Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-12-04
NOVEMBER JOE.
THE DETECTIVE OF THE WOODS.
By HESKETH Pl2ICHARD.
pyright, 1918, by Hesketh Prichard

Il
I said it was, and the boys agreed tt
that"
| After awhile Joe touched me tt
wakefulness, and I saw something
moving on the trail below us. A Sec
ond or two Of moonlight gave me
glimpse Of the approaching figure OF
la man, a bumped figure that moved
swiftly. A whistle. No answer. Ane
its hand went to the latch. I heard
Joe sigh as he covered the man with
his rifle. Then came his voice in Its
quiet tones.
Guess the games off, Sylvester
Don't turn! Hands up!"
The man stood still as we came
behind him. At q word he faced
round. I saw the high cheek bones
and cleaning eyes Of an Indian. His
savage face was contracted with
animosity.
Now, Mr.. Quaritch," said Novem-
ber suggestively.
I fiatter myself I made neat job
Of tying our prisoner.
Thank you. What's in the bun
die on his back?"
I opened it. Several skins dropped
out Joe examined them. "All got
Sally's mark on" he said. Say, Mr.
Quaritch, let me introduce you to a
pretty mean thief"
noticed that Joe took our prison
er along at a good pace toward La
vette. After a mile or two. however,
he asked me to go ahead aand If l
met with Mrs. Rome to make her wait
his arrival. but he added in an aside,
Tell her nothing about Sylvester"
I reached the village soon after
dawn, but already the people were
gathering at the store, where every
one was discussing the case.
AS I heard nothing of Mrs. Rome,
set out toward her house. When I
met her 1 noticed that her gentle face
wore a changed expression. deliv-
cred my message.
TIL never speak to November again
as long as I live!" she said with deep
vindictiveness. November played
double with me. I'll show him."
walked beside her in silence. and
just before we came in sight Of the
house we met with Joe alone. He
had evidently left Sylvester in safe
custody. Joe glanced from Sally to
me. 1 read understanding in his
eyes.
We've got him trapped safe. Sal
ly. Not hole for him to slip out by"
Sally's rage broke from her con-
troll you're just too cute, Novem-
Der Joe," she blazed, with your
trcking and finding out things and
putting Val in Jail! What do you say
to it that I've been fooling you all
the time? I never lost no pelts! I
only said it to get the laugh against
ye. Ye was beginning to believe ye
could hear the muskrats sneezing!
rs that SOP" inquired Joe gently.
"Yes. and I'm gong into Lavette
this minute to tell them"
Joe stepped in front Of her. Just
as you like, Sally. But how'll ye ex-
plain these?" He flung open the
bundle of skins he carried.
Mrs. Rome turned color. Where did
We find them?" she gasped.
ION his back"
fofa
gave Val that lot" she said care
lessly.
That's queer, now," said Joe, "cos
it was on Injin Sylvester 1 found
them"
Sally stared at Joe, then laughed,
suddenly, excitedly. "Oh, Joe. you're
sure the cutest man ever made in this
world" And with that she flung her
arms round his neck and kissed him.
I'D best pass that on to Val
Black" said Joe calmly.
And Sally's bushes were prettier
than you could believe.
There is no need for me to tell how
Black was liberated from the hands
Of the crestfallen Evans, who was as
nonplussed as 1 myself had been at
the breakdown Of the case, which up
to the last moment had on the face
of it seemed indestructible.
have never looked forward to any
explanation more than that which
November gave to Mrs. Rome, Black
and myself the same evening.
1T was the carcass of Rizpah give
me the first start" said Joe. LAS
soon as l saw that knew it weren't
VAL"
Why" asked Sally.
You remember it was hacked up?
Now here was the case up to that: A
thief had robbed Sally. and all the
sign he left behind was a few threads
Of the necker and an English made
cartridge. The thief goes out, and
old Rizpah attacks him. He shoots
her. Then he cuts her body nigh to
pieces. Why?" We all shook our
heads.
Because he wants to get his bull
let out of her. And why does he
want to get his bullet? Only one pos
sible reason. Because it's different
to the bullet he dropped on purpose
in the house."
by Jove," I cried.
From that it all fits in. 1t seems
funny that the thief should drop a
cartridge, funnier still that he should
not notice he'd left a bit Of his neck
er stuck to the nails on the door,
Still. I'd allow them two things might
happen. But when 1t came to his
having more bits of his necker torn
off by the spruces where Evans found
them, it looked like as if the thief was
mighty poor woodsman. Which he
wasn't. He hid his tracks good and
cunning. After that 1 guessed l was
on the right scent, but wasn't plumb
sure till 1 come up to the place where
he killed the partridge. While he
was snaring IT he rested his rifle agin
tree. / saw the mark Of the butt
on the ground and the scratch from