Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-10-04

news would reach Clayton as soon as
IL could be telephoned, but at least he
would have another chance. IL was
too late now TO think OF changing the
route without throwing the company
into liquidation. And Kitty held con-
troll.
The thought OF that strengthened his
resolve. He could not bring himself
10 go 10 Molly with the dependency
upon him. but busted himself that az
ternOon examining the wreck.
For about a month be had had a
strange protege. One evening Jules
Halfhead. the deaf-mute, appeared ut
the door OF MS shack, and quickly as
sumed the care OF IL. He was nearly
always TO be found there In Wilton's
absence. Sometimes. however. he
would betake himself back 10 the port
age. and he was free OF the camp,
where he ran errands and messages for
the engineers. and was the butt of mild
practical jokes.
Wilton came TO the conclusion. how
ever. that the Muskegon's mind was as
acute as any mans. and that his appar-
ent simplicity was nothing but the out
ward aspect OF his-infrmity.
When Jules had cooked wIlton's sup
per that evening he came into the Office
In a state OF excitement The man had
loved the work. He was often to be
seen on the trestle, cllnging for dear
life TO a plank as the trucks rumbled
.....s .--fsbf, o., gnnh - his haaA NVhan
he saw the wreck OF the embankment
that morning. the foreman said that he
had burst into tears. Now he was evil
IDENTIFY trying TO describe something TO
Wilton In pantomime; but Wilton could
not follow his meaning.
Suddenly he seized a pencil from the
desk and. STOPPING. began 10 draw a
picture OF the trestle upon the wall
with remarkable skill.
Wllton's interest was at once
aroused. 'Yes." he said, nodding TO
Jules. "What about itT'
II was his habit 60 talk. although the
deaf-mute could not hear his voice.
Jules had an instructive faculty OF I'M
derstandlng. He looked at Wilton and
nodded back.
He next drew four uprights-the
long, heavy trunks Of considerable
girth that were driven into the ground
TO support the trestllng Then he made
a smudgy line across each. Then he
drew a hatchet. He looked mp at VIII
ton IN pathetic eagerness, and nodded
again.
"You mean that some one tempered
with the trestlingY" shouted Wilton.
Jules, who had watched his lips,
nodded eagerly. But, as he always nod
ded when he was spoken TO, little
meaning could he attached 20 that.
Wilton wondered If that was what
he did mean. II the uprights had been
tempered with before they were set In
10 the ground, by ax-cuts or otherwise,
the weight OF the ballast would un-
doubtedly have broken them. The
break would not have been Immediate
ly apparent. but the trestling would In
such case be practically imposed upon
the surface OF the swamp, without sup
port. The ballast would have spread
over the muskeg, causing the entire
structure 10 subside.
"who did itT' asked Wilton. speak
ing slowls and carefully.
Jules. who was still watching him,
suddenly turned and, with lightning
movements, drew a caricature OF Lee
Chambers on the woodwork OF the
wall.
Wilton looked at II and drew In his
breath. Then he nodded Jules nod
ded in return. smiled. and left the
room. Wilton reflected deeply.
III Chambers was a spy Of BOwyer's,
why had he shown him the bedrock at
an7 on the other hand. assuming that
wilton must eventually discover IL
himself. Bowyer might have sent
Chambers TO make a virtue Of neces-
slty and 10 secure a position at the
camp. where he could be Of service TO
| him.
In any case, Wilton could afford 10
take no further chances with him. III
would serve no purpose 10 accuse him
OF having tempered with the trestling.
lie would give him a post somewhere
where he could do no harm. and thus
get rid OF him.
Fighting down the burning rage In
his heart, he went down the road to-
ward the shack which the engineer oc-
/ cupied. This was a Reconstructed
shed. There was only one room In H.
but Chambers had asked TO have this
rather than share the quarters Of the
other engineers.
The men were back In the bunk
houses. but the door Of the shed was
padlocked. Thinking that Chambers
might be In the camp. he made his
way toward the other quarters But
presently he heard some one calling
him and, turning. saw Andersen run
ming after him.
Were you looking for Mr.. Cham
bers. sirg- asked the foreman.
~Yes. Where is he7"
~why. he went back 20 Clayton this