The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1914-12-24

gc.tly
r,1sh Ut tears filed her red brown
EYES
Val Black has one like that. made
ii for him myself long ago
And he has rifle Of some English
mike" added November.
Mrs Rome started so he has, but
never remembered that till this min
NE" She looked back into Joes gray
eyes with Indignation "And he smokes
Nugget all tight, too. know it. All
tie same. it isn't Vail"
Its queer them bits of worsted on
tic doornais." observed Joe judicially
Her color famed for a moment.
"Nhy queer? He's been here to see
IL us more II once this time back
The nails might have caught his neck
G any day" she retorted.
Its just possible" agreed Novem
b'r in an unconvinced voice.
lit can't be Vail" repeated Mrs
lone steadily. When we were out
Il sight and of earshot l turned to
sovember.
The evidence against Black Is pref.
" strong What's your notion?"
Cant say yet think we'd best
DIN Evans: he'll be trailing the thief"
We made straight through the woods
coward the spot where the dogs body
lay As we walked | tried again to
find out Joe's opinion.
But the motive? Haven't Mrs.
Rome and Black always been on good
terlns?" persisted.
Joe allowed that was 80 and added.
wal wanted to marry her years ago..
But surely Black wouldn't rob her.
especially now that he has his chance
again"
Think not?" said Joe. II wonder!"
A fter a pause he went on: but II
amt hard to see whatll be Evans
views on that He'll say Walls scared
OF her growing too independent, for
she's made good so far with her traps
and so he Just naturally took hand to
brighten her into marriage. His case
agin Val won't break down for want OF
motive"
"One question more. Joe. Do you
really think Val Black is the guilty
MANI"
November Joe looked up with his
quick, sudden smile 18TH be shock
to Evans if he ain t." said he.
Very soon We struck the robbers
trail and saw from second line OF
tracks that Evans was ahead of us fol
lowing it.
Here the thief goes" said Joe
See! He's covered his moccasins with
deer skin, and here we have Evans
tracks. He's hurrying, Evans is He's
feeling good and sure Of the man he's
after
Twice November pointed out faint
signs that meant nothing to me.
"lIere's where the robber stopped to
light his pipe. See. There's the mark
OF the butt of his gun between these
roots. The SHOWS thin there. Must
"a had a match. that chap" he sale
after minute, and. standing with his
back to the wind. he made sligh
movement of his hand.
what are you doing?" l asked.
! Saving myself trouble He turned
at right angles and began searching
through the trees. "Here it is. Hun:
up in Il snag. Seadog match he used.
Then, catching my eye, he went on
UNLESS he was fool he'd light hi
match with his face to the wind
wouldn't he? And most right handet
men 'ud throw the match therebout
where ! hunted for it"
Well on in the afternoon the trail LEI
out to the banks Of a wide and SHALLOW
stream, into the waters OF which the.
disappeared. Here we overlook Evans
He was standing by the ashes of fir
almost on the bank.
He looked up as We appeared. "Iha
you, Joe? Chaps took to the water.
said the game warden. but he'll hav
to do more than that to shake ME OH.
Chap made this, too? inquire
November, with a glance at the dea
fire.
Evans nodded. walked steady ii
he came here. Dunno what he lit tt
fire for Carried grub, s'pose."
No; to cook that partridge" sal
Joe.
/ glanced at Evans. His face darl
encd Clearly this did not please hill
) "Oh, he shot partridge?'
mo-" said Joe; "he noosed it bae
( in the spruces there. The track of Il
I wire moose is plain, and there W;
t some feathers. But look here, Evan
J he didn't wear no pink necker."
/ Evans annoyance passed Off su
, denly. "Thats funny" said he, II
l he left more than feather and Il
scrape of wire" The game ward'
y pulled out a pocketbook and show
us wedged between it's pages anoth
4 strand OF the pink and grey wool.
e found it where he passed throu!
!. those dead spruces. How's thatY'
looked at Joe. To my surprise
y thravy hn.E his hand and uavn ono