The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-09-18
CHAPTER x.
The Invasion.


The Invasion.
- UGH ruin as had been wrought
in Sedgwick's studio was strict
~ ly localized. The easel lay OH the
door. with its rear leg crum-
pied. Around it were scattered the
fragments Of the glass upon which the
painter had set his labor of love. \
high old fashioned chair faced the
wreckage. On its peak was hung a
travelling cap. Looping across the
back sprawled a Norfolk jacket belong
ing to Sedgwick. Chester Kent lifted
the coat and after a swift survey let
it drop.
Did you leave that there?" he asked.
Il hung it across the back Of the
chair" answered Sedgwick.
North window closed!'
Yes. as you see it now
'And west one Open!
Nothing has been changed, | tell
you. except this" Sedgwick's hand.
Outstretched toward the destroyed pOr-
trait. condensed itself invOluntarily
into a knotty fist.
Sedywick took the Norfolk jacket
from the chair. "Why there's IA hole
through it, he exclaimed.
Exactly. The path Of the invader"
"A bullet.
Right again. Instead of numbering.
as you pine to do. you've been murder
ed. That the picture was destroyed
is merely a bit of i'll fortune. That
you weren't inside the coat when the
bullet went through it and cut the
prop from your easel is a bit Of the
other kind. Hang up the coat. please"
Sedgwick obeyed.
There" said Kent. viewing the re
suit from the window. AT a distance
of. say a quarter of a mile. that ar
rangement of coat and cap would look
uncommonly like a man sittin" in a
chair before his work. At least
should think so. And yOnder thicket
Oh the hillside" he added, looking out
of the window again. lis just about
that distance and seems to be the only
spot in sight givin. Il straight range.
Suppose we run up there"
Sound as was his condition Sedg-
at the spot some yards behind his long
limbed leader. As the scientist had
surmised. the arrangement Of coat and
cap in the studio presented at that dis
lance an excellent simulacrum Of the
rear view OF a man lOunging in a chair.
i66in tho artist GRAY nufsi1n tina
copse. Kent entered on hands and
knees and made extended exploration.
After a few moments the sound of low
IugubriouS whistling was heard from
the trees. and presently the musician
emerged leading himself by the lobe
of his ear.
Evidently you've found something
commented Sedgwick.
I'm satisfied that some one fred n
shot from here. The marksman-a
good One-saw you. as he supposed.
jerk to the shot as if with a bullet
through you and went away satisfied
Leaving no trace behind him." add
ed Sedgwick.
mo trace that is tangible. Therein
lies the evidence"
"Of course you don't expect me to
follow that
why not! Look at the ground in the
thicket."
What is there to be seen there. since
you've said there are no marksY"
The soil is very soft"
Yes; there's a spring just pack Of us
Yet there's not a footprint discerni,
BILE on it,
1--WE got that part of the lesson by
heart. | think"
use your brain on it. then. Some
one designing to make Won his large
has been in this thicket: been and gOn,
and left the place tracklesS. That som,
n was a keen. soft footed woOdsman
Putting it in words of one syllable,
should say he probably had the racia
instinct of the hunt. Does that f1usl
any idea from your BRAIN"
Racial instinct? Gansett .Jim!' sal,
Sedgwick.
Exactly. If l had found tracks al
over the place. l should have known i
wasn't he. Finding nothing. l wa
naturally pleased"
That's more than | am retorte'
the other. Il suppose he's likely to re
sumo his gunnery at any time"
Unless We can discourage him. as
expect we can"
by having him arrested:"