Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-11-16

"
it is,never wholly tranquil BY jumping
| from boulder to boulder he crossed
the turbulent tide and gained the 9TH
er side with a sense Of entering the
enemy's country.
Now" he muttered, II am in South
Carolina"
He drew out his map and held 1t
against a tree the better to study it,
measuring himself that his own prop
erty line embraced several sections OF
the forest on the south side of the
state boundary.
"If Grissy shoots me, it will be on
my own land" he said aloud.
He cautiously followed the stream
until, several hundred yards farther
on, and overhanging the creek, he
came upon the log cabin in which Big
Paul had reported the presence of
ghost. Paul's story had not interested
him particularly but now that he was
in the neighborhood he resolved to
visit the cabin and learn If possible
how ghosts amuse themselves by day.
He had thrust revolver into his
pocket before leaving the house and
while he had no idea that ghosts may
be shot, he now made sure that the
weapon was in good order AS he sat
on log slipping the cylinder through
his fingers he heard whistling farther
along the creek. followed quickly by
the swapping Of twigs under heavy
tread, and moment later tall,
slender man broke into view.
The stranger was dressed like
countryman, but he was Enthusiastically
not of the Ardsley force of workmen
for these wore rough sort of uni
form. His hands were thrust careless
" into the side pockets of gray
leans coat They were thrust. in deep
so that the coat sagged at the pockets.
His trousers were turned up from a
pair of rough shoes and he wore a
gray flannel shirt, the collar of which
was guiltless of tie. He was smooth
shaver, and carried in his mouth a
short pipe, which he paused to re-
light when about a dozen yards from
Ardmore Then. as he held the lighted
match above the pipe bowl for an in
slant to make sure his tobacco was
burning, Ardmore jumped up and COW
cred him with the pistol.
Il beg your pardon said the mas.
ter of Ardsley, "but you're my prison
: err"
The stranger shook the flame out OF
the match-stick carefully and threw II
away before turning toward his cap
!, tor.
young man." he said with perfect
. elf-possession, don't fool with that
!. gun! it might go off.
His drawl was characteristic of the
; region: his tone was one of amused
: tolerance Ardmore was short Of stat
6 ure, and his knickerbockers. Logging:
q and Norfolk Jacket were not who'll!
+ consonant with the revolver, which
4 however, he leveled very steadily a
, the strangers head.
s 'You are an intruder on my prop
h erty.' said the master of Ardsley
y "and unless I'm much mistaken Vol
It have been playing ghost in tina
s cabin I've heard about you. Your gam
e has been cutting off my timber abou
d long enough, and this game of playin
t. ghost to scare my men won't do"
e Stealing your timber?" And tn
e stranger was clearly surprised. H
RI held his pipe in his hand with hi
n thumb over the bowl and seemed t
IS take a more serious interest in hi
it captor.
1t "And now" continued Ardmor'
id I'm about tired of having this en-
&c of the country run by the Appl
I'd weights, and their disreputable gan.
n so Pm going to lock you up"
i'd The stranger turned toward tn
at cabin, one corner Of which was plainl
in visible, and shrugged his shoulders.
I'd 81 have nothing to do with the A
id pleweights, and I assure you that
at am not timber thief"
IS Then you must be the one who hs
id lifted few steers out of my herd.
" makes no difference just what brane
I'D of the business you are engaged i
i'd for we're picking up all the gang ar
u you've got to come along with me"
The captive showed sings of ang
ar for the first time His face flushed al
he he took step toward Ardmore, wi
he Immediately threw UP his revolver
he that it pointed at the mans head.
e.. stop right there! We've got o
an man Applewight, so you've lost 20
Id leader, and l tell you the jig's u
in Well have you all in Jail before a
ng other twenty-four hours is up"
lat 81 indae from the tone of your !