Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1924-02-28

Sticks snapped under his feet, bushes
slapped back into place as he brushed
against them, and once or twice his
boot struck the ground with clumsy
thud. Clear down to the mouth OF the
hollow Jack stalked him. He took the
path that led along the east bank of
the stream. and, when he came to the
fork, followed the branch that led to
the little park.
The woOdsman stole after him. TAX.
Ing the path himself this time and
grinnIng dryly at the compliment he
had paid the fellow the night before
In thinking he might notice the croak.
Ing Of the frogs. II was refinement
Of woodcrafi Of which Black Bogus
had probably never dreamed.
Down into the little park and TO the
seat at Whispering spring the hulking
shadow crept. again. AZ on the night
before. the man crOuched down
among the gnarled maple roots by the
rustic seat.
The windows Of the red-roofed cot
tage were dark. The place lay serene
and peaceful. with no spark Of light
alive to show that II was awake to
the sinister web Of evil slowly weav-
Ing about IL.
After an interval spent In listening,
the crouched figure among the gnaried
maple roots lifted his hands to his
mouth and again the lonesome wall
Of the screecl owl shivered out upon
the night. The woodsman seized the
favorable moment to steal closer and
to conceal himself In clump III
shrubbery much nearer than he had
yentured the night before.
Black Bogus had given his rather
clever Imitation OF the screech owl
three times, and was ON the point Of
giving II again. when the parlor door
opened and the tall figure Of the
preacher. without his glasses and
with the sto0p gone from his Shout.
ders. came out on the porch With a
step that carried no suggestion OF
mincing nervousness he came down
across the yard. The white butt of
the six.gun at his side looked as II
" Deioneeu there.
lie went straight TO the spring took
down the dipper, making very obvi.
Gus amount OF clatter In doing so
dipped himself a drink: hung up the
clipper: turned back toward the
house: stopped by the rustic seat. and
held out his hand
Black Bogus reached In the breast
OF his coat, drew out package, the
bunch of bills. without q doubt-and
laid u In the waiting hand. The
preacher put II inside his shirt bosom
turned away; hesitated; came back a
step.
Bogus, be ready any night now
the hurried tones barely carried TO the
man hidden In the shrubbery-"there's
q barrel % money in there. wouldn't
"a believed any man would risk SO
much about I'm, and that old, QUITO.
date safe--a horse jockey could open
II. It's all right sllppin the goats
he patied his breast-"in among the
sheep like we're d0in'; and it's lucky
we printed a-pienty down the river
on O them new plates; and that was
great idea of mine-mussin 'em up
In leaf mold dampened with. tobacco
spit SOS they'd look like old bills. The
devil imself couldn't tell EN-.
I'll works, and we'd carry Il through,
only for one thing-warhope He's
suspicious saw II that FIRST evening
AT the supper table. That's why went
on that fool selnln spreeT-t' throw I'm
of ! and that's why couldn't leave no
notes under the slab at the old cabin
as we'd planned, Where he got his
clue don't know, but he's got Il. |
had the devils own time blindln them
hawk eyes OF his this afternoon.
"Warhope land think Loge had
I'm right al the point OF n six.gun and
let I'm beat i'm ON the draw"
An me-had I'm at the point Of q
knife there In the schoolhouse," the
man among the maple roots broke in
why didn't y'u let me alonef"
The other whIried on him. and his
voice thickened,
Let y'u alone--after y'u bungled I,
the way y'u dd-wlth fifty pistols in
the air-and you drunk-h-li This
was my lay, anyhow, and q one-man
job. only you and Loge had Z mess In
and now. with y'ur long tongues and
squirrel whisky. y'u've jim'd It."
Mess In The shadow among the
gnarled roots raised Q trife. "who
bid yru an nursed yu back well again
after that marshal dern' nigh croakel
y'u last winterr Mess i'm
The other STROBE hard step nearer
apparently realized that any sort OF
an outbreak just there and then Nigh,
prove dangerous finally turned and
staiked away up the yard.
Ito be continued)