The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1924-03-20
A Tale of the Flatwoods
BY DAVID ANDERSON
Author Of The Blue Neon"
Copyright by The Bobbs-Merrill ca
CHAPTER xlv-Continued.

much worn and frayed. The man that
made them must have been large and
heavy. for his boot heel had dented
deep into the floor boards. and the
length OF his stride indicated him 10
be little, II any. under six feet. The
profusion OF tracks, together with a
number OF half-burned matches scat
tered about the floor, indicated that
he had been there some tlme-possibly
several times.
The wOodsman found himself won
Z dering what manner of man he could
have been. and what his purpose. And
why did he bring lamp instead OF a
GAMBLER Lamps were none too plenty
IN the Flatwoods Again there came
over him that strangely dlsquletlng
premOnltion OF danger-intanglble in
definable; deadly deliberate.
Everything pointed to the conclusion
that the cabins unknown visitor would
come again-probably with the night.
The lamp on the box, the blanket ready
to hang over the window. were not
without purpose What that purpose
might prove 10 be could only be con-
jectured-possibly horse stealing. But
no. or why lamp instead OF GAMBLER
He glanced up at the loft-except
for few boards lying loose and scat
tered about upon the joists. the cabin
vas open 10 the roof; he looked
around into the dim far corner back
OF the door-it was half filled with
a clutter OF rubbish, broken boxes and
the like-but no tracks led that way.
Using the greatest care 10 conceal
his footprints, he opened the door.
stepped cautiously out. closed it and.
after a critical look about the sur
rounding weeds and bushes. slipped
away up the side OF the tlmbered blum.
through the woods and back to his I'M
finished chores.
After a hasty supper, he drew out
mis- revolver; bent over II a brief but
thoroughly competent instant OF In
spection by the candle; tried the trig-
ger-pull; twirled the cylinder: dropped
II back in the holster; blew out the
candle and laid his hand to the door
latch. The warning Of the mountain |
girl crossed his mind-he turned back; |
closed the hearth OF the cook stove 10 |
hide its light; opened the door softly |
and stepped out into the gathering |
night toward the dead woodchopper's
cabin.
The cloud-bank had dissolved in the |
west when he again reached the Ill
omened howell and the sky was hang
ting out its stars-the big ones already
out. and the little ones coming.
He again crept down the wooded
face OF the blur and. under cover OF
the fallen oak, festooned with the Wild
cucumber vines, stole up TO the chink
In the wall and peeped between the
logs. The cabin was apparently empty
Of It's unknown intruder.
After listening intently for some
time he again stole around the wall to
the door. pushed It slowly open and
AS soon as his eyes grew ac-
customed to the gloom, he saw that the
room was just as he had left II few
hours earlier.
Not daring to venture out on the
floor, the light being too dim again TO
risk hiding his trail by stepping in the
tracks. he reached up. caught one OF
the joists and swinging from hand to
hand, crossed 10 the far corner Of the
room; concealed himself behind the old
boards and boxes OF the rubbish heap
and sat gripping his sore shoulder
he exertion had opened the cash. and /
he could feel the blood crawling down
his side.
There is something depressing. fear
some. about entering an old deserted t,
after nlghtfaI. And =
his was the cabin OF dead Henry =
spencer. Few flatwoodsmen would /
are to 20 near lt-much less into IT. I
Il such an hour.
Jack watched the last faint light [
rom the west die out in the smudged \
foul with clay that he had O
iot been able to make out more than '
he bare outline Of the face that had [
,eered through II a few hours before. h
lie knew the bats were darling about b
q the cabin. for the dark was alive Z
With the click OF their teeth. A 3
creech owl shivered his lonesome b
vail from an outstanding branch Of h
he fallen oak. II
The woodsman half started. listened II
lOsely. smiled. The sound was genu- Il
ne-lt was screech owl. e
The low wash Of Eagle run, tapping "
be rocks In its shallow bed. came up
cross the lonely road: the melan- v
holy note Of a whippoorxlll carried I,
own out Of the woods b
A sound fell upon the nlght-fhe low u
wish Of weeds IN the yard-and the a
-0odsman grew tense and strained. IL
here followed a guarded football; a M
and fumbled OYER the door. II d
pened: a heavy step creaked the
aging floor; 3 form bulked huge "a
nd black In the gloom: q hand and III
IN passed across the window and Ia
ing the blanket into place. B,
A match scraped--one Of the old