The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-04-19
CHARLES J. DUTToN
casyusss ia By Dosa. Nod q Co.. Ia

heard a car la the woods. there on the
left"
currie, who was a few feet In from
OF Us. laughed. -John." he said
you're hearing things. No car car
be in those woods. Those are the
trees you see from my house. and
they stretch for some miles without
break. Siyke owns this part OF
them. You could not have heard q
car"
BARLEY placed his hand on his
friends shoulder. That's what
thought. Bob. But I did hear mo-
tor; Of that I am sure"
He paused. then added suddenly.
'Listeni There II is cnce more"
This time we all heard the faint
sound OF motor running slowly and
with dificulty. There was no doubt
OF IL; II came from the woods before
US. II sounded as II car were run
ming few feet. then stopping. as IL
would do on a very bad road when
having difficulty In getting through.
As we stood listening to the strange
sound coming through the woods,
BARLEY said: "You say, Currie. that
there Is no road there, yet BY the
sound Of II | should say that was
truck. What do you say to going and
finding out what II meansT'
Currie gave an exclamation OF dis
gust. But It's none OF our business.
John"
Just at the present moment. every
thing that takes place on Sykes es-
tate Is our business. l want 10 know
what car Is doing in those woods at
this time OF night"
"Oh. I'm game II the rest Of you
are" currie responded.
With caution from BARLEY not to
make any noise. we left the road and
entered the woods. II was lucky for
Us that there were not many vines or
much undefbrush. or we should not
have gotten very far. There was no
path. and we fell over stumps and
broken branches and bumped into
trees az almost every step. BARLEY
had a pocket torch with him. but he
did not want TO use IT, Once or
twice. though. he did flash II for
second so that we could dlsentangle
ourselves from the vines that had
wrapped themselves around our feet.
We had not heard the motor for
several moments when car loomed
so suddenly out OF the shadowy dark
ness ahead OF us that we almost fell
over II. II was a great truck. loaded
kylfh ITnAu "a fAf : N
little darker than the night. we made
out the figures OF two men. while
third disentangled Itself from the
gloom In front OF the car with a
muiiled oath. and climbed to the
drivers seat. The car started for
ward with lunge along the road. II
II could be called such. that had been
their stumps stu standing. The
driver must have been familiar with |
II. for no one who was not 'ould have |
driven that truck over It without
lights.
II want to get the number Bart
ley whispered. as II lurched ahead.
He crept softly up behind the slow
ly moving car. For the faintest part
OF q second I saw the fash Of his
light The next he was back Il our
side.
There ls no license plate on the
cur. There's something wrong there.
Come alongi"
As the truck. lurching from side to
side. was not going faster than three
miles an hour. we had no difficulty In
keeping up with II. We had followed
n for perhaps I've minutes when II
came out suddenly onto the road that
Currle said led 10 Sykes house. Here
II paused. the motor running softly
We crept closer and heard voice
say, swell. Jim. here's TO luck We
win make run OF H."
Just at Thu moment Currie tripped
over root. He tried 10 save himself.
grabbed at my arm. missed. and went
10 the ground with a loud crash. As
no fell. Hartley jerked me 10 one side
and threw me on my face. The sound
% Currie's fall was like a young
and did not escape those
IN the truck. AS | went down | saw
one % the men turn and fre The
next second. gaining speed with every
foot. tho truck shot down the road
with the truck gone we no longer
needed 10 hide; We rose and rushed
10 Currlc 20 see II he were shot. As
l,artiey's Hight flashed over HIM. we
that be was sitting up. and
swearing 10 himself HIS face was
covered with dirt and one eve was ,
,srlnning 20 turn black. but he was
otherwise unhurt.
~Inhn. he demanded. what the
devil made that tire exploder'
THAT was not tire. Bob. Some
me on the truck heard you as you fell
md took shot AZ you.-
Took shot AZ msr cried Currie.
a utter disbelief. "My O.. whyr- 1
. Rarsley helrei him to his feet aud !
brushed the dirt fr,,m his clothes be- :