
changed. His face lit up with an in
ward glow.
Maybe I've got my chance at last"
he thought, grimly. Hart won't get
him. He's too cock-sure and Big Pete's
too smart for him. It's my chance, l
reckon" He slapped his leg and
rubbed the place thoughtfully. Under
this new impetus the loggers of Put
nav Creek would hardly have known
their deputy. "My first and last chance
in life, I reckon" he repeated DELHI
erately, "and-I'm going to take it"
Half way up the tree-shadowed
street an idea jumped into his brain.
The possibilities that it held were fas
cinating to contemplate, and he re-
manned half the night engaged in that
task. but when the next morning
dawned, with the sun a pale glimmer
had mysteriously disappeared.
The forested spurs of the mountains
furnished excellent sport for the hunt
erS of that region, and many tourist
Englishmen from various parts of the
surrounding country remained a day
or two in the vicinity in the hope of
bagging some locally famous game. So
| r-;t Nil ut !,
cabin door, week after his night visit
to town, heard the familiar crack of
the shotgun, his grim brows relaxed
and he continued his work-the bind
ing together with leather thongs the
little wooden bed that he was careful
| ly mending.
1t was such a tiny bed that the En-
glishman who appeared just then,
rounding the other side of the big
pine, stared in amazement Tiny and
daintily fashioned, it's carefully planed
surfaces glistening in the sun and its
gilded knobs rejecting the glittering
rays, it seemed an unreal object, and
one likely to melt into thin air if ap-
preached too close However the En-
glishman continued to stand some 20
feet away, and Big Pete, with lowered
brows, uttered a swift, malevolent
oath.
He'll An Englishman!"
"Mornin'," returned the Englishman,
GROSSLY. DO you know where | am,
my good man? l rather fancy" he
added in a veXed undertone, that I've
lost my way"
Big Pete shot a covert glance at the
speaker. He was a little man with a
general air of hopelessness and INSULT
cheney about him that at any other
time would have moved Pete to grim
and silent mirth. AS it was, he merely
noted the empty game bag hanging
from the strangers shoulder, and drew
his own deductions. Big Pete rose
lleisurely to his feet.
"Huntin'?" he briefly asked.
The stranger nodded, dejectedly IN
Singing his empty bag.
Devils luck, and I've been camping
in the mountains these ten days, too
Big Petes look of relief was instan-
taneous. He resumed his seat on the
rough bench and the stranger ap-
preaching, slid carelessly along the
other end. He handled his gun awk-
wardly, and Big Pete, observing it
smiled grimly, as he drew some more
deductions.
"Thars game in these hills, eff yOu
know whar to look fur it, he vouch'
safed, gruffiy, as if fearful of an open
ing wedge.
The Englishman's eyes expressed
polite Notwithstanding more. The!
were peculiar eyes-gray, alert anC
steady. He kept them fastened on 4;
near rock, and his shotgun lay care
lessly across his knees. AS he asked
his next question, his right hant
dropped lightly on the barrel.
THE nearest town on straight trai
is PUTNAM Creek, eh?"
Big Pete's eyes leaped to the de
fensive again, but he answered tn
question with apparent irreverence.
There's only one man in the hui
damned outfit; that's Farley. He cal
ride faster, shoot straighter and man
age a boat better than any one in tn
county-what in hell"
For the muzzle of the Englishman'
gun lying carelessly across his knee
was pointing straight at his breast
and the Englishman's eyes, dark an
cold, held a CLINT of steel.
I'm Farley" said the stranger
softly.
Big Pete swore a little more. TIL
end seemed unpleasantly near.
STAND up!" ordered Farley. shortly
1--WE a boat this side the river TIL
way lies down that trail"
Strive as he would, the deputy coul
not keep the elation from his voice
He had succeeded where the other
: had failed. Luck had turned his wa
\ at last. The chance that he had waite
and striven for-the chance that ha
been long in coming-the chance tha
WAS IN show the DeODle of his tow