Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-11-17
Highamson gave him a look.

more'n the month, and the day / come
back 1 went over to see Janey. Hal
Lyon weren't there. If he had been ]
shouldn't never "a needed to travel so
far to get even with him. But that's
neither here nor there. He'd gone to
his bear traps above Big Tree. But the
night before he left he'd got in one of
his quarrels with my Janey. Hit her,
he did. There was one tooth gone
where his fist fell"
Never had I seen such fury as burn
ed in the old mans eyes as he groaned
out the last words.
"Janey, that had the prettiest face
for fifty miles around. She tried to hide
it from me-she didn't want me to
know. But there was her poor face
all swole and black and blue and the
gap among her white teeth. Bit by bit
it all came out 1t weren't the first time
Lyon'd took his hands to her, no, nor
the third nor the fourth. There on the
] spot as l looked at her / made up my
mind I'd go after him, and I'd make
him promise me, aye, swear to me on
the Holy Book, never to lay hand on
her again. If he wouldn't swear Id
put him where his hands couldn't reach
her. l found him camped away up
alongside a backwater near his traps,
| and told him I'd seen Janey and that
he must swear He wouldn't. He said
he'd learn her to tell on him. He'd
smash her in the mouth again. Then
he lay down and slep'. l wonder now
he weren't afraid of me, but suppose
that was along of me being quiet, God
fearing chap. Hour by hour l lay
awake, and then | couldn't stand it no
more, and l got up and pulled bit OF
candle had from my pack, fixed up a
candlestick and looked in my Bible for
| guidance. And the words lit on were
Thou shalt break them with a rod OF
IRON That was the gun clear enough.
Then l blew out the light, and think
slep', for dreamed.
Next morning Lyon was up early.
He had two or three green skins that
he'd took off the day before, and he
said he was going straight home to
smash Janey. l lay there, and said
nothing, black nor white. His judgment
was set l knew he couldn't make all
the distance in one day, and was
pretty sure he'd camp at Big Tree. l
arrived there just after him, as
could travel faster by canoe than him
walking, and so KEEP near him all day.
1t was nigh sunset, and l bent down
under the bank so he couldn't see me.
He went into the old shack. 1 called
out his name l heard him cursing at
my voice, and when he showed his face
| shot him dead. l never landed; /
never left no tracks. l thought l was
safe, sure You've took me; yet only
for Janey's sake wouldn't care. did
right, but she won't like them to say
her fathers a murderer. That's all"
November sat on the edge Of the ta-
| BILE. His handsome face was grave.
Nothing more was said for good
while Then Highamson stood up.
I'm ready, November, but you'll let
me see Janey again before you give me
over to the police"
November looked him in the eyes.
Expect you'll see good deal of Janey
yet. She'll be lonesome over there now
that her brute husbands gone. She'll
| want you to live with her. he said
Dye mean
November nodded IF the police can
Of on6
you'd lessen the chance of that Won
derful deal if you was to burn them
moose shank moccaSins you're wear
ing. When did you kill your moose?
Tuesdays a week. And my mocca-
sins was wore out, so | fixed 'em up
woods fashion"
II know. The hair on EN- is slipping.
l found some Of it in your tracks in the
camp, away above Big Tree. That's
how knew you'd killed a moose. Il
found your candlestick too. Here it is
He took from his pocket the little piece
of spruce stick, which had puzzled me
so much, and turned toward me.
| This ends sharp to stick into the
| edIlH, lllCll SIlu oiIl, fbiiu sON ''-N N''N
candle in with a bit O. birch bark. Now
it can go into the stove along O. the
moccasins" He opened the stove door
and thrust in the articles.
only three know your secret Hig-
hanson, and if l was you | wouldn't
make it four, not even by adding a wo-
man to it,
Highamson held out his hand.
You always was a white man, Nov"
said he.
Hours later as we sat drinking a
final cup of tea at the campfire | said
After you examined Lyons upper
camp you told me seven things about
the murderer You've explained how
YOU knew them. all but three"
What are the hree?"
First, how did you know that Hig-
hanson had been long time in the
woods without visiting a settlements
His moccasins was wore out and
patched with raw moose hide. The
tracks of them was plain" replied No
vembcr
nodded. And how could you tell
that he was religious and spent the
night in great trouble Of mind?'
November paused in filling his pipe.
He couldn't sleep" said he and so
he got up and cut that candlestick.
What'd he want to light a candle for
but to read by? And why should he
want to read in the middle of the night
if he was not in trouble? And if he was
in trouble, what book would he want
TO read? Besides not one trapper in n
hundred carries any book but the Bi-
BILE"
Il see. But how did you know it was
in the middle Of the night?"
Did you notice where he cut his
| '&ndlestick?"
No said l.
Il did. and he made two false cuts
| where his knife slipped in the dark.
| You're wonderful at questions
And you at answers.