The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-01-06

OF Paper.
frontier of death, his first thought was
to hide his evidence where Cranston
could not find 1t when he searched the
body. but where later 1t might be
found by the detectives that were sure
to come. 1t was the old creed of
life for life. He wanted his evidence
to be preserved-nOt that right should
be wrOnged, but so that Cranston
would be prosecuted and convicted
and made TO suffer. His hatred of
Cranston that had made him turn
states evidence in the first place had
been carried with him down into
death. 3
AS Dan stood wondering. he thought
he heard twig crack on the trail be-
hind him. and he wondered what for
est creature was still lingering on the
ridges at the eve of the SHOWS.
The snow began to fall in earnest at
midnight-great, white flakes that al
most in an instant covered the leaves.
1t was the real beginning of winter.
and all living creatures knew ii. The
wolf pack sang to it from the ridge
wild and plaintive song that made
Bert Cranston. sleeping in lean-to
on the Umpqua side of the Divide.
swear and mutter in his sleep. But he
didn't really waken suntil Jim Gibbs,
one of his gang, returned from his
secret mission.
They wasted no words Bert flung
aside the blankets, lighted p candle
and placed 1t out of the reach of the
night wind. His face looked swarthy
and deep-lined in its light.
"Well?" he demanded. what did
you find?"
"Nothin'." Jim Gibbs answered gut
turally. "If you ask me what l found
out. I might have somethin' to an
swer."
"Then-" and Bert. after the man.
ner of his kind, breathed an oath
what did you find out?''
His tone, except for an added note
of savagery, remained the same. Ye,
his heart was humping a great deal
louder than he liked to have 1t. Realiz-
ing that the SHOWS were at hand, he
had sent Gibbs for a last search of
the body, to find and recover the evil
dence that Hildreth had against him
and which had not been revealed either
on Hildreth's person or in his cabin.
He had become increasingly appre-
hensive about those letters he had
written Hildreth, and certain other
documents that had been in his pos
session. He didn't understand why
they hndn't turned up. And now tie
SHOWS had started, and Jim Gibbs had
returned empty-handed, but evidently
not empty-minded.
I've found that the body's been un-
covered-and men are already search
in for clues. And moreover think
they've found them" He paused.
weighing the effect of his words. His
eyes glittered with cunning. Rat that
he was. he was wondering whether the
time had arrived bo leave the ship. He
had no intention of continuing to give
his services to man with rope
moose closing about him. And Grams
ton. knowing this fact. hated him us
he hated the buzzard that would claim
him in the end. and tried to hide his
apprehension.
go on. Blat it out" Cranston or
dered. "or else go away and let me
Sleep"
1t was bluff; but it worked. If
Gibbs had gone without speaking,
Cranston would have known no sleep
that night But the man became more
fawning.
I'm tellin' you. fast as I can." he
went on. almost whining. 81 went to
the cabin. just as you said. But !
didn't get a chance to search it"
"Why not?" Cranston thundered.
His voice re-echoed among the snow
wet pines.
an tell you why! Because some
one else-evidently cop-was al
~ a