The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1913-01-10
,instion Of pebbles. sand. high grssa

hination Of pebbles. sand. high grsz
and ragged overgrown lawn, family
visible In the starlight. On nearer
approach however, We found an open.
ing In the curtain OF trees, a yeritable
valley OF shadow. through which we
passed TO a strip Of neglected sward
and a squat, implanted w~eather-beat.
en- cottage OF a single story, with
yine-screened Yerandah.
And in what seemed to US the very
center OF the house front, there shons
8 tiny glowing point OF red FIRE. We
had not come altogether In vain. BY
all the odds OF chance, ii was r safe
conclusion that Murphy. in propria
persona, was behind that lighted end
Of a cigar. Then We saw the point
move, describing a half circle, and ST.
simultaneously q voice rang out--a
deep. sonorous voice. but OF churlssh
information:
What do you want hereg"
| suppose he expected mo to come
to a sudden halt. but | was then only
a few steps distant from the veran'
dab. and as | answered him. | GOV
cred that distance.
MY motor boat ran out OF gaso-
lene," | said. and drifted to your
beach. | was In hopes we might Dor
row enough to get us home"
| saw him now, dimly, II the shad-
owed recess. He was seated facing
me. a creature Of great bulk, with
huge head and ponderous shoulders,
II don't keep gasolene.' was his
gruff response,
II thought" | began. but his next
utterance drowned my words,
Il say / don't keep It," he reiter'
ated. in louder tones, isn't that
plain"
"Oh. quite. You have neither saso'
lene nor good manners
| saw him rise. a massive tower.
dwarhng his surroundings, and taks
a step forward to the edge OF his
porch.
This is my house and my castle"
he flung at me, savagely, and | won't
stand for t~respassers. II you two
don't want to be flung off my proper
ty, II would be advisable for you to
make haste in going"
My laugh was not caleulaied to
saIve his Ill humor, yet ] think he
must have gathered from 1t that was
not to be terrorized by either his
size or his threats.
Your names Murphy, think |
ventured, calmly, not moving an inch
But he made no response.
Mine Is Clyde" | went on; u am
one OF the state game wardens.'
I'm not interested in who you
are" he growled.
"But I'm interested in learning
what your Chlnaman was shooting
this morning, over on the Cameron
place"
"Tben find out" was his courteous
retort. I'm sure ! shan't tell you"
,Maybe the Cbinaman will be more
obliging," | suggested, and turning to
Jerry, who had stood in silence. all
the while, q few steps behind me-
said: Look around at the back. my
lad, and II you car find Mr.. Murphy's
man fetch him here"
But before / had quite finished, the
big man In the shadow OF the Veran-
dab was storming:
He'll stop Just where he ID. II he
dares to come another step nearer
this house, I'll throw the pair of you
over the hedge, neck and crop. Do
you hear me%
"And If you dare to interfere with
an officer or his deputy in the dis
charge of his duty, the authorities
will settle with you" was my calm re-
ioinder. "Trot ahead, Jerry! His
bark's worse than his bite"
Jerry, quick to obey, disappeared
on the instant around the r Of
the bungalow. and Murphy, after a
pretended dash forward, halted on
the lower porch step.
See here!" he demanded, cum
brously. What's all this, anyhow
You come here after gasolene. o.
tensibly, and then declare you're
game wardens after a law-defytng.
Chinese poacher."
tTo BE CONTINUED)