The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-11-25
Continued


rect enough. and that it was the fear
of leaving such marks as would enable
us to gather something of their iden-
tlty that kept the enemy from pinning
upon our door the letter which finally
arrived prosaicaIly enough in a cheap
store Nenvelope that bore the Priam-
vile postmark. The contents of this
letter were as follows:
Petersham. you go alone to Buffers
cairn II o'clock Friday night Take the
dollars along; you'll be met their and can
hand II over.
Below was a rude dra wing of cof.
fin.
Petersham read the note out to Joe
and myself
Where's Buffers ?" he asked.
"a know It," said November But
lers cairn is on hill about two miles
west of here
Il suppose you won't goT said l.
with the money? Certainly not"
"You can hardly go without it,
'Why not?"
"You would be shot down"
I'D talk 10 the ruthans first and then
IF there was any shooting, / guess I'd
be us much in it as they would"
II suggest that we all three 60"
said
But Joe would have none of this
plan.
There's nothing to be gained by
thar, Mr.. Quaritch. You bet these
fellas'll keep a pretty bright looeout.
IL they saw three OF us coming they'd
sGoot as like as not.
Il was thinking / might slip right
along to Buffers cairn and maybe get
look at the fellas.'
Not said Petersham decidedly. 81
won't allow it. You say yourself you
would be SHOT"
Il said we would get shot, not me
alone. Three men can't go quiet where
one can "
And so finally II was arranged,
though NOT without a good deal of ar.
gnment with PcterSham.
That's n Gpe fellow" remarked Pc
tersham.
| nodded
The kind of fellow who fought with
and bettered the Iroquois at their own
game. / wonder what he will see at
Buffers cairn?''
It was past midnight when Joe ap-
peared again. Petersham and ! both
asked for his news.
November shook his head 1--WE
nothing to tell; nothing at all. ] didn't
see no one"
Where were your
Lying down on top of the cairn it.
self. There's good corners to it,
You could see well round, then, and
if any one had come you would not
nave failed to observe them"
Couldn't be too sure. There was
some dark times when the moon was
shat in by clouds. They might "a
come them TINES, though | don't think
they did. Bat III know for certain
soon unless It comes on heavy rain.
There's a fne little lake they calls
Buffers pond up there. You take your
fishpole, Mr. Quaritch, and Wen 90
over at sunrise and you try for some
of them trout, while | take scout
round for tracks
This we did, but search as Joe would
he failed to discover any sign at all.
He told me this when he Joined me at
breakfast time
After | had caught nice string of
trout we walked back to Kalmacks,
.clrcling round the house before we en-.
tered it. The sand lay undisturbed by
any strange footstep. but when we got
in Ee found Mr.. Petersham in state
ofthe greatest excitement.
Z"One Of the blackmailers has had
long talk with Puttick." he told us.
"What?"
Incredible as it sounds, 1t is So"
"But when was this?'
Early this morning, some time aft.
er you and Joe started. This is how
It happened. Puttick had just got up
and gone down with tin of rosin and
some spare canvas and tin to mend
that canoe we ripped on the rock yes.
terday. In fact. he had only Just be.
gun working when he was startled by
voice ordering him to hold up his
hands"
BY Jove, what next"
why, he held them up. He had no
choice. And then man stepped out
from behind the big rock that's just
above where the canoe lies"
II hope Puttick recognized him."
mo. The fellow had red handker.
chief tied over his nose and mouth.
Only his eyes showed under the brim
Of a felt hat that was pulled low down
over them. He carried rife, that he
kept full on Puttick's chest while they
talked. But I'll call Puttick. He can
finish the account of the affair himself.
That's best"
Puttick answered to the call, and
after running over the story, which
was exactly similar to that we had
Just heard from Petersham. he con-
tinued:
"rhe tough had a red banker tied
over his ugly face, nothing but his eyes