The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-11-12
Continued

'Tve Just got him OF TO sleep on the
bed there" She pointed to deerskin
s,lrtain in the corner.
what! They been frightening him.
Mrs. Rome looked oddly at November
mo. but II he heard us talking he
might get scared. for the man who's
been robbing me was In this room not
six hours ago. and Danny SAW him"
November raised his eyebrows.
Huh! That's ferce!" he said. Dan
ny's rising three. amt he? He could
tell"
Nothing at all. Ii was after dark
aud the man had his face muffled
Danny said he was a real good man
He gave him sugar from the cup
board" said Sally.
His hands. what like was his hands
He gave the sugar
Il thought of that. but Danny says
he had mitts on. It's moren three
weeks now since | found out the traps
we're being meddled with. 1t was done
very cunning. but l have my own way
OF batting them, and the thief. though
he's clever wocdsman and knows a
heap, never dropped to that Some
times he'd set 'em and bait 'em like as
IF they we're never touched at all. and
other times he'd just make it appear
as if the animal had got itself out"
HE must have left tracks" said Joe
Some. yes. But he mostly worked
when snow was failing. Hes Gun
ming"
Did any one ever see his tracks bat
ycu?"
sylvester did"
How was thatr' said Joe, with sud.
den interest.
Il came on Sylvester one evening
when ! was trailing the robber"
Perhaps sylvester himself was the
robber"
Nrs Rome shook her head.
TT wasn't him. Joe. He couldn't a
known l wss comm or him. and his
tracks was quite different"
We'll. but tonight? You say the
thief come here tonight: What did he
do that for?' said Joe. pushing the TO
bacco firmly into his pipe bowl.
He had good reason" replied Sal.
ly, With bitterness. Last Thursday
when was on my way back from put.
ting my letter under your door heard
something Tustltng through the scrub
ahead OF me. 1t might have been a
lynx, or it might have been a dog, but
when l come to the trap ! saw the
thief had made OF that minute, for
he'd been trying to force open the trap.
and when be heard me he wrenched
hard. you bet, hut he was bound to
take care-not TO be too rough"
Good fur, you meanT
Good" SsIly's face flushed a soft
crimson. Good; Why, I've never
seen one to match It. 1t was black
fox. lying dead there. but still warm.
for it had but Just been killed The
pelt was fair in its prime. long and
silky and glossy. You can guess, No.
vember, what that meant for Danny
and me next winter. that I've been
worrying about a lot. The whoopiug
coughs weakened him down bad. and
] thought Of the things ! could get for
him while | was skinning out the pelt. $
Sally's voice shook, and her eyes filled
with tears. "Oh. Joe. it's hard-hard.
The skin was worth $500 anywhere
and I come home just singing fixed
it at once, and then, being scared,li
] hid it in the cupboard over there be-
hind those old magazines. No one but
Ruby knew that l had got IL. ] left
Ruby here. but Mrs. Seats had her sev.
enth yesterday morning. and Ruby ran
over to help for awhile after she put
Danny to bed. The thief must have
been on the watch and seen her GO"
Where's Ruby now:" Joe inquired
She's stopping the night They sent
over to tell me-" replied Sally. well
10 go on. had a lynx in one OF my
traps which got dragged right down By
Deerhorn pond. SO I was more than
special late. Danny began at once to
tell me about the man that came in
I rushed across and looked in the cup
board. The black fox pelt. was gone
OF course
What did Danny say about the
man."
Said he had on q big hat and a
neckerchief. he didn't speak a word
gave Danny sugar, as have said. He
must "a been here some time, for he's
ransacked the place high and low and
took nearly every pelt l got this sea
SON.
Joe looked up. ''Those pelts mark
ed:"
Yes. Ny marks on some-seven
pricks of needle
You've looked around the house to
see IL he left anything?"
Sure" Sally put her hand in her
pocket
'Whatr
Only this She opened her hand
and disclosed rife cartridge.
Joe examined It. Soft nosed bullet
for one Of them fancy English guns
Where did you find it?'
On the floor by the table"
Hun said joe, and. picking up the