Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-05-31

!! hermit when just as Levi and Jean had pitched the tent and started fire, two men padded up in a canoe and landed close by
 Both were dressed as ordinary sports men, yet neither could be classed as a guide.
 We were about to make camp above 1 here," explained the older, a man with short-cropped gray beard and keen eyes, "and, seeing your fire, we came down for company's sake. Hope we don't intrude''
 Mot at all," answered Martin, pleas antly, and according to the code of all sportsmen, my old friend and I also like company, and you are welcome to camp with us.' Then. still following the code, he drew flask out from the 1 stores and passed it to them.
 After this peace-offering they with ] drew a few rods and began clearing a camp site. Later, when Martin and old Cy had disposed of the broiled ven ison, coffee and boiled potatoes Levi had provided, and lit their pipes, the newcomers joined them. And now en- sued polite word duel between Martin and the elder stranger, with each try ing to obtain information without giv- ing 1t. It was fruitless, as might be expected, for Martin was suspicious that these men were not the sportsmen 1 they claimed to be; hence he gave no information and they were as reticent. I It is a curious and yet well-known fact that two men meeting thus, will, in short space, form a usually cor rect opinion of each others character and present plans and intentions. One may strive to evade, to assert what is false, and as the saying is, pull wool over the others eyes, yet it is usually futile. Tn this case Martin soon felt l satisfied beyond doubt that these men I were not here for sport, but on some secret mission they meant to conceal I They spoke of the abundance of game and where they had seen it, of the weather, numbering interests, parties I they had met. and kindred subjects, all the time striving to induce Martin to do more talking. At last he decided to try an experiment on those who he felt wished to learn his mission.
 T presume, gentlemen he said, 'that you've been up the Moosehorn ?'
 The speaker of the two admitted that 1 he had
 We'll continued Martin, in confi- dential manner, .'I was up that way last spring with a friend of mine who had never been in the woods, and one night we received visit from a most hideous wild man. My friend saw him first and nearly died of fright, and later on saw him glaring at us from l behind a bush. If you go that way again, you may meet him.
 "The next day. continued Martin, ] smiling at their sudden interest, i've hunted for this fellows tracks and I found he was endowed with the claws | of a panther"
 It was true, and yet in an instant Martin saw he wasn't believed.
 Did you notice horns on him also the evening before?" came the query, in response to this astonishing state ment.
 No, answered Martin, laughing, "nor tail either; but what I tell you is true, though see you don't believe it."
 For answer the two men looked first at one another. then at Levi and Jean reclining close by, and, rising, the speaker said to Martin, Come over to our tent, won't you? I've something choice there want you to sample.
 It was only an excuse to obtain privacy, and evident enough to Martin, but he little realized the shock that ] was coming
 "I am satisfied" said the speaker of | the two men in low voice, when the three had entered his tent, addressing Martin, that you and your friends are I gentlemen who are here on sports mems mission and for sport. We are on anotherl and far different errand, but it won't do for your guides to know it for sufficient reasons. see l you mistrust us, and that is why asked you in here" He paused, looked at his companion who nodded, and then continued, T did hope to obtain some information from you. but see it is impossible until make myself known. 1 We are officers and are looking for murderer who has been hiding in this wilderness many years. We have heard recently that he has cabin OH one of the Musquacook lakes, and we are bound that way. Every guide who comes into this region is in league against us to protect this murderer, and for that reason I could not speak freely before yours"
 Then Martin, listening, almost l gasped for breath at this admission. This peaceful old hermit who taught squirrels to love him, and whom he believed to be Amzi Curtis-a mur- 1 dereri Impossible!
 You are wrong, gentlemen" he said l in a positive tone, wholly wrong, and 1 I know it. I found that hermit you are 1 after last spring, and he never did or never would harm fly out of malice." Then he told, as if pleading for him. self, what manner of man this hermit was, and beyond that, whom he sur- l missed him to be- NO, no, gentlemen" he said in con- clusion, "this old fellow is a poor half l demented man whom my friend and myself are going to call on, and I know he is not the one you want"