The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-08-04

proved to be q veritable gazetteer
OF the township. Poole smoked
and listened. As a result of two
hours attention he amassed con-,
siderable knowledge of the village
of Wilton and it's eight hundred
inhabitants.
But IL was the bartender in the
only hotel of the place who gave
Poole the first information that
seemed to interest him. Poole had
ordered a bottle of ale, and when
he was about to leave, drew a bill
from his pocket I'm payment for his
drink. The bartender eyed it
obviously.
Might you have. anythin' small
er m that2" he suggested. Joe
Squirting come in early this morn
ing and got change for a brand
new fifty"
"A fifty?" echoed Poole. DO
you get many bills that size?"
''No, sir. and | guess Joe Spur
ling don't get 'em often, either, +"
said the other, with a laugh.
Poole's cigar broke into a sud
den glow. What do you mean7"
he asked.
The bartender shifted awkward
ly. why, Joe's all right, but he's
kind o. shiftless. Heard o. old man
Spurling?"
Poole shook his head.
well, he's something of a
character round here. Queer un.
Keeps to himself off in the woods.
He's got a shack up on Prescott
He's got a shack up on Prescott
place. Maybe you've noticed the
big house about a mile and a half
out yonder" = the bartender
pointed.
Il think know the place." an
swered Poole.
We'll. Prescott is the ridge
just back of the Winthrops'. They
call IL the Saddle-back, where the
road goes over to Burwick. old
Squirting has lived up there by
himself for years. An there's
some that says he's got a lot OF
money tucked away somewheres.
Mebbe Joe got that fifty from the
old man, but faint likely"
DO yoi know where Joe is
now"
"Oh. Joe was off In a great rush
to get the eighteen train for Dos-
ton"
Two hours later Montgomery
Poole was climbing the steep road
which led to the Saddle-back.
Nearing the summit, he started
into the woods, following a
hint of pathway. He advanced
for some distance, when there
came a sharp report, and a
bullet flattened itself against the
trunk a a tree a foot above his
head.
Eoole instinctively turned to
look up at the scar of the ballet
upon the oak.
"Hm-ml Ii may be as we'll to
follow the path of the bullet" he
reflected. He struck through the
underbrush in the direction from
which The shot had come.
A few minutes walk brought
him to a cash in the crest of the
hill, and across this ravine he saw
which sat an uncouth man with
long gray hair.
Poole quietly skirted the gully
and advanced to the cleared space
before the cabin.
NOOu dINeTnoOus SdlQ EOOlt.
The old man eyed the new
conner sOurly.
"Mr. Squirting, l believe" con-
tinued Poole.
There's a seat If that's what
you're lookin' for" grunted the
other.
Thanks, If I'm not intruding,"
Poole settled himself upon the in
dicated log.
mo intrusion-Mr. Poole"
For an instant Poole's eyes mar
rowed sharply upon the old man.
"Oh, then you know my name" he
went on, easily. Il was about to
tell you that"
eff you'll be tellin' me your
business up here instead" tartly
interrupted Squirting.
For one thing l wanted TO in
quire IL there's much hunting in
these woods" Pool picked up
the rifle that leaned against the
log and examined il.
"Mebbe a partridge now and
then" said Squirting.
Someone in the woods just
now narrowly missed hitting me-"