Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-01-14

If there was any shooting. | guess I'd
be as much in it as they would
Il suggest that We all three CO."
said.
But Joe would have none of this
plan.
There's nothing to be gained by
that. Mr. Quaritch You bet these
fellas'll keep pretty bright lookout.
If they saw three of us coming they'd
shoot as like as not
Il was thinking | might slip right
along to Buffers cairn and maybe get
look at the felas.'
Nor said Petersham decidedly. Il
won't allow it. You say yourself you
would be shot
Il said we would get shot. not me
alone. Three men can't go quiet where
one can"
And so finally it was arranged,
though not without good deal of ar
gument with Petersham.
That's fine fellow" remarked Pc
tersham
| nodded
The kind of fellow who fought with
game. | wonder what he will see at
Buffers cairn"'
1t was past midnight when Joe ap-
peared again. Petersham and | both
asked for his news
November shook his head. I've
nothing to tell; nothing at all. l didn't
see no one"
Where were your
Lying down on top of the cairn it.
self. There's good corners to ii"
"You could see well round. then. and
if any one had come you would not
have failed to observe them"
''Coudnt be too sure There was
some dark times when the moon was
shut in by clouds They might "a
come them times. though don't think
they did But FL know for certain
soon unless it comes on heavy rain.
There's Il fine little lake they calls
Buffers pond up there You take your
fishpole, Mr. Quaritch and We'll go
over at sunrise and you try for some
of them trout. while take scout
round for tracks"
This we did, but search as Joe would
he failed to discover any sign at all,
He told me this when he joined me at
breakfast time.
After had caught Il nice string of
trout we walked back to Kalmacks,
circling round the house before we en-
tered it. he sand lay undisturbed by
any strange footstep. but when we got
in we found Mr.. Petersham in Il state
Of the greatest excitement
One of the blackmailers has had a
long talk with Puttick" he told us,
"WhatY
'IncrediDle us it sounds. it is So
But when was this?''
early this morning. some time aft
err yea and Joe started This is how
it happened Puttick had just got up
and gone down with Il tin Of rOsin and
some spare canvas and tin TO mend
that canoe we ripped on the rock yes
terday. In fact. he had only just be-
voice ordering him to hold up his
hands"
BY JOve. what neXt?"
why. he held them up. He had no
choice And then a man stepped out
from behind the big rock that's just
above where the canoe lies
Il hope Puttick recognized him"
mo The fellow had red handker-
chief tied over his nose and mouth.
Only his eyes showed under the brim
of felt hat that was pulled low down
over them He carried Il rifle, that he
kept full on Puttick's chest while they
talked But I'll call Puttick. He can
finish the account of the affair himself.
That's best"
Puttick answered to the call and
after running over the story. which
was exactly similar to that we had
tinued:
THE tough had a red banker tied
over his ugly face. nothing but his eyes
showing He had me covered with his
gun to rights all the time"
What kind of gun was it?
II didn't see; leastways | didn't no.
tice"
well. had he anything to say?"
He KEEP me that way minute be-
fore he started speaking. You tell Pc
terSham. says he, it's. up to him to
pay right away. Tell him unless he
goes at once to Buffers cairn and
takes the goods and leaves them there
on the big fiat stone by the rock he'll
hear from us afore evening. and he'll
hear in a way that'll make him sorry
all his life And as for you, Ben Put
tick. you take Il hint and advise old
man Petersham to buy us off. and he
can't be too quick about doing it either.
If he tries TO escape We'll get him on
the road down to Priamvlle After
he'd done talking he made me put my
watch on the canoe-that I'd turned
bottom up TO get 1T that rent-and
warned me not to move for half an
hour When the half hour was up 7
come right away and tell you"
To