Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-01-19

the pink neeker!"'
! That's what made him mad with rage.
and Evans waved his hand.
We returned to breakfast at Mrs.
Rone's cabin. While we were eating
Evans casually brought out a scrap
Of the wOrsted he had detached from
the nail outside.
"Seen any one with necker like
that, Mrs Rone?" he asked.
The young woman glanced at the
bit Of WOOL then bent over Danny as
| she fed him. When she raised her
head noticed that she looked very
white.
There's more'n one Of that color
hereabouts likely" she replied. with
another glance Of studied indifference.
"It's not common pattern Of WOOL"
said Evans. "Well. you're all wit
nesses where ! got It. I'm of. It's
my business to find the man with the
pink necker."
Evans nodded and swung of through
the door.
November looked at Sally. who Is
be, Sally2"
Mrs. Rone's pretty forehead puck
cred into a frown. "Who7"
"Ptnk and grey necker." said Joe
gently.
A rush Of tears filed her red brown
eyes.
"val Black has one like that I made
It for him myself long ago."
And he has rifle Of some English
make" added November.
Mrs Rome started 80 he has. but
I never remembered that till this min.
ute!r' She looked back into Joe's gray
Eyes with Indignation. "And he smokes
Nugget all right. too. I know It All
the same. It isn't Val!'
Its queer them bits Of worsted on
The doornails." observed Joe judicially.
Her color hamed for a moment
why queer? He's been here to see
m us more n once this time back.
The nails might have caught his neck.
er any day." she retorted.
Its Just possible" agreed Novem'
Der In an unconvinced voice.
ut can't be valr' repeated Mrs.
Rome steadily. When We were out
of sight and Of earshot turned to
November
"The evidence against Black is pret.
ty strong What's your notion?"
Cant say yet think we'd best
Join Evans: he'll be trailing the thief"
We made straight through the woods
toward the spot where the dogs body
lay. As we walked tried again to
dnd out Joe's opinion.
But the motive: Haven't Mrs.
Rome and Black always been on good
termsT persisted.
Joe allowed that was 80 and added.
"val wanted to marry her years ago..
"But surely Black wouldn't rob her.
especially now thnt he hns his chance
again"
Think not?" said Joe. Il wonder!
After pause he went on: "But II
amt hard to see what'll he Evans
views on that. He'll say Va's scared
of her growing too independent. for
she's made good so far with her traps.
and so he Just naturally took hand to
frighten her into marriage. His case
agin Val won't break down for want OF
motive"
Zone question more. Joe. Do you
really think Val Black Is the guilty
man"
November Joe looked up with his
quick, sudden smile It'll be shock
| to Evans II he amt" said he.
Very soon we struck the robbers
trail and saw from a second line OF
tracks that Evans was ahead Of u fol-
lowing 1t.
Here the thief goes" said joe
"See! He's covered his mOccasins with
deer skin, and here We have Evans
tracks. He's hurrying. Evans b. He's
feeling good and sure Of the man hes
after"
Twice November pointed out faint
signs that meant nothing to me.
"Here's where the robber stopped to
light his pipe. See! There's the mark
Of the butt of his gun between these
roots. The SHOWS thin there. Must
"a had u match. that chap" he said
after a minute. and. standing with bis
back to the wind. he made a slight
movement Of his hand.
What are you doingr' I asked
Saving myself trouble" He turned
at right angles and began searching
through the trees. "Here It Is. Hung
up In snag Seadog match he used.
Then. catching my eye. he went on:
Unless he was a fool he'd light his
match with his face to the wind.
wouldn't hel And most right handed
men 'ud throw the match therebouts
where / hunted for It"
fro BE CONTINUED
The crosses which we nuke for our-
selves by 0vcranxiety about the future
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