Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1914-12-17


thing fitted in together as good as
the jaws Of trap. and the message
on the bit Of paper about ransom
carried it further on. So did the talk
we had with Harper-it must have
been him did the speaking-at Black
lake. When / knocked up Planx's re-
volver / was wonderful sorry to have
to do it, but promise is a promise.
and he'd passed his word for safe
conduct After, when my eyes fell
upon the trail left by Harper's part
ner, l knew l never done better act
in my life. 1t give me start | can
tell you, Mr.. Quaritch! You see. all
the weight was in the middle of the
moccasion. The heels and toes were
hardly marked at ALL
November looked at me as if expect
ing me to see the meaning of this
popularity, but | shook my head.
1T meant that the foot inside the
moccasion was very little one,
good bit shorter than the mOccasin."
You can't mean ] began.
YES" said Joe. The second per-
son at Black lake wasn't a man at
all, but just Miss Virginny herself"
"Well. if that was so, why, she had
the game in her hands then. She had
only to appeal to us-to speak"
Joe interrupted me. Hers was an
other sort of game. You see. I'm pref
ty sure that Miss Virginny has kid
naped herself. or, at any rate. consent
ed to be kidnapped. She had just pad
died round and joined the two men
later. and then when l come to think
over it careful l saw how ] might
raise the name Of the man that was
helping her. l lit out for WilShere's
camp and asked the woman if there
was anything of Miss Virginny's miss
ing from her room. She said there
wasn't Then / saw my way bit.
l was in the woods with Miss Vir-
ginny last year, and | know she's
mighty particular about personal
things. l don't believe she could live
a day without sponge and comb
and, most of all, without tooth
brush. None Of them high toned gals
can. Isn't that SOP"
Eyes, that is so, BUT
We'll" went on November, IF she
went Of her own free will, as l was
thinking she did-or else why did she
come to Black lake?-if. as l say, I
was right in my notion and she'd made
out the plans and kidnapped herself, the
man who was with her would be only
just her servant, in a manner of speak
ing. And was certain that one of the
first things she'd do would be to send
him to some store to buy the things
she wanted most. She couldn't get her
own from Planxs camp without CIV
ing herself away, so she was bound to
send Hank to hike out new ones from
somewhere"
"What happened them"
II started in on the stores round
about this country, and with luck l
stepped into the big store at Lavette
and asked if any one had been buying
truck of that kind. They told me Hank
Harper l asked just what. They said
q hairbrush, comb, couple Of tooth
brushes and some other gear. That
was enough for me. They weren't for
Mrs. Hank, who's halfbreed woman
and don't always remember to clean
herself o. Saturdays"
II see," said 1.
1.-The things were bought yesterday,
SO it all fits in, and there's no more left
to find out but why Miss Virginny act
ed the way she has. and that We'll
know before tomorrow"
1t was we'll on toward 10 o'clock that
night before we reached Harpers cab
in on Otter brook At first we knocked
and knocked in vain, but at length
gruff voice demanded angrily what we
wanted.
Tell Miss virginny Plank that No
vember Joe would like word or two
with her.
care you drunk" shouted the man,
''or only crazy?"
"I've tracked her down fair and
square. and I've got to see her."
II tell you she isn't here"
LET me in to make sure for my
SELF"
"If man comes to my door with
threat I'll meet him with my rife in
my hand. So you're warned" came
from the cabin.
"All right. then. I'll start back to
report to Mr.. Plank"
On the words the door opened and
q vivid. appealing face looked out.
"COme in. dear joe" said. honeyed
voice.
THANK you. Miss virginny, WILL"
said Joe.
We entered. A lamp and the fire lit
up the interior Of poor trapper's cab
In and lit up also the tall, slim form
Of Miss Virginia PLANK. She wore a
buckskin hunting shirt belted in to her
waist. and her glorious hair hung
down her back in a thick and heavy
plat. She held out her hand to Joe
with one Of the sweetest smiles ] have