Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-02-09
But Fischer had trouble from the

day he went up to shoot at kalmncks
He had to run for it, so ], was told
Didn't your father know that? Why
did Mr.. Petersham have anything te
do with the placer"
"Oh, 1t was just one Of pops no
tons, suppose" said Linda, with the
rather weary tolerance Of the modern
daughter.
"They are a dangerous lot round
there"
HE knew that. They are squatters
-trappers who have squatted among
those woods and hills for generations
OF course they think the country be-
longs to them. Pop knew that, and In
his opinion the compensation julius
Fischer offered and gave them was In.
adequate"
at would be-" l commented.
could without effort imagine Julius
Fischer's views on compensation, for
I had met him in business.
"Well, father went into the matter
and he found that the squatters had q
good deal to be said for their side OF
the case, so that he did what he
thought was fair by them. He paid
them good high prices for their rights,
or what they considered to be their
rights, for In law, Of course, they pos
sessed none. Every one seemed pleased
and satisfied. and we were looking for
ward to going there this spring for the
fishing when news came that one OF IA
theirs game wardens had been shot at"
"Shot ati'
Linda nodded the Greek head I ad-
mired so much.
Eyes. Last autumn father put on
couple of wardens to look after the
game, and they have been there all
winter. From their reports they have
got on quite well with the squatters,
and now suddenly, for no reason that
they can guess. one Of them, William
Worke by name. has been fired upon In
his camp"
KILLED" | asked.
mo, but badly wounded. He said he
was sure the bullet could have been
put into his heart just as easily, but 1t
was sent through his knee by way OF q
notice to quit, he thinks"
"Those folks up there must be half
savages."
"They are. but that's not all. Three
days ago a letter came. meant for fa-
ther. but addressed to me. Whoever
wrote 1t must have seen father and
knew that lie was not the kind OF man
who could be readily frightened, so
they thought they would get at him
through me. 1t was horrible letter y
The words were written upon sheet
torn from an old account book. They
ran rs follows:
You, Petersham, you mean skunk
Don't you come in our wods unles yoI
willing to pay five thousand dollars Bring
the goods and you'll be told wher to put It,
so II will come into the hands OF riters
Dollars amt nothin to you, but they can
keep an expanding bullet out yor hide
"Do you think it Is a hoax"
"Well, no. I can't honestly say l do
(Which means, in plain language,
that If father does not pay up that S6,'
600 he will be shot"
Not necessarily. He need not 20 up
to Kalmacks this fall"
"But Of course he will go! He's more
set OH going than ever. You know IA
ther when he's dealing with men. And
he persists in his opinion that the let
ter is probably only bluff"
considered for a little before
spoke. Linda, have you really sent
for me to try to persuade your father
that 1t would be wiser for him not to
go to Kalmacks?"
Linda's lip curled scornfully. 81
should not put 1t just like that! l can
imagine fathers answer If you did
I'm afraid 1t will be no good letting
you say anything you don't know how"
"You mean that have no tact?'
She smiled at me. and I instantly
forgave her "Wcll. perhaps do. but
you know 1t is far better To he able to
give help than just to tall; about 1t.
Father Is determined on going TO Kal'
macks. and | want you to come with
u.s."
"Us" | cried
Naturally, I'm going
"But it is absurd. Your father would
never allow It,"
"He can't prevent It, dear James,
she said softly. II don't for moment
SUPPOSE that even the Kalmacks people
would attack woman Ard father Is
| all that | have In the world I'm go
Ing"
"Then l suppose shall have to &c
too. But tell me what purpose does
your father think he will serve by un-
dertaking this very risky expedition
"He believes that the general feeling
up at Kalmacks is In his favor. and
the shooting OF the warden Us well as
1.-The writing Of this letter Is the work
Of a small band Of individuals who
wish to blackmail him. We will be
quite a strong party. and he hopes tc
discover who Is threatening him. by
the way. didn't hear from Sir An
drew McLerrtck that you had beeA In
the woods all these last falls with d
wonderful guide who could read trails
like Uncas, the last OF the Delawares
,r one OF those old trappers one reads
,f In Fenimore Cooper's novelsT
That's true"
What Is his nameT'
November Joe"
November Joe" she repeated. 81
visualize him ut once. A wintry look
Ing old man. with gray goatee and
piercing eyes"
burst out laughing. Its cxtraor
iinary you should hit him of so well. v
"He must come too she com
handed.
On Friday got Joe. who arranged 10
meet us at Priamvllle. the nearest
,oint on the railway to those noun
aims In the heart of which the estate
II Kalmacks was situated. | myself
|lrranged to accompany the Peter
Ihams.
Into the story Of our journey to
Priamville need not go, but will pic
up the sequence of events at the nc
nent of our arrival ut that enterpris
Ing town, when Linda, looking fror