Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-12-22
CHAPTER XII.
The Looted Island.

our campnre near ohe VI ~
of western Alaska, where we had gone
ON a hunting expedition after the
great moose of the west
was talking when suddenly Joe
touched me.
"Shsh!" he whispered. There
some feller moving down by the
creek"
We waited, and I was soon aware
of a. figure advancing through the
night.
Then a voice said, Fine nigh1
mates" and a sinewy, long armed 1ei-
low with a bushy red beard stepped
into the circle Of light.
..The cold makes you keep your
hands in your pockets. don't IT, salo
Joe gently. "It does me-"
then noticed that both men were
covering each other with revoivers
through their pockets. The stranger
slowly drew out his hand.
I'm John Stafford"
"This here is Mr.. Quaritch Of Que
bee. I'm his guide. We're come al
ter big game"
"I guess you're speaking truth. It's
I'D to me to apologize. I'm free 10
own I was doubtful about you. You'h
understand that when I tell you
what's happened. Perhaps you've
noticed an island about eight miles
off the coast, lying nor nor'west?
"Sort Of loaf shaped island? Yes
That's where I come from-Eel
island. I have a fox farm there. I re-
turned to it yesterday after run
down to Valdez When I went away
a fortnight ago I left my man In
charge of some of the finest black
foxes between this and Uagava.
got back to find the foxes all killed
and my hired man gone-disappear-
ed"
who was he?"
IAN Aleut, called Sam. He's been
in my employ three years. l see
what you're thinking-that ne killed
the foxes, and I'd have thought that
myself only knew he didn't.
"How's that?"
"One reason is that 1 own only one
boat, and when I went to the main
land last Friday week, took II
leaving Sam on the island. It's all Of
seven miles from the coast, so he
couldn't have got away If he wanted.
That, I say, is one reason why II
couldn't have been him. The other
reasons as good. I was decoyed
away so cleverly. Here's the letter
that did it."
"Sir-Your wife wants you to come
down at once. She's due for an op-
Grafton il the hospital here on Fri
day week, and she's hard put to 1t to
plan for the children till she gets
about again. So you'd best come.
Yours truly,
S. Macfarlane Doctor"
I gave him back the letter. Amy
man would have gone on such news,
said.
well, 1 did," said St.gord savage
ly. II got that letter twelve days
back. and off I went hot foot, leaving
Aleut Sam in charge. 1t took me
week going down. When l reached
the house where my wife is living.
she was surprised to see me. and 1
showed her the letter. You can
guess. 1t was all a plan. There
wasn't any Dr. Macfarlane, nor any
operation, and back I came-record
breaking travel-to Eel island.
found the place clean gutted. All
the black and silvers caught and
killed, and the skinned carcasses ly-
ing around. And Aleut Sam vanish
ed as if he had never lived. 1t may
have been for spite, but whoever he
was he lived in my cabin several
days, and slept in my bunk.
wonder what he did with Sam?
knocked him on the head and heaved
him in the sea like as not. I'm nigh
desperate. The work Of three years
gone, three winters spent with Sam
alone, like some kind of Crusoe and
his man Friday, and keeping my wife
and two little gals down at Valdez"
Look here, amt it bit early in
the year to kill foxes?" said Joe,
after a pause.
They'd have been worth 25 per
cent more in a month"
Then why?"-
Because couldn't have been de-
coyed away except while the steamer
was running before the winter closed
down. See? Even as early as this in
the year the pelts were worth s15,-
OOO."
My" said Joe. Suspect any one
in particular?'
"I believe it may have been Trap
per Simpson. He's had down on me
this good while back. Well, If it was
him, he's paid me out good, the black
guard"
Hard words don't bring down nor
man nor deer" said Joe.
There was a silence; then l said:
What would you give the man that
discovered who it was that robbed
you?"
IF he didn't get me back my pelts
I could give him nothing. If he did,
he'd be welcome to $780," replied the
fox hunter.
Good enough. November?' L
asked.
Joe nodded.
What do You mean?'' asked Staf-
ford. turning to Joe. You trail
reader?"
.'Learnin' to be-" said Joe.
Thus it was agreed that we should
go across to Eel island at dawn to let
November have a look around. we
went ashore, and Joe at once took
cast. looking for tracks, though he
knew he was little likely to find any,
for the ground was as hard as iron
and had been impervious for days.
We next climbed to Stafford's cab
in. Come right in." said he.
Wait" said Joe. You told US
the robber lived in here while he was