The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-06-19
GREEN FANCY
By George Barr McCutcheon

6OI UdCh " TIC HOUSE, ! spoke TO MT.
Bacon about what I'd seen and he said
he believed they were German spies,
up to@some kind Of mischief along the
Canadian border. Then about half an
hour later you came to the tavern. I
saw Room sneak out to the head Of the
stairs and listen to your conversation
with Jones when you registered. That
gave me an idea. It was you they
were watching the road for"
Barnes held up his hand for silence.
Listen" he said in a low voice. II
will tell you who they were looking
Tor" As briefly as possible he re-
counted his experience with the
strange young woman at the cross
roads. "From the beginning I have
connected this tragedy with the place
called Green Fancy. I'll stake my last
penny that they have been hanging
around here waiting for the arrival Of
that young woman. They knew she
was coming and they doubtless knew
what she was bringing with her. What
do you know about Green Fancy?"
He was vastly excited. His active
Imagination a creating all sorts Of
possibilities and complications, depre-
dations and intrigues.
Bacon was the one who answered.
"People live up there and since we've
been here two or three men visitors
have come down from the place to
sample our stock Of wet goods. I talked
with a couple Of 'em day before yester-
day. They were out for a horseback
ride and stopped here for a mug Of
ale" a.
"Were they foreigners7" inquired
Barnes.
If you want to call an Irishman a
foreigner, I'll have to say one Of them
was. He had a beautiful brogue. The
other was ar American, Pm sure. Yes
terday they rode past here with a cou-
pie Of swell-looking women. I saw
them turn up the road to Green
Fancy"
The arrival Of four or five men, who
stamped into the already crowded hall
way from the porch outside, claimed
the attention Of the q%uartette. Among
them was the doctor who, they. were
o to discover, was also the coroner
Of the county. A very of1cious deputy
sheriff was also in the group.
Mr.. Jones called out from the door,
way: "Mr. Barnes, you're wanted in
there" t
can rfpht - ho rnSrordod
The doctor had been working over
the PROSTATE form on the tables. As
Barnes entered the room, he looked up
and declared that the man was dead.
'This is Mr.. Barnes" said Putnam
Jones, Indicating the tall traveller with
a short jerk Of his thumb.
II am from the sheriff's Office" said
the man who stood beside the doctor.
The rest Of the crowd evidently had
been ordered to stand back from the
tables. did You ever see this man be-
foreT
"Not until he was carried in here
an hour ago." ....
"What's your business up here, Mr.
Barnes?"
II have nc business up here. I Just
happened to stroll I'D this evening""
"Wen," said the sheriff darkly, II
guess I'll have to ask you to stick
around here tin we clear this business
up. We don't know you an Well,
we can't take any chances. You un-
derstand, I reckon"
9" certainly fail to understand, Nh.
Sheriff. I know nothing whatever Of
this affair and / intend to continue
on my way tomorrow morning"
well. / guess not. You got to stay
here till we are satisfied that you
don't know anything about this bust
ness. That's all"
"Am I to consider myself under q
rest, STRIP
Il wouldn't 60 SO far az to say that,
You just stick around here, that's all
I got to say, II you're all right, we'll
soon find it out. What's more, II you
are all right you1l be wil1inT to stay.
Do you get met"
Il certainly do. And I can now as
sure you, MI. Sheriff, that I'd like
nothing better than to stick around
here, as you put II. I'd like to help
clear this matter up. In the mean-
time, you may readily find out who I
am and why ! am here by telegraph
ing to the mayor Of New York city.
This document, which experience has
taught me to carry for just such an
emergency as this, may have some
weight with you" He opened his bill
folder and drew forth q neatly creased
sheet Of paper. "Read It, please, and
note the date the signature, the off,
cial seal OF the New York police de-
partment, and also the rather interest
Ing silver print pasted IN the lower
LEFT hand corner. ! think you will
agree that Il IL a good likeness Of me
Each year I take the precaution Of
having myself certified BY the police
department at home before ventur1ng
into unknown and perhaps unfr1endly
communities"
yes" said the sheriff obviously.
but how do I know II ain't q torgeryr'
ssYOu don't know. az cnnrao R,rf N