The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1914-12-24

man himself, anyway
He turned to the door as Val Black
came swinging up the trail He was
of middle height. strongly built. with
quick eyes and dark hair which
though cropped close. still betrayed its
tendency to curl. He greeted \ovem
Der warmly. November was, thought
oven more slow spoken than usual.
"VaI," he said, after some talk
have you still 90. that pink necket
Sally knitted for you:"
"Yes, I've got her.
"Whcre?"
"Riybt here" and Black pulled the
muller out of his pocket.
HUH! said Joe.
There was silence. rather strain
ed silence. between the two.
Then November continued. "Where
was you last night?'
Val looked narrowly ut Joe. Joe re
turned his stare.
Say, November Joe, are you search
ing for troube?" asked Black in an
ominously quiet voice.
"Seems as if trouble was searching
for me-" replied November.
There was another silence. Then
Val jerked out, ~ call your hand"
II show it." said Joe. You're sus
pected of robbing Sally's traps this
month back. And you're suspected of
entering Sally's house last evening
and stealing pelts."
V:Al> r,b~ Of
Joe.
November stood quite still under the
grip of the others furious hands.
"You act innocent. don't you, you old
coyote" be grinned ironically. 81
never said suspected YOU
Black drew off. looking little fool
ish, but he tlarcd up again.
"Who is it suspects me-"
.'Just Evans. And he's got good evi-
dencc. Where was you between & and
last night?''
an the woods. come back and
scp' here"
"Was you alone?"
"Yes."
"rhen you can't prove no aIibi." Joe
paused.
1t was at this moment that Evans
accompanied by two other forest ran
gers, appeared upon the scene Quick
as lightning he covered Black with his
shotgun.
"Up with your hands" he cried, "or
III put this load Of birdshot into your
face
Black scowed, but his hands went
up. He stood painting. At sign one
of the rangers sided up, and the click
of handcutfs followed.
what am charged with?' cried
Black
"Robbery" ..-
"You'n pay me for this. Simon Ey
ans"
at won't be for awhie-not till they
let you out again." retorted the war
den easily. "Take him off up the trail
Bill.'
The rangers walked away with their
prisoner and Evans turned to Joe.
, Guess | have the laugh of you, No
vember," he said.
: Looks that way. Where you ukin
! him?"
: ITO Lavette. I've sent word to Mrs
Rome to come there tomorrow. An,
now." continued Evans, I'm going t.
search Blacks shack
! What for?"
' "The stolen peIts."
' Got a warrant!''
"l'm a warden-don't need one"
3 you'll not search without il" sal,
November. moving in front of the door
t "Wholl stop me:' Evans chin sho
y out doggedly.
e II might" said Joe in his most gen
- tie manner. I'm in the right, for it.
d agin the law, and you know it. MI
d Evans"
Evans hesitated Have it your way
II but III be back with my warrant be
e fore snnup tomorrow, and I'm wal
den. and maybe you'll find it's bette
d to have me for a friend than
"Huh! Say, Mr.. Quartch, have so
< a fill Of that light baccy O. yours?
n want soothin.''
AS soon as Evans was out of sigh
* Joe beckoned me to thick piece {
le scrub not far from the hut.
Is "Stay right here till come bacl
S, Everything depends on that" he whi
pered.
d. lay down at my ease III Il sheltere
Of spot. and then Joe also took the ro;'
le for Lavctte. Everything appeared
III he against Black-the cartridge whic
al fitted his rifle, the strands or the tel
er tale neckerchief. the mans own Il
II rols behavior, his manifest passn
.b for Mrs Rome. and the suggested m'
tive for the thefts-aIl these thing
he pointed. conclusively it seemed to III
of in one direction. And yet knew tn;
almost from the beginning Of the il
III curry November had decided that Blac
A., was innocent
The evening turned raw, and the thi
Snow was Softpniny and 1hDlnh | W: