The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-05-24

THE DENSE UNDERGROUND M
THEY HAD TRAVERSi
tread, until he saw three men and
three women grouped about the fire.
A large tin coffee pot was bubbling
upon glowing log, and the smell of
sizzling fish in a frying pan suggested
to the sleuth his course OF action.
He knew that the murderer would re-
sist capture to the utmost of his abil-
ity, and the situation was difficult
one Few men would have tackled it
single-handed, as Johnson did.
Assuming his amiable but deceiving
smile-afterward famous as the safe
cracking smile,'' from the fact that he
generally wore it when welding his
ak or observation-disclosures adj
vanced boldly toward the group OF
men and women.
AS he advanced he was able to pick
out, from their resemblance to the
photographs, Harris and his STEP
daughter, at once. He saw the six
start and glance nervously toward
him.
"Got any fish to sell?" asked John
son. Were camped along the river,
and we came away without our fishing
gear. They told me at the camp be-
low that you had had good catch" "
"How much do you want?" growled
Harris, looking at Johnson sus-
piciously.
Johnson began to dicker, and, while
doing so, he took a hasty survey of
his bearings. A tent stood behind the
outlaws, and he surmised that their
shotguns were undoubtedly hidden in
side. AS he chartered, he advanced
until he stood in the middle of the
group; then he cautiously edged
around until he stood between them
and the tent. Then he suddenly
whipped his Colt automatic out of his
pocket.
Throw up your hands!" he shouted.
Without a moments hesitation six
pairs of hands went up in the air
and stayed up. Johnson smiled; then
he whistled sharply, and, to the fur
Their CONSERVATION of the camping
party, the ferryman came out of the
bushes at a run, armed with the
farmers double-barreled shotgun, with
which he at once covered the party.
Johnson turned to the pair he was
seeking. 'You are John Harris. And
you are Nora McKeehan!" he an
nounced.
The girl broke down and confessed
her identity, while Harris, glaring at
Johnson in fury and helplessness, al
ternately denied himself and upbraid-
ed his companion for betraying them.
Johnson listened till they had stopped
their recriminations and then formally
announced that they we're under ar
rest for the murder of McKeehan.
Partly to allay the fears of the rest
of the camping party, and more to
smooth over the situation and render
withdrawal possible, Johnson proceed
ed to deliver harangue. He told
them that If they played fair no harm
would come to them, as he did not
want anybody except Harris and his
stepdaughter; but that at the first
crooked move he and his companion
would shoot, and moreover shoot to
kill.
81 am going to the ferry" said John
son. "This man and woman are my
prisoners, and if any attempt is made
to rescue them or to ambush US we
will kill them first and you after
ward"
In fact it was ticklish place to be
in. Johnson had little hopes of escap-
ing either with his prisoners or his
life. The night was dark and In the
tangled underground it would be the
easiest thing in the world to follow
until favorable opportunity OF shoot
ing presented itself. This was, in
fact, what gave Johnson his reputa-
ton as .sthe shrewdest, justest, wisest,
sandiest man in the Southwest" as
he has been described
Leaving the panic-stricken campers
around their fire, Johnson and the fer
IyUldQ SIdTLGu WIN
prisoners along the trail. Not only
were there the prisoners to guard anu
precautions to be taken against am
buscades, but the horses had to be LED
along the single path in the darkness
However. the three miles was ira
versed and the ferry reached at last
without a mishap, and rising moon
made the remainder Of the task less
difficult.
Then a new complication arose.
The ferryman's somewhat befuddled
brain. and Johnson's preoccupied one.
had forgotten that the ferryboat was
still stranded on the mudbank IN the
middle of the river. Upon the bank
the prisoners were ordered to mount
one of the horses. Johnson and the
ferryman mounted the other, Johnson
covering Harris with his pistol while