The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1914-12-17
CHAPTER vi.
The Black Fox Skin.

X YOU must understand that from
w this time on my association
u With November Joe was not
continuous but ftful and that
after the events l have just written
down went back to Quebec, where
| became once more immersed in my
| business. OF Joe I heard from time to
time. generally by means Of smudged
letters obviously written from camp
and usually smelling of wood smoke.
1t was such Il letter, which, in the fol-
lowing year. caused me once more to
seek November. 1t ran as follows:
Mr. Quaritch, sir. last week | was up
to Widheney Pond and l see wonderful
red deer buck. ] guess he come out of
| the thick Maine woods to take the place
O that fella you shot there last fail. This
great fella has had "A accident to his horns
or something for they come out of his
head thick and stunted-lke and all over
little points Them horns would look fine
at the top OF the stairs in your house to
Quebec so come and try for them. III
be down to Mrs. Hardings Friday morn
ing so as l can meet YOU if you can come
There's only three moose using round
here two cows. and mean little fella
of bull NOVEMBER.
This was the letter which caused me
to seek Mrs. Harding's. but owing to
IL slight accident to the rig I was driv-
en- up in. ] arrived late to find that
November had gone up to neghbor-
ing farm on some business, leaving
word that should l arrive l was to
start for his shack and that he would
catch me up on the way. November
struck my trail and 1t was long after
dark when we reached November's
shack that evening. AS he opened the
door he displaced something white
which lay inst inside it.
Its a letter." he said in surprise
as he handed it to me. What does it
say. Mr.. Quaritch?"
read it aloud. 1t ran:
am in trouble. Joe. Somebody is rob-
bling my traps. When you get home
which | pray will be soon, right
over $. ROME.
"rhe skunk cried November
had never seen him so moved. He
had been away hunting for three days
and returned to find this message.
''rle darned skunk" he repeated, "to
rob her traps!'
"Her-a woman!'
IS. Rome stands for Sally Rome.
You've sure heard of her?"
mo; who is she?'
"I'll tell you.' said Joe. SAILS Il
mighty brave girl-that is. she's wild
ow. She was married on Rome four
years ago last Christmas, and the
autumn after he got his back broke to
the Red Star lumber camp. leaving
Sally just enough dollars to carry he,
over the birth of her son. TO make a
long story short there was lots Of til,
} boys ready to fill dead man Rone's
A place when they knew her money mus,
/. be giving out. and the neighbors Were
D wonderful interested to know which
p Sal would take. But it soon come on,
: that Sal wasn't taking any of them
$ but had decided to try what she coult
: do with the trapping herself.
g ".1lst that. Rome worked a line o
I traps. and Sal was fixed to make hel
= living and the boys that way. Said
woman was liable to be as successful
! IL trapper as a man. She's ut it nea
n three year now, and she's made good
Lives with her boy about four hours
i. walk norwest of here. with not an
other house within five miles OF her
:, She's got young sister. Ruby. will
:, her on account of the kid. as she ha
to be out such Il lot"
= Not much later was following No
\ vember's nimby moving figure upon a
hard a woods march as l ever care t
" f,s., vv-1,n
of my moccasin gave way and Joe a
e lowed me a minute to tie it up and t
!" get my wind.
= ",There's Tom Carroll. Phil Gort an
II Injin Sylvester" began November al
ruptly-"those three. They're Sally
nearest neighbors, them and Val Black
III Walls Il good man. but
le But what:' said / absently.
Him and Tom Carroll's cut the to
notches for Sally's favor so far"
1T But what's that got to do with
III Come on" snapped November an
N hurried forward to Sally's lonely cabil
y. Joe knocked at the door, calling Il
$50 the same time: Its me. Are 70
ut there. Sally!
10 The door opened an inch or two. 81
i'll it you, Joe:'
n: November thrust his right hand wit
or it's deep scar across the back throug
as the aperture. You should know tina
10 cut, Sal; you tended it,
"Come in Come int!
!. followed Joe into the house an
y. turned to look at Sally. saw slil
girl with gentle red brown eyes thl
"a matched the red brown OF her rebe
or lious hair, small face, pale under il
nj weather tan. but showing II line {
al milk white skin above her brows Sl
ID WAS in fact 4xtram.,v nrottv wifi,
NJ kind of good looks had not expected
as and ten seconds later !. too. had falle