Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-07-24

ing dL lAe See po'e anu urging thu
dogs along.
The effect on Smoke was one n,
shock. for 1t was the first human ho
had seen since he parted from Short
three weeks before. His next thorpb,
was Of the potential murderer conceal.
ed on the opposite bank.
without exposing himself smoka
whistled warningly. The man did NOT
hear and came on rapidly. Again and
more sharply Smoke whistled. The
man whoaed his dogs. stopped and had
turned and faced Smoke when the rife
cracked. The instant afterward Smoke
fred into the woods in the direction Of
the sound,
The man on the river had been
struck by the first shot The shock
OF the high velocity bullet staggered
him. He stumbled awkwardly 10 ths
sled. half falling. and pulled rife ont
from under the lashings. As he stroye
to raise it to his shoulder be crumpled
at the waist and sank down slowly IN
a sitting posture on the sled. Then
abruptly, as the gun went of aimless-
Iy, be pitched backward and across the
corner of the sled load. so that Smoke
could see only his legs and stomach
From below came more jingling
bells. The man did not move. Around
the bend swung three sleds, accompa.
MED by half dozen men. Smoke
cried warnlngly, but they had seen the
condition Of the first sled, and they
dashed on to it
No shots came from the other hank,
and Smoke, calling his dogs to follow.
emerged into the open. There were
exclamations from the men, and two
Of them, fiinging or the mittens OF
their right hands, leveled their rifles
at him.
Come on, you red handed murderer,
you" one OF them, black bearded
man, commanded. "An' Jest pitch that
gun Of yourn in the snow"
Smoke hesltated, then dropped his
rife and came up to them.
"Go through him, Louis, an take his
weapons" the black bearded man or
dered.
Louis was a French Canadian voy-
ngeur, Smoke decided, as were four Of
the others. His search revealed only
Smokes hunting knife, which was ap-
propriated.
"Now, what have you got to say for
yourself, stranger, before l shoot you
dead2" the black bearded man de-
manded
"That you're making mistake II
you think l killed that man." Smoke
answered.
A cry came from one Of the yoy-
ageurs. He had quested along the
trail and found Smokes tracks where
he had left it to take refuge on the
bank. The man explained the nature
OF his find.
"Whatd you kill Joe Kinade forT"
be Of the black beard asked
~ tell you didn't" Smoke began.
Jaw, what's the good of talkin'? We
got you red handed. Right mp there's
where you left the trail when you
heard him comm. You laid among the
trees an bushwhacked him Pierre.
90 an get that gun he dropped"
"You might let me tell what happen
ed Smoke objected.
"You shut up" the man snarlcd at
him 81 reckon your gun'll tell the
story
All the men examined Smokes rife.
zone shot," Blackboard concluded.
Pierre, with nostrns that qulyered
and distended like a deer's, shifted at
the breech. Him one fresh shot" be
said.
THE bullet entered his back" Smoke
said. "He was facing me when be was
shot You see, it came from the other
bank"
Blackboard considered this PROPOSE
ton for scant second and shook bis
head. "Nope. It won't do, Turn him
around to face the other bank, that's
how you whopped him in the back.
Some Of you boys run up an down the
trail an see II you can see any tracks
maxim for the other bank"
Their report was that on that side
the snow was unbroken. Blackboard
bending over the dead man, straighten-
ed up with a woolly, furry wad IN bis
hand. Shreddlng this, he found i'm
bedded In the center the bullet which
had perforated the body. Its nose was
spread to the size OF half dollar; Us
butt end, steel jacketed, was undam-
aged. He compared It with q cartridge
from Smokes belt
That's plain enough evidence, stran-
ger, to satisfy blind man. It's sott
nosed an steel jacketed; yourn Is sol'
nosed and steel jacketed. It's a 3O-5o'
yourn IS 5000. It's manufactured oy
the ]. & 7. Arms company; yourn y
manufactured by the ]. & T. Arms
company. Now, you come along, an
Wen go over to the bank an see lest
how you done IT,"
81 was bushwhaeked myself smoke
said. Look at the hole In my parAA
While Blackboard examined II one o.
the yoyagers threw open the breech ot
the dead mans gun. II was patent ~
all that II had been dred once Iu'
ep,ptv c,r,ridy, vna stit In the cham