Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-09-20
5atuf2d f Short Stoy
The Little Misery
BY RoBT. w. CHAMBER
copyright by Robert W. Chambers.

was the best river driver on the
West Branch, they let him alone until
he struck an Indian with pickpole.
The Indians head was damaged
and while he waited for II to heal ne
selected his revenge. He hunted up
the moose warden and told many
lies. Deity concealed among these
lies, however, was a truth that IN
fairiated the warden
The river driver, whose name was
skeene, sneered when the moose
warden glided into camp. But Wnen
he dug out head and antlers behind
a shanty Skeene picked up his rifle,
locked obliauely at the moose warden,
tied his blanket and frypan. hoiSted
his canoe onto his head and walked
away to the southwark. still sneering.
| don't know what they said about
II In Foxcroft, but Hale, who owned
the timber and who thought he owned
Skeene. hunted him up and sent MN
10 work on the new cutoff, hoping the
affair might blow over in time for
Skeene to drive logs again. But
Skeene turned lazy and lined the dead
wafer with traps and setlines, and
when Hale demonstrated, Skeens
laughed.
Then Hale threatened him and
limited about moose wardens ana sooV
fines. but Skeene thraShed Hale pc
fore the whole camp, packed his XII
and canoe and padded serenely away
down the West Branch.
That really began the trouble, for
Hale never forgave him. When
Skeene started to guide for RENDER
son on the upper Portage, Hale hearo
of 1t and ran him out.
Possibly, If they had let him alone,
he might have turned out as tame as
a moose bird-he was only twenty
fhree-but Hale remembered, and the
Indian remembered, and one day
man came In to the Carry camp with
a 44-bullet mi his wrist and an I'M
served warrant in his pocket me
man was moose-Warden, anu the
warrant was for Skeene.
When the news spread that Skeene'
had shot a warden, the guides from
Portage to Lily-Bay condemned MN,
Down Mt Greenville a sheriff and
posse boarded the "Katahdini" and
spenf several weeks cruising about al
nuhlic expense. Possibly they eX-
rected Skeene to come down 10 the
shore and sit on the rocks; perhaps
they fancied he might paddle across
their bows in his sleep. Naturally ne
did neither.
Even after that if they had given
MIN a chance. he might have sur
rendered and taken his punishment. |
A warden saw him building lean
10 on the island that divides the west
branch. The warden waited until
aarJrs ora wled in outside the fire and
caught Skeene asleep. What Skeene
did to the warden when he awoke
the official cannot remember DIS
tinictly. -. s,.....
walked into Kineo store, handling ms
rife in most alarming fashion ne
suggested that they place certain pro-
visions and ammunition in MS canoe,
which Law on the beach below. inc
three clerks complied. Tnenty minutes
,atcr Skeene. in his canoe, was seen
making for Moose River:
They notified the sheriff again. Peo-
nile fought shy of Moose River ana the
lake beyond which is called Red Lake.
In vain the guides declared the region
safe. Skeene let them alone. Inc IN
dian logdriver. however, stayed away
after Skeene had shot hole IN MS
canoe.
~Skeene went to Canada for year,
worked at anything that came along,
and sent money to Kine's store 10
nav for his pork and powder That, or
course. won him the guides again. 90
when .homesickness drove him back to
Red Lake he expected to be let alone.
Hale, sluicing at the Northwest
Garry, heard he had returned, ana
started TO1 IIHu Lane WIN NAS I'D
driving halfbreed and six men. Two
days later they returned; Hale had
bullet in his leg above the knee and
the halfbreed carried a similar gift
In his forearm.
This incident bothered the sheriff
cruelty. He went to Foxcroft. where
they said unpleasant things to him;
he went back TO the Landing and they
made fun of him.
The sheriff summoned his posse,
boarded the steamer Red Deer and
left Greenville, bound for Moose
River. Half a dozen canoes were
aboard. The possee carried Winches-
tiers, although no game was IN season.
OF the Grey Gull, an island, the
little steamboat stopped, the canoes
were dropped, the posse embarked.
AT the mouth of the Moose River
two more canoes were waiting; Hale
sat in one, paddle glistening IN the
pale spring sunshine: in the other sat
the Indian log-driver, nursing the
hammer of a rifle.
1T was padding for mile to the 4,
first wing dam, and there the sheriff,
who led. flung his stern paddle into
the bottom of the canoe, fourlShed
The setting-pole and stood up. At the
same moment a jet of flame leaped
from the wing-dam and bullet
passed through the sheriff's hat,
The amazed official fell overheard,
eank, rose, grasped the edge of the
canoe and swamped it, turning the
bow-pad dler into the river. The swift
current landed them on shoal and
they crawled up on rock.
Nobody fred at the wing-dam eX-
cent Hale. He banged away as fast
az he could pump the breach-lever,
and Billy Sebato, the Indian, took
10 the bushes and lay patiently wait
ing for a mark, purring with eager
ntss.
Jim Skeene, you darned thief"
shouted Hale. come out from them
stones"
II amt no more thief than you be-
Josh Halel" bawled Skeene. 81 paid
for the mrations and cartridges and
you know d--n well | did.
The Indian Sebato fire twice.
IF that niger Sebato don't quit
shootin' I'll let loose on all o. ye!"
called Skeene. shaking his rifle above
the wing dam edge. Git back to
YOUR dreen, Josh Hale, / tell you"
! Hale started to push his canoe
among the rocks where he could hold
IL and fire under cover. Skeene slid
suddenly to the corner of the wing
dam and fred three shots through the
canoe, cutting swale lengthwise at
the waters edge. 1t settled in two
feet Of water.
HOW'LL you let me be- called
Slseene II hain't done nothin to
YOU. If that there moose-warden
wants me let him come and get me.
1 tell We I'll shoot TO kill at the next
man that fires!'
You dasn't,' shouted the sheriff |
from behind his rock; you amt alt