Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-01-26

nonplussed as myself had been a
the breakdown Of the case, which uI
| to the last moment had ON the face Oi
1t seemed indestructible.
have never looked forward to any
explanation more than that which
November, gave to Mrs. Rome. Blacl
and myself the same evening.
1T was the carcoss Of Rizpah give
me the first start" said Joe. "As soor
as I saw that knew It weren't VAL"
"Why?" asked Sally.
"You remember 1t was hacked up
Now here was the case up to that: A
thief had robbed Sally. and all the
sign he left behind was few threads
Of his necker and an English made
cartridge. The thief goes out. and old
Rizpah attacks him. He shoots her
Then he cuts her body nigh to pieces
Why" We all shook our heads.
Because he wants to get his bullet
out Of her. And why does he want to
get his bullet? Only. one possible rea.
son. Because it's different to the bul.
let he dropped on purpose In the
house."
"By lover cried
From that 1t all fits in. 1t seems
funny that the thief should drop q
cartridge, funnier still that he. should
not notice he'd left bit Of his necker
stuck to the nails on the door. Still.
I'd allow them two things might hap
pen. But when 1t came to his having
more bits Of his necker torn of By
the spruces where Evans found them.
1t looked like Us If the thief was a
mighty poor woodsmnn. Which he
wasn't. He hid his tracks good and
cunning After that | guessed was
on the right scent. but l wasn't plumb
sure till come up to the place where
he killed the partridge. While he was
snaring it he rested his rife ag'in n
tree. | saw the mark of the butt on
the ground and the scratch from the
foresight upon the bark. Then knew
he didn't carry no English rifle"
"How did you know?" asked Sally.
II could measure its length agin the
tree. 1t was nigh foot shorter than
an English rife"
yal's fist came down on the table.
Bully for you. Joe"
"Well, now. there was one more
thing. Besides that black fox. Sally
here missed other marked pelts. They
wasn't much value. Why did the thief
take them? Again only one reason
He wanted 'em for making more false
evidence agin Val"
He paused. go on. Joe." cried Mrs
Rome impatiently.
"Whcn Mr.. Quaritch and ! came to
val's shack we searched 1t. Nothing
there. Why? Cos Val had been home
all night and Sylvester couldn't get In
with out wakin' him."
But" said |. wasn't there good
case against Black without that?"
, "Yes. there was n case. but his con
viction wasn't an absolute cinch. On
the other hand. II the stolen skins
was found hid in his shack That's
why you had to lie in that brush 50
long. Mr.. Quaritch. while / went In to
Lavette and spread 1t around that the
shack hadn't been searched by Evans
Sylvester was ut the store. and he fell
into the trap right enough. We wait
ed for him. and we got him"
90 course" continued Joe. revenge
on Val weren't Sylvcster's only game
He meant Robin Sally. too. and had
his plan laid He must a gone to
val's and stole II cartridge and the bits
of necker before he robbed Sally's
house. Last night he started out to
leave IL few cheap pelts ut Vars, but
he had the black fox skin separate In
his pack with bit q tea and flour
and tobacco, so II we hadn't took him
he'd have lit out into Maine an sold
the black fox pelt there"
"But why should Sylvester have
such down ON Val?"
Joe laughed. ASK Val!'
"Ten years ago" said Val. when
we was both rising twenty year. !
gave Sylvester n thrashing he'd likely
remember. He had dog what weren't
no use, and he decided to shoot 1t. So
he did, but lie didn't kill 1t. lie shot
1t far back and left 1t In the woods.
and come along
"The brute!" exclaimed Sally.
Hes u dangerous lnjin." said No
vember. land he's Of Il breed that
never forgets.'
when he gets out Of prison youll
have to keep awake. joe" said Val.
"When he gets out I'll have the sno"
in my hair oil right and you and Sail!
will be old married folks" retorted
Joe. you'll sure be tired Of each other
by then"
Sally looked at Val, and Joe caush'
the look.
"Leastways." he added. you'll pre-
tend you are better'n you do now"
We all laughed.