The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-02-28

ut is," replied Kenneth, impressed
by the hunters frankness. But all
the more reason why In a case like
this you and i should work hand in
hand. am glad you came to me with
the Hawk girls story. Hawk and his
crew will find me waiting for them
when they come. They will not find
their job simple one"
Il guess you'll need a little help, Mr..
Gwynne," said Stain dryly. $50 make
your choice. You an me will work In
cahoots with each other, or wen 20
at 1t single-hand."
1--WE will work together, Stain" said
Kenneth, promptly. II viii be guided
by you. Shake hands,"
The two men shook hands. Then,
the lawyer in Gwynne spoke.
You should see this Hawk girl
again and keep in touch with their
plans We must not let them catch US
mapping"
She's comm to see me in a day er
SO. Mart Hawk went down to Attica
today, him an a feller named Suggs
whos been soberin' up at Mart's fer
the past few days. The chances are
mes gone down there on this very
business" .u
You are sure nothing is likely to
happen tonightr
Not till the dark o. the moon. she
sez."
by the way. why Is she turning
against her father like this?"
well. Moll is after Barry Lapelle-
no question about that. She's an nm
common good-lookin' girl, might say.
an guess Barry amt blind"
Il see." unused Kenneth, reflectiyelv.
She wants Lapelle for herself. But
DOESN'T she realize that II they ATTEMPT
this outrage her own father stands a
pretty good chance Of being shot?"
Lord love ye, that don't worry her
none,' explained the hunter. "She
don't keer much what happens to him.
Why, up to this day he licks the day.
lights out O. her, big as she is. You en-
near her yell fer half mile That's
now she comes to be a friend o. mine.
l happened to be huntin' down nigh
Marts place last fall an heerd her
screamin'Eyou could hear the blows
landin' on her back, too-so 1 TEST
stepped sort o. spry to'ards his cabin
an ketched him layin' 1t on with a
willer branch as thick as your thumb.
an her a screechin' like wildcat In a
trap. Well. what happened inside the
next minute made friend O. her fer
lffe-an' an enemy o. him.
Il should think 1t would"
when 1 got kind O. wore out with
wollopin' him up an told him If ever
heerd OF him lickin' his gal ag'in I'd
come down an take of what little hide
there was left on him. He said he'd
never lick her ag'in as long as he lived.
SO sez to Moll, SEE /, If you ever got
anything to complain of about this
here white-livered weasel, you Jest
come straight to me. an I'll make him
sorry he didn't get into hi sooner
Well. sir, after that he never licked her
without fust tyin' somethin' over her
mouth SOS she couldn't yell, an it
wasn't till this afternoon that found
out he'd been at 1t all along, same as
ever, 'cept when Barry Lapelle was
there. Seems that Barry stopped him
from lickin' her once, an that made
Moll foller him around like a dog try
in to lick his hand. No, sir, she won't
be heartbroken If somebody puts rifle
ball between Mart's eyes an loses 1t
some eres back inside his skull Shed
do 1t herself If she wasn't SO doggoned
sure somebody else is goin'' to do 1t,
sooner or later"
You say there was no one at home
up at Mr.. Gwyn's?' observed Kenneth,
apprehensively. That's queer. Where
do you suppose they are7"
That's what I'm wOnderin' about.
Mrs. Gwyn never goes nowhere, 'cept
out on the farm. an I'm purity sure
she didn't Some ones follerin' us
a good ways back. I've got SOS 1 en-
hear an acorn drop forty mile away"
They drew of into the shadows at
the roadside and waited. A few sec
onds elapsed and then Kenneth's ears
caught the sound Of footsteps in the
soft dirt road, and presently the sub
dued murmur Of voices
Two vague. almost indistinguishable
figures took shape in the darkness
down the rosd and rapidly drew near
or. They passed within ten feet of
the two men-black voieeless shadows.
swell, I guess I know now why
there wasn't nobody to home yander.
That was violy an her ma"
Kenneth started. ~Y0u-you don't
mean It'll" rs
Yep. An If you was to ask me what
they air dOin' down here by the river
I'd tell you. Mrs. Gwyn jest simply took
ViOly down there to Trentman's shanty
an showed her Barry Lapelle playin'
cards. Maybe you didn't hear what
they was sayin' when we fust heared
'em talkin'. Well, 1 did. 1 heared violy
say, plain as day, I don't keer what
you say, mother, he swOre to me he
never plays except fer fun An Rachel
Gwyn. she sez, There amt no setch
thing as playin' fer fun in that place.