The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1913-01-31
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cure, ne repleQ ldCOnlCally. VINO
ever was in that automobile is at least
half mile away by now. The glass
on the front lamps is nearly cold.
want to see the number, though. We
may find ii useful
Taking my little electric lamp he ad-
vanced toward the machine again,
flashing the light for a second on the
number, and then peering by its light
into the tonneau, exclaiming as he
Strengthened up: Il thought So"
II 1t was safe for him to smoke, the
constable and / felt that it was safe
for us, too, to relax our precautions,
and together We had advanced until
we were beside him.
What did you find?" I asked, won
dering at his exclamation.
What l expected" he replied en-
jgmatically.
The manner of his answer provoked
me and l determined then and there
to have it out with him.
Look here, Davis" / said; II
brought you into this case and do not
like the way you have acted about it.
have freely told you everything
have discovered and have aided you
in every way can. Before go a step
farther on this trip | want to know
more about It,"
What is it you wish to know" he
asked. The constable edged nearer
for fear he might miss something Of
our conversation.
First, where are We going?"
ITO what is known as the deserted
cottage, about a half mile farther on,
at the edge of this clearing, a shack
that was built for shelter for lum-
bermen or quarrymen--which was 1t,
Dodds?"
Built for one and used by t'other,"
the constable replied, but faint been
used by either, so far as I know, for
dozen years"
How do you know the missing post.
master Is there?"
Traced him"
How"
Bicycle tracks," he answered with
chuckle. You were not the only
person who discovered that Rouser,
when he disappeared, went on bicycle.
In fact, Kent, you are little slow as
detective. By the time you had as
certained that much, | ascertained
where the bicycle tracks led to and
had even gone so far as to have Dodds
get warrants for Rouser and his ac-
complete"
Il still 90 not see how you got evil
dence enough 10 get warrant for
Crandall. Did you find him out here
with the missing postmaster"
Il didn't say l had a warrant for
Crandall," replied the inspector sharp
ly. did you ever hear of John Doe
warrant"
How do you know they are out here
now" l asked.
Wen soon find out. Come on" he
answered, starting across the clearing
almost at dog-trot.
There were many more questions |
wanted to put to him, but there was
no opportunity, and, besides, doubted
much if he would have answered them
At first he made little effort to move
quietly, but after we had gone
quarter of a mile or more he called
back in whisper. Quietly now"
We had come to a path which led
us through a short thick growth of I'M
derbrush. AS noiselessly as Indians
following a trail We felt our way along,
the silence broken now and then by
the sound of bough bent back, or a
rustling leaf. Soon the path brought
us out on some rising ground. Not fifty
yards ahead of us appeared the de-
serted cottage.
That's it," whispered Dodds.
SSH! answered Davis. Wait
herei"
We stopped there just at the edge
of the underbrush, peering into the
darkness, straining our eyes to see
and our ears to hear. From the one
window in the side of the one-story
log hut dim light shone, proving that
the place was either occupied or had
been very recently. AS We became
more and more accustomed to the
darkness l could see that there were
apparently two paths, the one on
which we We're standing and another
leading off at about right angle.
AS We looked and listened l heard a
sharp crack, like the breaking of a
twig that had been stepped on.
The sound, so far as I could Judge.
came from the other path, apparently
a hundred feet away from the cottage.
/ turned toward Davis and saw that
he, too, had heard it. He was stand
ing with his whole body tense, h
head bent forward little as IL ready
to spring at any instant
As we listened, another sound came
to our ears. At first indistinct, it
quickly took the rhythm of footsteps
hurrying along the path, a man walk
ing rapidly, | decided. The hurrying
footsteps came nearer and nearer. Da-
Wis now was crouching like a runner
about to make hundred-yard dash.
1t was only a minute Of suspense
and yet the effect on my nerves was
Undesirable. l wanted to scream
like hysterical girl; wanted to run,
forward or back, it made no differ
ence; | wanted to do something, any
but stand there and
wait in the darkness
All Of sudden the form of a man
hurrying along the other path became
visible. He seemed to be carrying
something. Davis took two or three
noiseless steps forward and stopped
abruptly. From the shadows, from
nowhere it seemed, the figure Of an
other man appeared directly in the
path of the oncomer.
Hold on herei" it said. or some
thing like that