The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-11-21
Copyright. 1913.
By Hesketh Pr'chard
CHAPTER v.
The Guilty Man.

fuH minute. then ne looked up
sharply.
How many bottles OF whisky had
you?" said he.
Nary one" answered Thompson
There isn't one nearer than Laval
tOtte. as you well know We wasn't
drunk. we WAS drugged We must "a
been. though how ii was done beats
me. for we had nothing but bread and
bacon and tea. and made the tea my
self
Where's the kettleT'
I'VE left TINT and the frying pan
back Mt the hut. for we're going to
hnnt the country for the thief You'll
come along. Nov7'
''On my own condition. or IN have
nothing to do with it.
whats it?"
THAT nary man OF yOu goes back
to Tideson's bridge hut till | give you
leave.
But we want to catch the robber"
Very well. Go and try If you think
you can do it,
An ontburst OF argument arose. but
soon one and another began to say:
Well leave ii TO you Nov" Mind
you fetch my $3.50 back for me. Nov"
Leave Nov alone Go on. Nov"
November laughed Il suppose you
all slept with your money on your
It appeared they all had. and Lars
and Chris. who possessed pocketbooks
and found them flung empty. in cor
ner Of the hut
Well Mr. Quaritcb and nell be
getting along. boys I'll let you know
if I've any luck" Then suddenly No
verboer turned TO the big spokesman
and said. by the way. Thompson. did
yOu fiil that kettle at the brook before
you found you'd lost your cash?''
mo: ] run right back
That's lncky." said November. and
we walked\awav in roar of shouted
questions ~ rhe canoe placed at our
disposal by Close. By water We could
run down To Tidesons bridge in an
hour or two.
DO you think this is the work of
the same nian that held up Dan Mi
chaels.''
Guess so. Can't be sure. The
grounds tine and soft. and we ought TO
get the answer to Il good many ques
lions down there
Thanks to the canoe and ii short cut
known 10 November. we arrived at our
destination in admirable time.
First OF all. skirting tue path. we
went to the hut where the six had
slept. A few articles dropped from the
hastily made packs lay about. the fry
ing pan beside the stove and the kettle
on its side by the door. November
moved round examining everything in
his deft. light way. Lastly. be picked
up the kettle and peered inside.
What's in it" said l.
Nothing" returned November.
We'll. Thompson told you he hadn't
filed it. | reminded him.
He gave me queer little smile
Just So" said he and strolled for fifty
yards or SO up the tote roaG-
i've been along looking ut the foot
marks of them six mossbacks." he vol
unteered Vow We'll look around
here
The inspection of the tracks was nat
November had studied the trail of the
six men 10 some purpose. for, though
he hardly paused as be ranged the trod
den ground, 80 swift were his eyes that
| he named each of the men TO me rs
he pointed TO their several tracks. As
! we approached the bank he indicated
a distinct set of footsteps. which we
followed TO the hut and back again to
! the water.
He's the chap that did it." said No
! vember That's pretty plain"
''He is Il heavier man than | am. and
he walks rather on his heels
November nodded and began to fol
low the trail. which went down into
the stream. He stood at the waters
edge examining some stones which
had been recently displaced. then wad
ed down into it.
Where was his boat?" | asked
But November had by now reached
a large fiat stone some feet out in the
water. ard this be was looking round
aud over with great care. Then he
beckoIied To me. The stone was 4
iarye. Hat one. as / have said. and he
sllnwe. me some scratches upon its
| farther surface. The scratches. were
l,.ep aud Irregular. stared at them.
ttut 10 nv they conveyed nothing.
.''Tley lon't look like the mark of s
i oat. cultured
They aren't. But that chap mad,'
henl Al rlebt, he, said.
Il Bur hlm or. whyT'
H Nnvssnsxpr iau.hod Il won't answer
i iai vel bu III tell you this. Ga
i tstr,rs dome between , and i
i Il la<r hi- hr
: hf....s i-st,t.> YOU III, that: