Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-02-09
cen here and seen no one. That's

Eight days"
whats he been doing all the timer
"Just wandering around"
where has he been camped"
Stafford raised his thumb over his
shoulder. "In the scrub above here"
Joe nodded. "Well, let's 60 to his
camping place and boil the kettle. He'll
sure have a bit Of fire there"
Joe stirred the smouldering logs into
life, but in doing so was so unfortunate
as to overturn the kettle.
That's bad" said he. "Best tell your
man to get some more water"
Stafford sent of Sam on his errand;
but no sooner had the Aleut disappear
ed than November was on his knees
examining the charred embers and
delving among the ashes.
"Get rid of your hired man for a
while longer. only so he don't suspect
anything" he said. 81 hear him COM
ing"
"You mean he's in the robbery?"
"He sure is. And, what's more, 1t
looks to me like he's your only chance
of getting your foxes back. Here he
comes"
A moment later Sam appeared III
sight walking up the narrow track be-
tween the rocks, kettle in hand. Stat
ford spoke to him in Aleut Sam
grunted in acquiescence, and went of
up the hill that formed the center Of
the island.
81 told him to go gather some more
wood while the kettles boiling. Now
you can talk and tell me who you think
has the pelts Of my foxes"
"Your foxes amt dead"
"Ain't dead? You've forgot their
skinned carcasses"
II allow we saw some skinned car.
casses, but they was the carcasses Of
red foxes worth no more than $40
apiece instead Of a thousand. i ex-
amined those carcasses mighty careful.
Their eyes wasn't the right color for
black foxes. That's one thing. For
another, found some red hairs. 1t
amt in nature you can take pelt of
and not a hair stick on the body un-
der"
Stafford digested this in silence.
"But why in creation should the
chaps have taken the trouble to bring
over red fox carcasses" he inquired
at length.
THAT'S easy answered. They was
after your best stock. It's pretty like
ly they didn't take them far, and they
wouldn't want you nosing about for
your live foxes"
"Is that it?"
Another thing. The robbers was
six days or more on Eel island. Now,
they could catch and kill all your fox
es In two. But to catch them so they
wouldn't be hurt would take time.
No, your foxes amt dead yet, aud they
amt far off. neither, and your Aleut
knows who's got them. He told you
he'd been eight days on this island,
didn't hep
Stafford nodded. Eight days, that's
what he said"
"He lied. I knew 1t the moment I
set eyes OH his fire. Not enough ash
to this fire to make heat to keep a
man without blanket comfortable for
eight days this weather. And look!
The boughs he's broke off for his bed.
They're too fresh. Ag'in, he amt got
no ak here, yet the charred ends Of
the thicker bits on the. fire has been
cut with an Ak. It's clear as light.
The robbers ferried Sam across here
about two days back, cut some wood
for him so he shouldn't be too cold,
gave him grub to last till bout the
time you'd likely be home and left
him"
II guess you're right. see it now.
I'm grateful to YOU"
Stafford reached for his rifle, but Joe
Iintervened.
"Stay you still, and Ill show you the
way we do In the lumber camps"
Sans strong, squat figure advanced
toward us. AS he stopped to throw the
wood he had brought on the ground
Joe caught his shoulder with one hand
and snatched the knife from his belt
with the other. And then there flash
ed across the features Of the Aleut an
expression like mad dogs. He flung
himself, gnashing and snarling. on No
vember.
But he was in the grip Of u man too
strong for him, and, though he return
ed again and again to the attack, the
huge young woodsman twisted him to
earth, where Stafford and tied his
struggling limbs.
This done we rolled him over.
"Now," said Stafford. "whO Is 1t has
got my foxes?
The Aleut shook his head.
Stafford pulled out his revolver, open.
ed the breech. made sure 1t was load
ed and cooked 1t. Next he held his
watch in front of Sans face and point
ed out the fact that 1t wanted but five
minutes to the hour.
"Pm telling him If he don't confess"
he said, "Tll shoot him when the hand
reaches the hour" He turned to us.
"You'd best co.
Good heavens! You don't really
mean cried.
Stafford winked. Joe and / went
down to the beach below.
A quarter Of an hour passed before
Stafford joined us.
"What's happenedg l asked.
Hes confessed. all right" Then
Stafford looked at Joe. ut all went
through just the way you said. II
was a rival fox farmer, Jurgensen. did
lit. Landed on Eel island with his
wife the night left. they were there
until two days ago; took them all their
time and Sans to get my foxes. Then
they brought him over here"
And now l will leave out any &c.
count Of the events Of the next six
teen hours which we spent In the
skiff and pick up the thread Of this
history again with Stafford knocking
at the door of the Jurgensens' cabin
on Upsala island. We had landed
there after dark.
Joe and l stood back while Stafford
l = fhrnUn