The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1914-12-10
CHAPTER v.
The Guilty Man.

sharply.
"How many bottles of whisky had
your" said he.
"Nary one" answered Thompson.
There isn't one nearer than Laval
lotte, as you well know. We wasn't
drunk, we was drugged. We must a.
been, though how it was done beats
me, for we had nothing but bread and 4
bacon and tea. and made the tea my
self"
"Where's the kettle?'
1--WE left that and the frying pan
back Mt the hut, for we're going to
hunt the country for the thief. Youth
come along Nov?'
ION my own condition. or III have
nothing to do with it."
"What's 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 outburst Of argument arose. but
soon one and another began to say:
"we'll leave it to you. Nov" Mind
you fetch my $3.50 back for me, Nov"
"Leave Nov alone" "Go on. Nov"
November laughed II suppose you
all slept with your money on your
1t appeared they all had. and Lars
and Chris, who possessed pocketbooks.
and found them flung, empty, in cor
ner of the hut.
"Well, Mr.. Quaritch and nell be
getting along, boys III let you know :
if I've any luck" Then suddenly No
vember turned to the big spokesman
and said, "By the way. Thompson. did
you fill that kettle at the brook before
you found you'd lost your cash?'
mo; run right back
'That's lucky" said November, and
we walked away in roar of shouted
questions to the canoe placed at our
disposal by Close. BY water we could
run down to TidesOns bridge in an
hour OF two.
do YOU think this is the work of
the same man that held up Dan Mi
claels?"
Guess so. Can't be sure. The
grounds fine and soft, and we ought to
, get the answer to a good many ques-
lions down there"
, Thanks to the canoe and short cut
known to November, we arrived at our
t destination in admirable time.
First Of all, skirting the path, we
went to the hut where the six had
slept. A few articles dropped from the
t hastily made packs lay about. the fry
| ing pan beside the stove and the kettle
2 on it's side by the door. November
moved round examining everything in
, his deft. light way. Lastly, he picked
e up the kettle and peered inside.
A whats in it," said l.
g Nothing" returned November.
= .'Well, Thompson told you he hadn't
e filled it, reminded him.
I He gave me queer little smile.
t "Just so,' said he and strolled for fifty
t yards or so up the tote road.
1--WE been along looking at the foot.
}, marks Of them six mossbacks," he vol
II unteered. "Now We'll look around
, here"
The inspection Of the tracks was nat
u urally somewhat lengthy business.
November had studied the trail OF the
six men to some purpose, for, though
:. he hardly paused as he ranged the trod-
- den ground, so swift were his eyes that
- he named each of the men to me as
he pointed to their several tracks. AS
9 we approached the bank he Indicated
=. distinct set Of footsteps, which we
=, followed to the hut and back again to
the water.
u Hes the chap that did 1t" said NO
!, vember. THAT'S pretty plain"
~ ~ "He is a heavier man than am, ana
rs 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
,.o had been recently displaced, then wad-
-, ed down into 1t.
- "Where was his boat?' asked.
:. ~. But November had by now reached
y, a large fiat stone some feet out IN the
-. water, and this he was looking round
~. and over with great care. Then hu
~ beckoned to me. The stone was ::
~. large, fat one, as l have said, and he
80 showed me some scratches upon Its
farther surface. The scratches We're
81 deep and irregular. l stared at them
Ae' but to me they conveyed nothing.
ny "They don't look like the mark of &
7u boat" ventured. !.
ny "They aren't But that chap made
as ~, them all right he said.
''S But how, or why?"
~, November laughed. II won't answer
that yet, but I'll tell you this, tn,
~. robbery was done between 2 and
l's' o'clock last night"
40. "What makes you say thatY'
"u November pointed to a grove of bircl
ECU on the nearer bank.
"ThOse trees" he answered; then
'''- on seeing my look Of bewlderment, h.