Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1914-08-26
CHAPTER 4.
The Invasion.

ing to Sedgwick. Chester Kent lifted
the coat and after swift survey let
it drop.
did you leave that therey' he asked
II hung it across the back Of the
chair" answered Sedgwtck.
North window closedT'
Eyes, as you see 1t now"
And west one openF
.Nothing has been changed, tell
you, except this" Sedgwick's hand.
outstretched toward the destroyed por-
trait, condensed itself tnvoluntar1ly
into a knotty fist
Sedgwick took the Norfolk jacket
from the chair 'Why, there's hole
through TT" he exclaimed
Exactly. The path of the invader"
"a bullet!'
Fright again. Instead Of numbering.
as you pine to do. you've been murder
ed That the picture was destroyed
is merely a bit of i'll fortune. That
you weren't inside the coat when the
bullet went through it and cut the
prop from your easel is bit OF the
other kind. Hang up the coat. please"
Sedgwick obeyed.
There" said Kent, viewing the re-
suit from the window. 'At a distance
of. say a quarter of a mile. that ar
rangement of coat and cap would look
uncommonly like a man sitting In
| chair before his work. At least
| should think so. And yonder th1cket
| on the hillside" he added, looking out
| of the window again. lis just about
that distance and seems to be the only
| spot in sight giving straight range.
| Suppose we run up there"
| Sound as was his condition Sedg-
wick was painting when he brought up
at the spot some yards behind his long
| limbed leader. AS the scientist had
surmised. the arrangement of coat and
cap in the studio presented at that dis
lance an excellent simulacrum Of the
rear view of man lOunging In a chair
| Bidding the artist stay outside the
copse. Kent entered on hands and
knees and made extended exploration.
| After few moments the sound Of low
| lugubrious whistling was heard from
the trees, and presently the musician
emerged leading himself by the lobe
| of his ear.
Evidently you've found something"
commented Sedgwick.
I'm satisfied that some one fired a
shot from here. The marksman-a
| good one-saw you. as he supposed.
jerk to. the shot as if with a bullet
through you and went away satisfied"
Leaving no trace behind him." add
ed Sedgwick.
mo trace that is tangible. Therein
lies the evidence"
"Of course you don't expect me to
follow that"
why not? Look at the ground in the
thicket"
What is there to be seen there. since
you've said there are no marksY'
1.-The soil Is very soft"
Yes; there's a spring just back of US. -
Yet there's not a footprint discerni-
BILE on it."
I've got that part of the lesson by
heart. Think
Use your brain on it, then. Some
one designing to make you his target
has been in this thicket; been and gone
and left the place trackless. That some
one was keen. soft footed woodsman.
Putting it in words Of one syllable, !
should say he probably had the racial
instinct Of the hunt. Does that flush
any idea from your brain?'
Racial instinct? Gansett JIM said
Sedgwick.
Exactly. If had found tracks all
over the place. should have known il
wasn't he. Finding nothing, l was
naturally pleased"
That's more than I am,' retorted
the other. II suppose he's likely to re
sumo bis gunnery at any time"
Unless we can discourage him. as
expect we can"
by having him arrested?'
"Difficulties might be put in our way
Sheriff Len Schlager and the half breeG
are in some sort of loose partnership il
this affair, as you know. Gansett jim
honestly thinks that you had a hand
: in the Lonesome Cove murder. as b,
believes it to be. 1t isn't impossible,
that the sheriff has subtly egged hin
on to kill you in revenge. You're tn,
suspect, and if you were put out Of tn,
way every one would believe you tn,
murderer. There would be a perfume
tory Investigation. the whole thing
would be hushed up and the body il
Annalaka churchyard would rest il
peace.-presumably a profitable peac,
for the sheriff"
FLAT out, Kent, do you know VIII,
, the dead woman isl"
"Flat out. don't. But I've shrewt