The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-11-14

sign he left behind was a few threads
of his necker and an English made
cartridge. The thief goes ont. and old
Rizpah attacks him. He shoots her
Then he cuts her body nigh to pieces
Why" We all shook our heads.
Because he wants 10 get his bullet
out of her. And why does he want To
get his bullet? Only one possible rea.
son. Because it's different to the bull
let he dropped on purpose in the
house"
by .Iover cried
From that it all fts in II seems
funny that the thief should drop a
cartridge, funnier still that he should
not notice he'd left bit of his necker
stuck to the nails on the door. Still,
Id allow them two things might hap,
! pen. But when it came to his having
more bits of his necker torn off by
the spruces where Evans found them,
1t looked like as If the thief was a
mighty poor w0odsman Which he
wasn't. He hid his tracks good and
on the right scent, but | wasn't plumb
sure till | come mp to the place where
he killed the partridge. While he was
snaring it he rested his rifle ag'ln a
tree. [ saw the mark of the butt on
| the ground and the scratch from the
| foresight upon the bark Then knew
he didn't carry no English rifle"
How did you know?" asked Sally.
81 could measure its length agin the
tree. 1t was nigh a foot shorter than
an English rifle"
! VaIs fist came down on the table.
Bully for you. .Ioe!'
| well. now. there was one more
thing Besides that black fox. Sally
here missed other marked pelts. They
wasn't much value. Why did the thief
take them? Again only one reason.
He wanted 'em for making more false
evidence agin Val"
He paused "Go on. Joe," cried Mrs.
| Rome impatiently.
! When Mr. Quaritch and | came to
Val's shack we searched it. Nothing
! there Why? Cos Val had been home
all night and Sylvester couldn't get in
without w;ki' him"
Put" said |. wasn't there good
case against Black without that?"
Yes, there was case. but his con
viction wasn't an absolute cinch. On
the other hand. If the stolen skins
was found hid in his shack That's
why you had to lie in that brush so
! long. Mr.. Quaritch. while | went in to
| Lavette and spread it around that the
shack hadn't been searched by Evans
! Sylvester was at the store. and he fell
into the trap right enough. We wait
ed for him. and We got him."
20 course" continued Joe, revenge
! on Val weren't Sylvester's only game
/ He meant robbin' Sally, too, and had
bis plan laid, De must "a gone to
Val's and stole cartridge and the bits
Of npcker before he robbed Sally's
house. Last night he started ont to
leave few cheap pelts ut Val's. but
! he had the black fox skin separate in
his pack with a bit o tea and -four
| and tobacco. so if we hadn't took him
he'd have lit out into Maine an sold
the black fox pelt there"
But why should Sylvester have
such u down ON Val?"
Joe laughed. ASK Valv
Ten years ago said Val. "when
we was both rising twenty year,
gave Sylvester thrashing he'd likely
remember. He had Il dog what weren't
no use, and he decided to shoot it. So
he did, but he didn't kill it. He shot
it far back and left it in the woods.
and come along
The BRUTE exclaimed Sally.
Hes dangerous injin," said No
vember. "and he's of a breed that
never forgets.
! When he gets out OF prison you'll
! have to keep awake. joe" said Val.
When he gets out I'll have the snow
in my hair all right and you and Sally
will be old married folks" retorted
Joe. "Youll sure be tired of each other
by then"
Sally looked at Val, and Joe caught
the look.
/ "Leastways." he added. you'll pre-
tend you are bettern you do now"
We all laughed.