Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-07-07

| u1dn OHce HVeu III 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. OF 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 magnifed and fraught with
danger. A squirrel leaping from a
Dough, a mink or an otter plunging into
the stream. the cry Of loon on the
neighboring lake, all have on ominous
significance.
This mysterious forest influence was
familiar to Martin, but now, as he jour-
neyed onward, downstream, up stream,
across carry With the two officers. and
camping where night overlook them,
1t seemed TO him that he had UNDER
taken FOOLS Grand 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 az the camp
site where he and Dr.. Sol were visited
by wild man, he wish ed 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
underground had been cut away. The
old tent poles still remained in place,
the same endless procession of foam
flecks 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, O council OF
war. so TO speak. was held.
'It was here Martin said TO the Of
ficers, that friend and myself first
discovered that some mysterious hui
man being or wild man was haunting
this wilderness, and. as told you, he
gave us good scare. Whether be was
this man, Mcclure, whom You want,
/ can't say. We found peculiar Sc
cluded cabin late the next day, and II
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 afld 6and don't
care to make 1t such. I've no doubt II
1t is your man, that the first one of
us to approach his hut will be called
to halt. and, falling to obey. will meet
q bullet. I've described the location
and situation. and would suggest that
you now decide upon q 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 10 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.
I'VE are here to arrest this chap" the
leader, Scott, responded firmly at last,
land shooting is n game two can play
at"
luz ShOiSil, tISNtItu NldTtlu, Id
conically. "but with one shooter Sc
cure In log cabin, the play part will
be all on one side. shall not mix up
In it, as said. but If you two feel that
your duty calls for suicide-well.
I'm sorry for you. ! should hate to
be called upon to bury you under
flag OF truce IN that clearing. and az
for conveying you out of the wilderness
If wounded-well. frankly, can't SPAR
the time"
II was such matter of fact state
ment Of the possible outcome that both
officers laughed.
Il don't believe in tolling a bell I'M
I'll corpse is ready" said Scott "and
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 a white ele-
plant.
GRO BE CONTINUED