Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-07-11


with a refilled glass.
This the young man drank more
leisurely, staring with unconcealed
curiosity at his entertainer.
II was a kind of stare that wouI0
embarrass six men out OF ten, ana
madden the remaining four; but the
wocdman bore il with the calm i'm
passiveness of a wooden block, and
stood motionless as a statue till the
youth set down the glass, then he
raised his hand and pointed to the
west.
"Yonder lies Arkdale."
"Oh! How far?''
-Four miles and a half by the neal
road. Follow me, and will put you
into IT,"
.'All right, lead on" said the other;
but as he rose he turned, and while
rehIing his pipe stared at the closely
locked cottage.
Comfortable kind of crib that, my
man"
The woodman nodded CURLY.
you are a woodman?"
Another nod.
And poacher too, Ell? No offense,'
he added, coolly. Il only supposed so
from the close way in which you keep
your place locked up"
Suppose what you please" retorted
the wooGman, if words so calmly
spoken could be called a retort
"Yonder lies your road, you'd best be
taking to it."
No hurry" retorted the young
man, thrusting his hands in his
pockets and smiling at the in-con.
cealed impotence which struggled
through the grave calm on the
weather-beaten face. We'll, I'm COM
ing. You're not half such bad sort,
after all. What have you got inside
there that you keep SO close, ehI
Some of the crown jewels or some OF
the queens vension? Take my advice,
old fellow-if you don't want people to
be curious, don't show such anxiety to
keep 'em out of your crib"
The man, pacing on ahead, knit his
brows as if struck by the idea.
Curious folks don't come this way,
young sir" he said, reluctantly.
$50 l should think" retorted the
other. well. I'm not one of the
curious, though you think | am.
don't care a button what you've got
there VIII you have a pipe? I've
got some bacca."
The man shook his head, and they
walked on in silence for some minutes.
the footpath winding in and out like
dimly-defned serpent. Presently II
widened, and the woodman stopped
short and pointed down the leafy lane.
Follow this path" he said, "unth
you come TO wood pile; take the
path to the left of it, and il will bring
you TO Arkdale. Goodnight, young
sir"
Here, stop" said the young man.
and he held out his hand with a dOlial
in it. Here's a trihe TO drink NY
. health with"
The woodman looked at the coin,
then shook his head slowly; and win
another goodnight turned ana
4 ~ eAAA4 ~ SAA.
Not at all abashed the young man
restored the coin 10 his pocket
\ laughed, and strobe on.
The woodman walked back a few
yards, then stopped, and looked after
I the stalwart figure until it deepened
in the gloom, a thoughtful, puzzled ex-
| preston upon his face, as If he were
/ trying TO call up some recollection.
With a shake of his head, denOting
! failure, he made his way to the cot
\ tage, unlocked il and entered.
The door opened into what appeared
To be living room. II was small and
I plainly furnished, after the manner OF
a wOodman's hut, and yet. after a
moments glance. a stranger would
I have noticed a subtle air OF refinement
\ in common with better habitations.
The table and chairs were of plain
deal the walls were o. pine, stained
and vanished. but these was a cool
thick carpet on the floor, and on one
side of the room hung bookcase
flied with well-bCunS volumes.