The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1915-01-08
CHAPTER x.
The Invasion.

I OCd ruin as ndu Ueeu WTouSHI
in .Sedgwick's studio was strict
~ ly localized The easel lay on the
floor. with its rear leg crum-
pied. Around it were scattered the
fragments of the glass upon which the
painter had set his labor of love. A
high old fashioned chair faced the
wreckage. On its peak was hung a
travelling cap. Looping across the
back spra wled Norfolk jacket belong
ing to Sedgwick. Chester Kent lifted
the coat and after swift survey let
it drop
did YOU leave that there?" he asked.
81 hung it across the back of the
chair" answered Sedgwick.
North window closed?'
Eyes. as you see it now"
"And west one openT'
"Nothing has been changed, l tell
you, except this" Sedgwick's hand'
outstretched toward the destroyed por-
trait, condensed itself involuntarily
into knotty fist.
Sedgwick took the Norfolk jacket
from the chair. why there's hole
| through it, he exclaimed.
Exactly. The path of the INVADER
"a bullet"
Fright again. Instead of numbering
as Won pine to do. you've been murder
ed. That the picture was destroyed
is merely bit Of i'll fortune. mat
you weren't inside the coat when the
bullet went through it and cut the
prop from your easel is bit or the
other kind Hang up the coat, please. y
Sedgwick obeyed.
There" said Kent viewing the re-
sult from the window AT distance
of, say quarter Of mile, that ar
rangement of coat and cap would look
uncommonly like a man sitting in a
chair before his work. At least l
should think So And yonder thicket
on the hillside" he added. looking out
of the window again. lis just about
that distance and seems to be the only
spot in sight giving straight range
Suppose we run up there
Sound as was his condition Sedg
wick was painting when he brought UP
at the spot some yards behind his long
limbed> leader AS the scientist had
surmised. the arrangement of coat anC
cap in the studio presented at that dis
lance an excellent simulacrum OF the
rear view of man lounging in chair
Bidding the artist stay outside thu
copse, Kent entered on hands anC
knees and made extended exploration
After a few moments the sound of low
lugubrious whistlng was heard from
the trees. and presently the musician
emerged leading himself by the lob
of his ear.
Evidently you've found something,
commented Sedgwick.
I'm satisfied that some one fired {
: shot from here. che marksman-'
good one-saw you. as he supposed
jerk to the shot as If with bulle
e through you and went away satisfied.
L Leaving no trace behind him." add
: ed Sedgwick.
mo trace that is tangible Therei
: lies the evidence"
o "Of course you don't expect me t
h follow that"
n why not? Look at the ground in tn
thicket"
% what Is there to be seen there. sine
you've said there are no marks"
). 1.-THE soil is very soft"
"Yes; there's spring just back of us.
"Yet there's not footprint discern
BILE on it."
"I've got that part of the lesson b
heart. | think
Is use your brain on it, then. Som
{ one designing to make you his large
Z has been in this thicket; been and gon
u and left the place trackless. That SON
e one was keen, soft footed woodsmal
n Putting it in words of one syllable,
Y. should say he probably bad the raci'
" instinct Of the hunt Does that fus
,r any idea from your brain!"
II Racial instinct? Gansett JIM sal
Sedgwick.
Exactly. If | had found tracks q
over the place. | should have known
to wasn't he. Finding nothing. | W;
~ naturally pleased "
in That's more than I am" retortt
the other II suppose he's likely to r