The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-03-11
CHAPTER XVI.
-u ~

Il started out, Mr.. Quaritch,"
he began. "and crossed the lake to
the camp where Bill Worke was fired
at-you mind Miss Linda dropped
brooch there? l had search for it,
but | didn't find it. though l come
across what Id hoped to linda lot Of
tracks-men's tracks"
who had been there since Satur-
day.?
Huh! Yes: only about two days
old After awhile built bit Of
fipe and cooked pinch of tea in
tin I'd fetched along. Then after
lunk'-.Joe always called lunch ''lunk"
y started back. was coming along
easy. not on the path. but In the wood
about twenty yards to the south of 1t.
and afore I'd gone above three or
four acres shot was fred at me from
above. The bullet didn't strike me.
but as was in wonderful poor place
for cover-just three or four spruces
and half Il dozen sticks of wild rasp-
berry, went down. pretending I'd
got the bullet. pitched over the way
man does that's got it high up. and
took care to get the biggest spruce
trunk between me and where l think
the shots come from.
Sometimes. if you 80 dorm like
that. a man'l get rattled-like and come
out. but not this one. Guess I'm not
the first he's put bit Of lead into.
He lay still and fred again-got me
in the shoulder that time. and l gave
a kick and showed in among the rasp-
berry canes in good earnest, had some
of them whitley buds in my mouth and
was chewing Of them. when the fella
shoots twice more-both misses. Then
he kind O. paused. and guesses he's
} going to move to where he can let me
! have it again.
Il see the black hat On him for mo
ment and then lets drive. / tried
to get up to have look at him."
"Surely that was risky. How could
you know he was dead?"
, Heard the bullet strike and saw the
} hat go backward. A man don't nev-
er fall over backward when he's sham
, ming / couldn't get to him-fainted.
guess. Then you come along"
Evening had fallen before we ulti-
mately arrived at Kalmacks. We ap-
proached the house with care and en-
tered by window at the back. as
Joe thought it possible the front en-
frances might be commanded from the
wood on that side.
We went at once to the room where
Worke was lying and Joe gave him a
rapid description of the man he had
shot. s"..
THAT'S Tomlinson." saiJ Worke a,
once. Them two brothers lives to
gether. What have they been doing"
You'll know afore night" replied
Joe. What are their names?"
Dandy is the one with the black
beard. while him they calls Muppy Ii
foxy colored man."
THANK you" said Joe. Nov. Bill
If you keep them Eames to yourself
I'll come back in half an. hour and tel
you who it was shot you"
On Joe's appearance Linda started VI
and ran to him.
You're woundedv' she cried.
Its nothin much. Miss Linda"
But as we laid him down on tn,
couch he seemed to lose consciousness
Petersham brought brandy. and Linda
holding Joe's head upon her arm, pu
it to his lips. He swallowed some o
it and then insisted upon sitting up.
II must bind up your shoulder. W.
must stop the bleeding" Linda's dis
tress and anxiety were very evident
And Joe had to give way. With he
= capable and gentle hands Linda sool
dressed the wound and afterward in
y. sisted on sending for Puttick to he'll
:, him to his bunk.
so you've got it?' Puttick said. ''
warned you. Lucky you're not dead"
N ''Yes. ain't it," returned Joe.
Well | knew that soft drawl. whic
November's voice never took except i
moments of fiercest tension.
You'd best join your hands abov
;, your head. Ben Puttick. Lock til
thumbs. That's right"
Joe had picked my revolver from th
table and held it pointed at Puttick
!, breast.
70 Hes madr screamed Puttick.
N "Tie his hands. Mr.. Quaritch. Mis-
Linda will you please to go away?"
- mo. Joe. Do you think I'm frigh
a ened?"
id Huh. l know you're brave. but
pt man acts freer without the wome
lg looking on
N Without word she turned and wal
ed out of the room.
ID "Putticll's going to confess. Mr.. 2
tersham." went on November.
I've nothing to confess. you fool"'
Not even that story you inventt
e. about the man with the red hank
across his face-the man who wasr
~ never there?"
is whats he ravin' about?" cried Pr
tick.
a Have you forgot them long hair
is Tomlinson brothers that
ar The effect of this speech on Putti
Or was instantaneous. Evidently he lea
J. ed to the conclusion that he bad be
10 betrayed. for he turned and dash
for the door We flung ourselves un
l him and By sheer weight bore him