The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-11-09
Continued

ground within four hours Of the hold
up," went on Close. But all that is
ancient history 1t is what happened
TO Dan Michaels last night that
brought me here at seven miles an
hour. Dan has been working for pret-
ty nigh three months stretch. and
the day before yesterday he came into
the Office and told me his mother was
dead and he must have leave for the
funeral. He had a good big roll Of
bills due. and ] could see he meant to
blow them. so | paid him and told him
Id try TO keep job warm for him till
he came back from the funeral.
gave him ten days TO get through with
his spree Something Id said ANNOYED
him, and after telling the cook his
,.,inion of me and saying he wouldn't
: sep another night In camp where
Y is boss he legged out for the settle.
luent"
BY himself?"
Yes alone. Next morning, bright
and early. be was back again. and this
was the yarn he slung me. He'd made
about eight miles when II came on
dar6ish, and he decided to camp just
beyond where we did the most of our
timber cut last year. He slept at once
and remembers nothing more until he
was started awake by voice shouting
ar him. He sat up blinking. but the
talk he heard soon fetched his eyes
open.
Hands up and no fooliBg"
'Of course he put up his hands
He'd no choice. for he couldn't see any
one. Then another man who was in
the bushes behind his back ordered
him to haul out his bundle OF notes
and chuck them TO the far side Of th,
fire or take the consequences Dai
sdw revolver barrel gleam in th,
bush He cursed a bit. hut tho theve-
had the drop on him so he just had to
cut with his wad Of notes and heaye
them over Is he was told. A birch loc
in the fire Jared IN nj the minute, and
as the notes touched the ground he
saw chap in black mask step out
and pick them up and then Jump back
into the dark. Then the voice that
spoke first gave him the hint not to
move for two hours or he'd be shot
like dog. He sat out the two hours
by his watch without hearing a sound
and then came back TO c.
when the boys got all the facts
the whole camp was nigh as mad as
he was. They put up $50 reward
for any one giving information that
will lead TO catching the robbers. and
| added another hundred for the COM
pany So now, Joe, if you can clap
your hand on the brutes you'll be do
ing yourself a good turn and others
too"
Close ended his narration. and looked
Rt November. who had listened
throughout in his habitual silence.
DO the boys up at G know you've
come to meY' he said.
NO. | thought it wiser they
shouldn't
November remained silent for a mo
ment.
YOU'D best get away back. Mr.
Close he said at length I'm go
down to Perkins clearing. and have
look at the spot where the robbery
took place. and then I'll find some
excuse to take me to Camp C, when
! can make my report to you
To this Close agreed, and the two
of MS set out through the woods to the
site of Dan Michaels' bivouac. The
ashes Of a fire and few boughs made
Its scsnty furnishings, and in neither
did November take much interest
Forth and back he moved. apparently
following lines of tracks which the
drenching rain of the previous day
had almost obliterated. until, indeed.
after ten minutes. he gave it up.
-WeI. we'll said he, in his soft
cadenced voice, he always did have
the luck"
Who"
The robber. Look at last year. Got
clear every time
'The robbers | corrected
There's but one said he.
"Michaeis mentioned two voices. and
he man in the mask stepped into sight
1T the same moment as the fire CLINT
ID on the revolver of the other man
N the bushes"
without word November led me
n the farther side of the dead fire
ind parted the boughs of a spruce.
which had previously seen him ex-
mime At height Of less than FIVE
'eet from the ground one or two twigs
we're broken. and the bark had been
.ubbed near the trunk.
HE was a mighty interesting man,
atm with the revolver November
threw back his handsome head and
aughed There was only one chap,
md. he fixed the revolver here in that
fork. 1t was a good bluff he played
On Dan. making him think there was
-wo agin him. The rains washed out
most Of the tracks. so we'll go up to
Camp G and try our luck there. But
first Id better shoot deer. and the
boys u thiak | only come to carry them