The evening world., 1914-02-18
Ss 81 Il Sherlock Holmes of the Wilderness

found the golden hair. 50 far. you
sec. everythins fitted In together as
good as the jaws Of o trap, and the
message on the bit OF paper about a
ransom carried II further on. 30 did
the talk We had with Harper-it
must have been him did the speaking
at Black Lake.
when I knocked up Pianx's 70.
volvsr I was wonderful sorry to have
to do II, but a prOfiise IL n promise.
and he'd passed his word for safe
conduct. After. when my eyes fell
upon the trail left by Harper's part
.ner. know I mover dono q better act
In my hfe."
Explain, joe"
"That trail showed mo I'd been
wrong In my notions OF tho business.
wrong from beginning to end.''
Wrong? Why. a. you said your
self, u fits In all along"
did you take any notice OF that
traii7" inquired Joe.
1T seemed an ordinary trail. with
nothing special about IT,"
Wasn't there7 II give me q start.
! can tell you. Mr.. ouaritch! You
see. all the weight was In the middle
OF the tnoccaain. Tho heels and toes
were hardly marked at ALL"
November looked ut me as n ex-
pecting me to see the meaning OF this
peculiarly. but sho0k my head.
1T meant that the foot inside tho
moccasin was . very little one. good
bit shorter than the moccastn."
You can't mean"-- began.
yes" said Joe. "T'he second per-
son at Black Lake wasn't q man Ut
all. but Just Miss Virglnny hersslf!"
"Well, 1: that was SO. why. she had
the game In her hands then--she had
a. L.
Joe interrupted me.
"Hera was another sort Of game.
You see. I'm pretty sure that Miss
VirGinny has kidnapped herself. or
at any ratio consented to be kid
He waited for this amazing state
ment TO sink In before he continued.
The minute I como to that fact
knew that my notion about her bein:
and all that was wrong. plumb wrong.
She had Just padded round and joincd
the two men latcr. and then. whom
come to think over II careful. saw
how I might raise the namo Ut tho
man that was helping her"
1T docs not look an easy thing to
do" I said.
Joe smiled. ~ ut out for wilshcres
camp and asked the woman II there
was anything OF Miss Virginny'.
missing from her room. Sho said
there wasn't. Then I saw my way u
bit. I was In tho woods with Miss
Virginny last year. and know she's
mighty particular about personal
things. ! don't believe She could live
q day without q sponge and comb.
and most Of all without q toothbrush
none Of them high-tone gals con.
Isn't that so?'
ives. that In sc but
WELL" won't on November. ~ she
went of hsr own free will. as ! was
thinking she did--or else why did she
como to Black Lake?-if, M ! say, ]
was right In my notion. and she'd
made out the plans and kidnapped
herself, tho man who was with her
would be only Just her servant. In n
manner Of speaking. And l was cor.
tain that one OF the first things she'd
do would be to send him to some
store to buy the things she wanted
most. She couldn't got her own from
Planx's camp without giving herseif
to hike out now ones from some
where
"what happened then?'
IL started In on the stores round-
about this country. and with luck !
stepped into the big store mt Lavette
and asked II any one had been buy
Ing truck Of that kind. They told me
Hank Harpsr. asked just what.
They said q hairbrush, comb. ?
couple Of toothbrushes and some 9TH
or gear. That wan enough for mo.
They weren't for Mrs. Hank. who's
n half-breed woman, and don't al.
ways remember to clean herself q
Saturdays"
sVY .A> auld
Tho thinEs was bought yesterday.
"a It all ATS In, and there's no more
left to find out but why Miss viz:
ginny acted the way she has. and
that WEN know before tomorrow
II was we'll on toward 10 O'Clock
that night before We reached Harpers
cabin on Otter Brook. At hrst va
knocked and knocked In vain. but ut
length . gruff voice DEMANDED an
grily what We wanted.
.Te,i Miss Virginny PLANK that No
vember Joe would like word or two
with her"
On the words the door opened and q
vivid, appealing face looked out.
"Coms In. dear Joe." said honsyod
voloo.
THANK you. Miss virEinny. l will"
said Joe.
We entered. 4 lamp ana the hrs
1T up the Interior OF n poor trap.
per's cabin. and III up also the tall
siim form Of Miss Virgins Plank.
shs wore q buckskin hunting skirt
bolted In to her waist. md her giort-
oms hair hung down her back In q
thick and heavy plat. She held out
her hand to Joe.
you're not going II give me away.
donr Joe. arc you?" said she.
you've given yourself away. haven't
you. Miss VirginnyT
Virginia PLANK looked him In the
eyes. then she laughed. II SEQ that
! haven't. But can ! speak before
thin Gentleman"
Toe fastened TO vouch for my dis
crotion. while Hank Harper nursed
his rifie and glowered from the back
ground. where also one could discern
the dark face Of the haif-brecd
sQuaw.
Coffee for these two. please. Mrs.
Harper" she cried. and while we
were drinking II she told W her
story.
"You maybe heard Of old Mr.. Schei-
pcrg, Of the Combine?" she began.
Uhu (othAr ~aOted In fOrcC mo In