Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-01-05

| OF refuge. over Wh1cn Sne SenuS Tue
appointed hours Of darkness. during
which he can travel fast and far"
"All things considered. 1t is surpris'
ing that so many woods crimes are
brought home to their perpetrators"
"There you are forgetting one very
important point have been present
at many trials and the most dangerous
witnesses that I have ever seen have
been men Of the November Joe type
that IS. practically illiterate woodsmen.
Their evidence has quality Of terrible
simplicity. They give minute but un-
answerable details All their expert
ences are first hand. They bring for
ward naked facts with sledge hammer
results. Where a town bred man
would see nothing but series Of blur
red footsteps in the morning dew. an
ordinary dweller In the woods could
learn something from them. but No
vember Joe can often reconstruct the
man who made them. sometimes IN a
manner and with an exactitude that
has struck me as little short Of mar
velous."
~ see he has interested you" said
1, half smiling.
81 confess he has. Looked at from
a scientific standpoint consider him
the perfect product Of his environ
ment. There are few things l would
enjoy more than to watch November
using his experience and his super
normal senses In the unraveling Of
some crime of the woods"
threw the stump Of my cigar into
the fire.
"You have persuaded me-" l said. 81
will try to make start by the end OF
the week. Where is Joe to be found"
"As to that. believe you might get
into touch with him at Hardings farm,
Silent Water. Beauce."
"I'll write to him."
Not much use. He only calls for
letters when he feels inclined"
Then III go to Harding's and ar
range the trip by word Of mouth"
"That would certainly be the best
plan. and. anyhow. the sooner you get
into the woods the better Besides;
you will be more likely to secure Joe
BY doing that, as he Is inclined to be
shy Of strangers.
1 rose and shook hands with my
host
Remember me to joe" said he. II
like that young man. Goodby and
good luck"
Along the borders Of Beauce and
Maine, between the United States and
Canada. lies a land of spruce forest
and of hardwood ridges. Here little
farms stand on the edge Of the big
timber, and far beyond them. in the
depths Of the woodlands. lie lumber
camps and the wide flung paths OF
trappers and pelt hunters.
left the cars at Silent Water and
rode of at once to Harding's. the house
Of the Beauce farmer where meant
to put up for the night. Mrs. Hard
ing received me genially and placed
an excellent supper before me. While
was eating 1t squall blew up with
the fall Of darkness. and ] was glad
enough to find myself In safe shelter.
Outside the wind was swishing
among the pines which inclosed the
farmhouse, when inside the telephone
bell rang. which connected us with
st. George. forty miles distant. rang
suddenly and anonymously high
above the clamor Of the forest noises.
Mrs. Harding took up the receiver.
and this Is what heard.
MY husband won't be home tonight;
he's gone into st. George. No, have
no one to send But how can l? There
is no one here but me and the chill
dren. Well. there's Mr.. Quaritch, a
sport, staying the night No. l couldn't
ask him."
"Why not?" inquired.
Mrs. Harding shook her head rs she
stood still holding the receiver. She
was a matron of distinct comeliness.
and she cooked amazingly well.
"You can ask me anything" urged.
"They want some one to carry a
message to November joe" she ex-
planned. Its the provincial police on
the phone"
"I'll CO."
"Joe made me promise not to send
any sports after him." she said doubt
| fully. "They all want him now he's
famous"
| "But November Joe is rather friend
of mine. l hunted with him years ago
when he lived on the Montmorency."
"Is that so?' Her face relaxed a
little. "Well. perhaps she conceded.
| "Of course I'll carry the message"
Its quite way to his place. No
vember doesn't care about strangers.
He's a solitary man. You must follow
the tote road you were on today If
teen miles. turn west Mt the deserted
lumber camp. cross Charley's brook.
Joe lives about two acres up the far
bank" She lifted the receiver. "Shall
I say you'll go?"
"By all means"
A few seconds later l was at the
phone taking my instructions. 1t ap.
peared that the speaker was the chief
Of police In Quebec. who was Of course
well known to me. will let you have
his own words. 'E
every good of you. I'm sure. Mr.
Quaritch. Yes. we want November
Joe to be told that n man named
Henry Lyon has been shot in his camp
down at Big Tree portage. on Depot
liver. The news came. in just now
telephoned through by lumberjack
who found the body. Tell Joe, please
success means $50 to him. Yes. that's
all. Much obliged. Yes, the sooner
he hears about It the better. Good
night"
I hung up the receiver, turned b