Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1922-08-25
COPYRIGHT BY STEWART KIDD COMPANY

sight in the distance, the empty camp,
the long sheds with the miscellany of
supplies, the locomotive shops, and the
great ballast pits beside the line.
AS the dogs climbed the last hill
there came yelping from the cleared
way behind them. Looking back, they
perceived sled approaching. Two
men walked beside it, and the dogs,
sighting Wilton's, yelped In challenge,
which was taken up in an outburst of
answering growls.
The sled drew in toward them, and
the men resolved themselves into a
sergeant and constable Of the mount
ed police. Wilton had stopped his
dogs, but the newcomers did not halt,
and went on, with curt greetings,
toward the cache.
A little surprised at their abruptness,
Wilton let the sled precede his sleigh.
AS the dogs were eager for their meal,
he sent Papillon ahead with them, and
followed more leisurely with Molly.
They arrived at the cache a few min
two policemen waiting for them, while
the two men were embarrassing the
dogs. Andersen, the old Swedish care
taker, was standing beside Joe's coffin
with stunned look on his face. The
policemen were not Of prepossessing
appearance. The elder man, the SER
geant, was about forty years of age
He had fair hair, dropping mustache,
a slight cast in one eye, and an ex-
preston of sullen insolence. His COM
panion, short, stocky young fellow,
looked hardly less surly and evidently
Ill at ease.
Evening Mr.. Carruthers," said the
sergeant bruskly. "pm sergeant Pc
tiers, and this is Constable Myers.
That's Joe Bostock's body you're bring
ing in, I guess"
Wilton was staggered. Eyes, it's
joe" he said, gulping. "How did you
get the news?"
The policemen exchanged glances.
Peters smiled scornfully under his
long mustache. "It's known, all right.
It's our job to know them things" he
answered. "Tm taking charge of it
to bring 1t in for the inquest"
"But you are not from Clayton" said
Wilton, who Of course, knew all the
members of the small force of police
that was stationed there.
"We're from the Pas" answered the
sergeant shortly.
From the Pas! That explained how
the sled had come along the road be-
hind him. Bowyer must have discov-
cred the fact Of Joe's death in some
manner, and had probably spread the
news. Wilton surmised that Jules
Halfhead had somehow managed to
indicate the fact to him.
The constable solved his problem.
"We was On patrol" he vouchsafed.
"And we met parties who told us
about Joe Bostock having met with an
accident, and that you was bringing
him in.'
"That'll be allr snapped the SER
geant, looking angrily at Myers, who
subsidized promptly. II guess this
young woman is Molly McDonald?'' he
continued.
'"This lady Is Miss Mcdonald" said
Wilton angrily, "and you'll keep civil
tongue in your head, sergeant"
Peters looked him up and down inso-
lently, and for a moment or two the
MON 20 cod 90 oh othor en- ON oporocciUo
attitude. Then the sergeant, sneering,
swung on his heel. Wilton did not
know what to make Of his attitude, for
the police were always friendly.
Andersen's room was placed at Mol
ly's disposal, and after Wilton had
seen to her comfort he went outside
the shack.
The dogs were yelping and snarling
over their fish from the cache. Pa
pillon had just finished feeding them,
and Wilton thought Peters had been
speaking to him. Probably the SER
geant was trying to obtain informa-
ton.
The Swede came up to Wilton, hold
ing pan of sizzling brown potatoes.
81 can't believe it, Mr.. Carruthers,"
he said. "Only last week he passed
through here with you. Gosh, he was
fine man, Joe was! How did 1t hap
pen? And you're hurt yourself, SIR"
he continued, glancing at Wilton's arm.
"Joe was shot at my side in the
woods. The same bullet hit me. /
don't know who fired the shot. But
Tn going to know" said Wilton
grimly.
my God, It's all up with the line
yeti" muttered the old man, with
drawing to his fire.
Wilton looked at Molly, who had
come out Of the bedroom and was
standing near him. Andersen's excla-
nation had gagged the whole situation.
Wilton felt physically nauseated by
the heat in the shack, the unpleasant
ness Of the situation, and recurrence
Of pain in his wound.