The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-04-17

from the ramshackle abode OF Martin
Hawk, squatting unseen among the
trees that lined the steep bank of the
Wabash. A three hours ride through
dark, muddy roads lay behind them
There were a dozen men in all-and
one woman, at whose side rode the
hunter, Stain. They had stopped at
the latter's cabin on the way down,
and she had conversed apart with him
through window. Then they rode
off, leaving him to follow.
There were no lights, and no man
spoke above whisper. The work of
tethering the horses progressed swift
ly but with infinite caution. Eyes
made sharp by long hours of darkness
served their owners well In this
stealthy enterprise.
The half-hour passed and the night
began to lift. Vague unusual objects
slowly took shape. like gloomy
spectres emerging from impenetrable
Businesses. Blackness gave way to
faint drab pail; then the cold, un-
earthly gray Of the still remote dawn
came stealing across the fields.
At last it was light enough to see,
and the advance upon the cabin be-
gan. Silently through the dense,
shadowy wood crept the sheriff and
his men, followed by the tall woman
In black and a lank, bearded man
whose rifle-stock bore seven tiny but
significant notches-sinister epitaphs
for as many bygone men.
A dog barked-the first alarm. Then
another. and still third Joined in a
fierce outcry against the invaders.
Suddenly the door Of the hut was
thrown open and a half-dressed man
stopped in the law aperture, peering
out across the dawn-shrouded clear
Ing. The three coon-dogs, Sinking out
OF the shadows, crowded up to the
door, their snarling muzzles pointed
toward the encircling trees.
Two men stepped out Of the under
brush and advanced. Even In the dim,
uncertain light. Martin Hawk could
see that they carried rifles. His eyes
were like those of the bird whose
name he bore. They swept the clear
| ing in flash. AS If by magic, men
appeared to right of him. to left OF
him. He counted them. Seven-no
there was another-eight. And he
knew there were more of them, back
of the house, cutting off retreat to the
| river.
Don't move, Martini" called out 8
voice
What do you wantT demanded
Hawk. in sharp, querulous voice,
Il am the sheriff. Got warran
for your arrest. No use maxim
fight for it, Hawk. You are complete
ly surrounded. You can't get away
II amt done nothin' to be arrested
fer" cried the man in the doorway
I'm an honest mani hain't eve
done"
well, that's not for me to decide,
interrupted the sheriff, now not more
than dozen feet away. 1--WE got ,
warrant charging you with sheep
stealing and so on, and that's al
there Is to it. I'm not the judge and
jury. You come along quiet now and
no foolishness."
| who says I stole sheep"
"Step outside here and I'll read the
afiidavit to you. And say, II you don't
want your dogs massacreed, you'd bet.
ter call 'em off,"
Martin Hawk looked over his shoul.
der into the dark interior of the hut
spoke to some one under his BREATH
and then began cursing his dogs.
Il might have knowed you'd git me
into trouble. you lop-eared sheep-killin'
whelps!" he whlned. I'D ought to shot
the hull pack of ye when you was pups.
Git out'n my sight! There's yer sheep
stealers. sherifr-them ornery, white
livered, blood-suckin'-"
II don't know anything about that,
Martini" snapped the sheriff. "All I
know is, you got to come along with
me-peaceable or otherwise-and !
guess If you're half as smart as think
you are. you won't come otherwise.
Here! Don't go back in that house.
Hawk"
well. got to tell my daughter"
wen tell her. There's another man
or two in there. Just tell 'em to step
outside-and leave their weapons be-
hind 'em."
There ain't a livin' soul In thar,
'cept my daughter-so hep me God.
sheriff." cried Hawk, his teeth begin
ming to chatter. The sheriff was close
enough to see the look Of terror and
desperation in his eyes.
mo use lyin'. Hawk. You've got
man named Suggs stayin' with you.
He amt accused Of anything. SO he
needn't be afraid to come out. Same
applies to your daughter Mol. But l
don't want anybody in there to take
a shot at us the minute we turn our
backs. Shake 'em out. Hawk"
Il tell ye there amt noobdy here but
me an NOLAN she's sick She can't
come out. An'-an' you can't go in
not unless you got a warrant to search
my house. That's what the law sez,