Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-08-16

welt ~ see 11O"aru. l utle 40
ner. and I'm glad did. for it seemed
to cheer him up she said.
I'm glad You went. too" Abner re-
piled. You don't believe he's guilty
no more'n l do"
There WAS one thing | wanted to
speak to him about but somehow
couldn't get to it, Mary sighed. so
so. l thought Id mention it to you
You may look on it as very e=olistical
but l have enough confidence in my
: self to want to try it anyway. Uncle
Abner, Howard has talked to ME
great deal about his editorial policy
and l think know as much about his
general plan as any one except your
SELF
Yes. | know he contided In you
lot Abner said gently In fact. he
told me several times chat you had Civ
en- him some O his best IDEAS.
At this AIarv's color rose higher.
Uncle Abner," she said bail has
been refused him. hasn't it,"
Yes Abner nodded reluctantly
Mary now looked her old friend
straight In the face Uncle Abner,
l believe l can do work on the paper
that-that Howard will approve Of
don't know why | feel so confident
but I know I can. and. feeling that
way. l thought
Good gracious. Fine, finer Abner
clapped his hands. You are the best
person in the state fer the job"
We'll, I'll come in with you in the
morning" Mary replied happily
One evening after supper. ut the end
Of that week. Pole Baker left his wife
and children seated on the grass In
front Of his cottage and went down the
road toward Trumbley's. He was bent
on seeing Abner Daniel. and thought
the present was as favorable time as
any. However. just as be came into
view Of Trumbley's house in the dusk
he saw Abner come out at the front
gate and start across an Old cOrnteld
toward the mountain beyond it. Pole
impulsively puckered his lips to whis-
tie. but suddenly changed his mind.
Maybe I'd better let the old duck
alone" he mused. Fer all know he
may be out on some private business
climb over the zigzag rail fence which,
separated Trumbley's land from the
mountain forest. and then another idea
rame to him.
Hes worried like | am" Pole sur
missed. Maybe he's jest tryln' to git
to some quiet place away from folks
SO he kin think what's best to do fer
hot hnv
an see what's up. I've got to talk to
i'm fore mornin'."
Hurriedly crossing the field toward
the point at which Abner had disap
peared from view and finally climbing
the fence where Abner had shattered
a rotten rail in getting over, Pole paus-
ed to listen.
in it's early In the season. Pole said
dryly. IAN he couldn't bag many with
out q gun or a dog. Eff it was any
body but old Alb would think he had
q notion of maxim somethin' to drink
an doin' it as quiet as possible to
avoid detection. No; it amt that, fer
he's open an aboveboard. an he's too
badly bothered right now to think O.
devilment O. any Sort
On the two went. Abner still lead
ing. Pole following as stealthily as
pioneer tracing a redskin over virgin
soil. They were now high above the
farreaching valley. To the east lay
the struggling lights Of the town. At
the mountains foot, through an open
door, shone the fire in the kitchen at
Trumbley's. Suddenly Pole heard
closer to him than he expected a sound
like that of small sticks being broken.
and he paused and stood still in Won
der What could it mean? Stick after
stick was cracked asunder, as if Abner
was bending them across his knee,
some of them giving out sharp reports
like the bursting Of sand crackers. 4
moment later a light hared up.
well, we'll, well!' Pole said to him
e. self. EFF old Alb is runnin moon
'-:hine still or secret counterfeitin'
plant l may as we'll hook on to i'm.
Lawbreakin' is all right an safe eff
he's dom it."
Abner stepped back among the bush
es suddenly, and Pole saw him bend
to the ground and catch hold of a dark
object and begin to drag it into the
light.
MY Lord, what Is the matter with
'im?" Pole asked the question of him
self in great perplexity, and in leaning
forward to see better he dislodged a
stone which began to roll noisily down
the steep Faste: and faster 1t went
bounding and striking the trunks OF
trees till it finally stopped. Pole helC
his breath in dismay. He saw Abnel
draw himself up erect and stand star
hng fxedly in his direction. For mo-
iment the two pairs of eyes glared to-
ward each other Then Abner broke
the silence.
'Who goes thar?' he called out, as
a sentinel might who was doing duty
with a sleeping army in his care.
"A friend-Pole Baker! didn't
mean be nosin' about in yore private
business, Uncle Ab but / went to See
you at home jest as you was leavin
You was right ahead O. me. l follered
eRpectin' you to turn back ever min
ute, till l got away up here, an'-well
here am"
"Humph!" Abner broke in. and Their
Pole saw him bend down, grasp the
object he had been dragging. and con
tinue pulling it toward the fire. Nov
ing forward, Pole saw that it was log
of wood, piece Of the trunk of de
90 od nino ohO11t TON foot long