Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-01-19
CHAPTER VI.
1ha Black Fox Skin.

Mr.. Close paid Dam"
CHAPTER VI.
The Black Fox Skin.
V you must understand that from
" this time on my association
with November Joe was not
continuous but ftful, and that
after the events ! have just written
down l went back to Quebec. where l
became once more immersed In my
business. OF Joe heard from time to
time. generally by means Of smudged
letters obviously written from camp
and usually smelling Of wood smoke.
1t was such a letter. which. In the fol.
lowing year. caused me once more to
seek November 1t ran as follows:
Mr.. Quaritch. sir. last week was up
to Widdeney Pond and ! see q wonderful
red deer buck. I guess he come out OF
the thick Maine woods to take the place
O. that fella you shot there last fall This
great fella has had accident to his horns
or something for they come out OF his
head thick and stunted-like and all over
little points. Them horns would look fine
at the top Of the stairs In your house to
Quebec. so come and try for them I'll
be down to Mrs. Harding's Friday morn
ing 30 as I can meet you II you can come
There's only three moose. using round
here. two cows. and mean little fella
Of q bull. NOVEMBER
This was the letter which caused me
to seek Mrs Harding's, but owing to
a slight accident to the rig | was driv'
en- up In. arrived late to lind that
November bud gone up to a neighbor
ing farm ON some business, leaving
word that should arrive was to
start for his shack and that he would
catch me up on the way. November
struck my trail and 1t was long after
dark when we reached November's
shack that evening. AS he opened the
door he displaced something white
which lay just inside It
"Its a letter." he said in surprise
as he handed It to me. what does It
say. Mr.. Quuritch"
read II aloud II ran:
I am In trouble. Joe Somebody 10 rob
bing my traps When you get home
which ] pray will be soon. come right
over. &. ROME
"The skunk!' cried November.
had never seen him SO moved. He
had been away hunting for three days
and returned to lind this message.
The darned skunk" he repeated. ito
rob her traps"
"Her-a woRanr'
rs. Rome stands for Sally Rome
You've sure heard Of herr"
mo: who is she?"
"I'll tell you" said Joe. SAILS n
mighty brave girl-that is. she's a wild
ow. She was married on Rome fouI
years ago last Christmas. and the
autumn after he got his back broke to
the Red Star lumber camp. leaving
Sally just enough dollars TO carry her
over the birth Of her son. To make Il
long story short there was lots Of the
boys ready to fill dead man Rone's
place when they knew her money must
be giving out. and the neighbors were
wonderful interested to know which
Sal would take But It soon come out
that Sal wasn't taking any Of them.
but had decided to try what she could
do with the trapping herself.
"Just that Rome worked line O.
traps. and Sal was fixed to make her
living and the boys that way. Said a
woman was liable to be as successful
q trapper as man. She's at It nenr
three year now. and she's made good
Lives with her boy about four hours
walk nor'west Of here. with not an
other house within FIVE miles Of her
She's got young sister. Ruby. with
her on account Of the kid. as she has
to be out such lot"
Not much later was following No
vember's nimbly moving figure upon as
hard q woods march as l ever care to
try. was not sorry when thong
Of my moccasin gave way and Joe al.
lowed me a minute to tie 1t up and to
get my wind.
There's Tom Carroll. Phil Gort and
lnjin Sylvester" began November alb
ruptly-"those three. They're Sally's
nearest neiglbors. them and Val Black
val's good man. butt
"But what?" said l absently.
"Him and Tom Carrolls cut the top
notches for Sally's favor so far"
"But what's that got to do with
"Come on" snapped November and
hurried forward to Sally's lonely cabin
Joe knocked at the door. calling at
the same time: Its me. Are you
there. Sally?" =.
The door opened IN inch or two. 'ls
It you. Joe3"
November thrust his right hand with
Its deep scar across the back through
the aperture "You should know that
cut, Sal; you tended It"
"Come in. Come inT'
I followed Joe into the house and
turned to look at Sally. l saw slim
girl with gentle red brown eyes that
matched the red brown Of her rebel
lious hair. small face. pale under its
weather tan. but showing line OF
milk white skin above her brows. She
was. In fact. extremely pretty. with a
kind Of good looks ! had not expected
and ten seconds later !. too. had fallen
untA.r the spell Of that charm. which
was all the more powerful because
Sally herself was unconscious Of 1t.
you've been long in coming. Joe"
Abe said. with sudden smile. "You
were away. Of courseT
AYE. just got back fore we started
for here" He looked around where's
young DanT
T've just got him of to sleep on the
bed there" She pointed to a deerskin
curtain In the corner.
"What! They been frightening himT
Mrs. Rome looked oddly at November.
mo, but II he heard us talking he
might get scared. for the man who's
been robbing me was In this room not
six hours ago. and Danny saw him"
November raised his eyebrows.
"Huh! That's Herce!' he said. Dan.
nys rising three, amt he? He could
tell"
Nothing at all. II was after dark,
and the man had his face muttled-
Danny said he was q real good man.
He gave him sugar from the cup
board" said Sally.
"His hands, what like was bis hands7