The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-11-30
November
Joe
The Detective of the
Woods
By HSKETn PRICHARD
Copyright. 1918.
By Heskcth PrichArd
By HSkETn PRICHARD
Copyright. 1918.
By Hesketh PrichArd

"Oh. no. no. Joe!"
Petersham clutched my arm once
more at the sound
You're soyoung. Miss Linda, you
don't know. I'd give my right hand
to believe different, but I can't. 1t
wouldn't be best-not for you"
November's tone moved me more
than Linda's passion. He was man
fighting It out against his own heart.
l knew well the power of attraction
Linda possessed, but somehow l had
not guessed how 1t had worked on Joe.
l had. indeed. been right in so far that
he had not dreamed of aspiring to her:
neverthelcss the episode would mean
pain and loss TO him. | feared. for
many day.
Once more 7 heard him.
"Don't you fhink III be proud every
hour l have to live that you was so
good to ME, Miss Linda? l shan't nev-
er forget it,"
"Joe, | think hate you.' she cried.
And then the quick tap OF her footsteps
told us she had run into the house.
There was absolute silence for min
ute or two. AT length Joe sighed heav-
lily and with the slow laborious move
ment Of weakness went to his room.
When all seemed safe Petersham and
l stole out of hiding like thieves, and,
though we exchanged no word, Peter.
sham W. swearing violently under his
breath akstil he shut his office door.
Rather to my surprise November Joe
came out for awhile after supper. be
cause he said 1t WIS my last evening
at Kalmacks. Neither he nor Linda
gave any sign that anything unusual
had passed between them. Indeed, we
were gay enough, and we had Charley
Paul in to sing US some French-Cana.
dian songs.
After saying goodby as well as good
night to Linda and her father / follow
ed Joe to his room.
II won't wake you up in the morn
ing, November" said. There's moth
ing like rest and sleep to put you on
your legs again."
"I've been trying that cure, Mfr. Qua.
ritch. and i won't be long behind you
"Oh, where are you going to-"
ITO my shack on Charley's brook
I'm kind o. homesick like, and that's
the truth" @-.l-.
But how about Mr.. Petersham's
wish to give you start in his business
in New York or Montreal"
"I'm not the kind of guy for city
Mr.. Quaritch. All the chaps d gel
turning round to stare at the poor wild
fella, and I'd sure be scairt to sleep In
one of them up in the blue sky houses
anyway" He laughed.
"But you would soon be used to city
ways and perhaps become rich"
"That was what the mink said to the
otter: Go you to the city and see the
sights says he, but the otter knew
the only way he'd ever see the city
would be around some lovely gals
neck
November Joe had no idea how far |
could read into his fable.
"And what did the otter say"
"Huh, nothing! He just went down
his slide into the lake and got chasin'
fish. and / guess he soon forgot he
missed seem the city all right"
"And how about you, Jee?"
II guess I'll get chasin' fish, too, Mr..
Quaritch."
When I arrived nt the depot at Prl-
amsville in the morning, to my sur
prise found November Joe there be-
fore me.
why, Joe. exclaimed, you're not
fit to travel"
II thought I'd go ON the cars with
you, Mr.. Quaritch, If you'll have me.
There's q good many times to change
before we gets to Silent Water. and
I'm not so wonderful quick on my feet
yet"
He soon grew strong again, and he
wrote me of his trapping and shoot
ing, so at any rate he is trying to for
get all that he renounced at Kalmncks.
But will Linda have no further word
- A. Il