Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-03-02
CHAPTER vI-continued).

II was fortunate that Cookie knew
nothing of the solitary grave some
where on the island. with its stone
marked with b. II. and a cross-bones,
nor that the inhabitant thereof was
supposed to walk. If he had. / think
the strange spectacle OF a lone negro
In a small boat rowing Justify for the
American continent might soon have
been witnessed on the Pacific by any
eyes that were there to see. And we
could III have spared either boat or
cook.
Yet even though unvexed by this
grewsome knowledge. after two or
three DAYS / noticed that Cookie was
Ill at ease. AS the leisure member of
the party, l enjoyed more of Cookies
society than the rest. On this occa-
sion while the morning was still In Its
freshness he was permitting me to
make fudge. But his usual joviality
was o i saw that he glanced over
his shoulder at intervals, muttering
darkly to himself. Also that a rabbits
foot was slung consplcuousIy about
his neck.
Having made my fudge and set the
pan on a stone in the stream to cool.
Twas about to retire-wlth a view TO
conducting a limited exploring expedf-
ton of my own. The assurances of
Mr.. Shaw-not personally directed to
me. of course; the armed truce I'M
der which we lived did not permit of
fhat-had convinced me that | had
not to dread anything more ~feroclous
than the pigs. and the widest Of them
would retire before a stick or a stone.
Besides. / boosted a little automatic.
which | carried strapped to my waist
in a businessiike manner. Mr.. yane
had almost got me to the point where
] could shoot II of without shutting
nv eyes.
Thus equipped. l was about to set
of into the woods. j had turned my
back on Cookie and the camp. when
was arrested by an exclamation:
Miss jimmy Il
! turned to find Cookie gazing after
with an expression which, In the
phrase OF fiction. I could not
Interpret. though among Its ingredi-
'nts were doubt and anguish. Cookie.
90, looked pale. ! don't In the least
,now how he managed IL but that
the Impression be conveyed,
husky as he was.
Miss jimmy. 1t mos look lax yo' !
bout TO 20 perambuIatin' in desc we're
Il am, Cookie" / admitted.
The whites Of Cookies eyes became
iarmIngly conspicuous. Drawing
ear In a stealfhy manner he whis- :
erred:
"Yo' bettah not. Miss jimmy 4
''Oh. nonsense. Cookiei" l said i'm
%atiently. There's not a thing n the
but the pigs"
Miss jimmy" he solemnly replied.
'dey's pigs and pigs"
Yes, but pigs is pigs, you know"
answered, laughing.
"Dey's pigs and bfs& chlle-lIve
and-dead ones"
Dead ones? OF oourse-haven't we
cen eating them ?" +
'Yo' won't nevah eat dis we're klnd b.
dead pig. Miss Jimmy. lists a Il
The murder was out. Cookie leaned s,
gainst a cocoa palm=aHa wiped his ~
bon brow. Il
PersistentIy questioned. be told at q
lst how. today and yesterday, arts l.
~ In the dim dawn TO build his fire II
the camp was stirring. he had W
lurking at the edge of tire clear.
X q white four~footed shape. 1t was 81
pig. yet not a pig ifs ghostiy hue, d
a nofseiess movements, divided II @
all proper mundane porkera by n
Ne dreadful gulf which divides the OF
wing from the dead. The first morn IL
e Cookie. doubtful of his senses, n
flung q stone and the spectral z,
had Vanished like a shadow.
n ffa seeo41d sryue& raj havfng baa "a.