Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1924-01-10


draped dag.
In the glowing embers another face
began TO form. slowiy--s face hand
some in spite of It's forbidding beard.
formidable spectacles and drawn
peering eyes. Every act OF the eccen-
trio preacher schoolmaster, since the
day the Milford stage dropped him
In front of the post Office. passed be
fore his mlnd--every act. as far as
known. had been scrupulously circum-
spect.
Dreaming there by the dead embers
OF the fire. the woodsman found him.
self anaiyzing the preacher. In his
careful way, from shiny boots TO high
hat. The ill-heaitb excuse he had
never believed or rather. had set Il
down TO an imaginary ailment--the
man looked absolutely M to enter
cross-country relay. He eliminated the
elaborate frock coat. stiff neck stock,
high hat and spectacles--dlvested of
all oddities and accessories. there re-
NAMED tall and very capable man.
Then. there was the ivory-handled
six-gun that happened to thud against
the bottom OF the skin. and a pair OF
very def hands feeling over the stacks
Of clothes--a circumstance that had to
tally escaped the other members Of
the SEEMING party. Besides. there was
the perfect agreement of the heel
prints on the dusty deck Of the con.
cealed houseboat--another circum.
stance that he alone knew.
II he was college professor and
minister what was he doing In the
Flatwoodsf II he was not. still, what
was he doing In the Flatwoodsf
As he pondered. suddenly the dark
face that had nared up from the floor
of the woods and glowered ut him
over the log. slid into his mind. SO
close II came upon the heels of his at.
tempted analysis Of the preacher that
the two thoughts fused into one. The
connection was startling. II brought
him up out of his chair and left aim
staring through the open cabin door
into the night.
Was there q connecticut Might II
be possible that Ken. crime-stained
and low.fallen. had sneaked back to
the Flatwoods. and the preacher, be
Ing college friend. was trying to be
friend hlm--possibly save himf But
no; there was the letter--it was abso
lutely genuine.
The woodsman Strengthened and
stretched 70 rouse himself from the
wild spell OF the thought. to drag him
self back from the drift Of Il; felt the
revolver AZ his hip; crossed the door
and stepped out into the yard.
The night was unruffled: the woods
breathed softly In the pale starlight
Back In the hills red fox was bark.
ing; over In the bottoms plovei
whistled his melancholy call: the
lonesome wall Of timber wolf drift
ed down out Of Eagle hollow.
But for the true woodsman the nigh,
has messages that other ears do not
hear. As he stood In the yard Sitting
the sounds that rode the air. he sud
denly bent forward and stood keenly
listening. The frogs In Eagle run, just
below the bridge In front of Uncle
Nlck's, had abruptly stopped croaklng
only 10 begin again after a moment
while the frogs farther down fell ST.
lent--somebody was walking along the
bank of the little stream. Somebody
frogs do not stop croaking at the
tread Of cattle or other like animals.
II was near midnight. Why should
anybody be prowllng In so secluded q
spot at such an hourf The alert and
experienced woodsman could even
successive silences that fell ms he
moved down the stream. He was go
Ing slowly--possibly creeping.
From the bridge ut Uncle Nck's a
foot-path led down the east bank of
Eagle run and divided short dis.
lance below, one fork leading around
the base of Black rock to the War
hope homestead. the other on down
the stream. through a small pasture
lot and into the park-like orchard and
grounds OF Simon Colin. II was along
this fork of the path that the night
prowler was apparently stealing.
The woodsman hurriedly closed the
NNtah NN'as h0h oNNNNs tht VI
the fallow yard and the next moment
was creeping cautiously along the fork
OF the path that led around under the
dense shadows at the base Of Black
rock.
The caution OF Jack warhope was
seldom at fault There was always
the chance that the woodcraft Of the
man he followed was as tine as his
own. lie paid him the compliment Of
keeping back from the stream. out Of
earshot OF the frogs, and silently took
up the trail.
Where the path crossed the fence
into the little park the prowler
stopped and stood for some time lis
tening intently.
IL Is a law OF the woods-fundamen
tai and primary. whether stalking AMI
mails or men-that the woodsman
must never move while the creature
he stalks is stll. Jack. hardly twenty
steps away. stood quiet as the breath
Of the night and waited
With a fnal searching look In every
direction. the man by the fence
climbed cautiously over and stole
down the creek bank into the little
park. Jack crept up TO the fence.