The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1924-03-20

utmost caution, Jack slipped out and
stood listen ng-the steps had turned
down the road toward the village. He
closed the door and followed.
lie had not Swallowed the renegade
far until it became plainly evident that
he was "A very Indifferent woodsman.
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 a 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 wOOdSinan 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 a refinement
Of woodcrHft 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. as on the night
before, the NAN crouched down
among the gnurIed 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 10 show that it was awake to
! tho giliGtnr Nr,I 80 ,,sI .l,.I. ..,,.
ing about il.
After an interval spent in listening,
the crOuched figure among the gnarled
maple roots lifted Ills hands 10 his
mouth and again the lonesome wall
Of the screeCh owl shivered out upon
the night. The woodsman seized the
favorable moment to steal closer and
to conceal himself in a clump of
shrubbery much nearer than he had
ventured 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 StoOp gone from his shout
dcrs, came out on the porch. With a
step that carried no suggestion OF
mincing he came down
across the yard. The white butt of
the siX-gun at his side looked as II
it belonged there.
He went stra ght to the spring; took
down line clipper, making a very obvi-
Gus amount Of CHATTER in doing so:
dipped himself a drink hung up the
dlpper; 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 "a package, the
bunch of bills, without a doubt-and
laid it in the waiting hand. The
preacher put it 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
u barrel o money in there. / wouldn't
"a believed any man would risk so
IiuCI dDOul ILL, anu lndI Ola, QUITO
date safe-a horse jockey could open
1t. It's all right slippln' the goats
lie patted his breast-"in among the
sheep like we're doin'; and it's lucky
We printed a-plenty down the river
off o. them new plates; and that waa
a great idea Of mine-mussin' EN- up
In leaf mold dampened with tobacco
spit SOS they'd look like old bills. The
devil 'imself couldn't tell 'em.
1T works, and we'd carry it through,
only for one thing-Warhopel He's
suspicious. | saw it that first evening
at the supper table. That's why | went
on that fool seinin' spree--t' throw i'm
off 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 1t. I
had the devils own time bllndin' them
hawk eyes of his this afternoon.
"Warhope land L think Loge had
i'm right at the point of ii six-gun and
let i'm beat i'm on the draw"
AN me-had i'm at the point Of a
knife there in the sch~oolhouse," the
man among the maple roots broke in
why didn't y'u let me alOne?'
The other whlrled on him. and his
voice thickened.
CTO BE CONTINUEDJ