Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-04-17

iney Iotaied Exactly Three Thousand
Five Hundred Eighty Dollars.
in towel raised the rug; very care
fully loosened board of the floor; hid
the package under it replaced the
board and rolled the rug back into
place with studied exactness
Then he blew out the candle; raised
the blinds of the two small windows
and slipped out into the yard
Twilight had long faded into dark.
Only an occasional candle picked out
the ragged outline OF the village. A
dog fox back In the hills was trying to
tell the rest Of the foxes how lonesome
he was. Over along Eagle run the frogs
croaked--without interruption. He
listened to make sure.
CHANGING back at the cabin door to
make certain he had closed It, he
slipped across the corner OF the or
chard; along the path at the base Of
Black rock into the little park and
stole in under dense clump Of syringa
bushes barely three steps from the rus
tic seat at Whispering spring.
For those who know how to listen,
nature has thousand voices--and the
woods never sound n false note. A
good length Of the night was gone
when the frogs along Eagle run gave
him the cue he was expecting. He
could trace the progress OF the rene
gade down the stream doubtless fresh
from his task Of making old money
out of new at the deserted cabin-as
well as II he had his eyes upon him.
Presently there came the very faint
creak of rail where the path crossed
the fence out Of the fallow pasture lot
into the little park. A moment later
hulking form bulked huge In the
gloom; Black Bogus stole out Of the
shadows and crouched down among
the gnarled maple roots at the end of
the rustic seat.
The woodsman lay SO close that he
could hear him breathe. After listen
ing intently for some minutes, the
hullSing renegade raised his hands to
his mouth and gave the call of the
screech owl Jack found out what he
wanted to know-Hopkins had not had
the chance to communicate with his
confederates.
Again and again Black Bogus repeat
ed his call, at intervals Of few min
utes, until he had given 1t dozen or
fifteen times, each time growing more
restless and disturbed At last he ba-
gan to swear, and the call began to re.
semble less and less the plaintive wall
Of the bird he Knocked. Finally he rose,
listened moment and, with no very
great effort at concealment, stalked up
the path.
The woodsman rose and softly fol-
lowed; Swallowed him up the branch
and into the mouth OF the hollow. At
the squalid hovel Of dead Henry Spen-
Ger he vaulted the fence, stalked up
the yard and pushed open the sagging
door.
Stepping noiseles9ly around through
the bushes, the w00dsman crept up to
the chink between the logs under The
festoon of wild cucumber vines. He
was just in time to see Black Bogus
light the lamp, go to the ruined fire
place, lift up the slab Of stone on the
hearth and feel under It, Nothing
there-he slammed the stone back,
kicked 1t with his ragged boot, snatched
out his pipe, lit 1t viciously, smoked
hard for minute or more, blew out
the lamp, stormed out Of the door and
down the yard.
All the way up Eagle Hollow road
and to Loge Beldens cabin the woods
man Swallowed him; watched him go
around to the back heard him enter
and slam the door after him; slipped
up to the small east window and lay
listening. The window was open a
scant inch or so at the bottom; he
guardedly raised himself even with the
narrow opening and cautiously peeped
within.
A match scraped, was laid to a can
die on shelf over the crumbling fire.
place; Black Bogus whipped off the
charred end Of the wick; 1t fiared to
full strength and the interior Of the
cabin came out Of the dark.
The Watchers eyes lifted in amaze
ment The cabin was almost totally
bare Of furniture Of any kind--no
beds; no table or chairs--merely some
pots and pans by the empty fireplace,
and two pallets on the floor.
On one of these pallets, almost under
the window, lay Belden's sister; on
the other lay Loge. He raised up on
his elbow as the candle flared alight !;
noticed the sullen glover on the face
Of his associate.
"WellY'
He didn't come out"
Hi an y'u had t. bring it
back?'
what elsef"
There came a voice from the pallet
under the window-a voice soft and