White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1926-09-24


work, he did not find himself sleepy
for a long time. The first grateful
drowsiness had just come upon him
when that for which he had waited 80
long happened. Footsteps that were
Enthusiastically human sounded in the
clearing-they came on with steadi-
ness of purpose. Hartman, sitting up
and pering around corner of his
woodpile, saw a human bulk outlined
in the starlight. There was no diff
Guilty in identifying the contour of
Murdoch Barnes.
Hartman gathered himself, quietly
getting clear of the sleeping bag. He
expected Barnes to stop at one of the
brush piles; but to his establishment
his enemy went on across the clear
ing and disappeared in the woods. Bill
had followed him considerable dis
lance beyond it before it flashed upon
him where the man was going. Barnes
was going to make midnight visit
to the cabin of Jim Malloy! He was
headed directly for it.
This seemed impossible. If he had
evil intentions he was acting like a
fool; for Malloy, like every man in
the mountains, owned a rifle and a
shotgun. And Beaudry was there.
Yet Murdoch Barnes broke into a
dog trot twenty feet from the door of
the Malloy cabin, hurled himself like
a catapult against the flimsy boards,
and sent that door completely from
it's hinges.
Instantly Hartman leaped forward
He intended to go after Barnes and
then and there settle matters with
him. But just before he reached the
plank doorstep a light flashed up in
the kitchen, and through an incur
tanned window he caught a picture
that gave him momentary pause.
Marie Malloy held lighted lamp in
her hand Bill had seen no light as
he approached the house. She was
dressed. Quite calm outwardly, she
set the lamp down upon the table and
faced Barnes, who stood in the middle
of the room, with heavfng chest and
clenched fists. Their voices came out
in the still night. $50 the old mans
gone pickerel fishing at last!" thun-
dered Barnes. Couldn't stand it to
play watchdog any longer"
Eyes," replied Marie, with cool
ness that astonished Hartman. Pops
out on the lake tonight"
Where, wondered Bill, was Beau
dry? With Malloy? And if they had
known that there was any danger,
why had they left the girl alone?
"I've got you now!" said Barnes.
"Are you going with me peaceable?"
I'm not going"
Eyes, you be. If you won't come
quiet, I'll take we along under my arm,
and be damned to Jim Malloy!"
you think you can do that, do
you?"
Nov, looky here" Barnes brought
an enormous fist down upon the table.
"You know I can. Who's Pop NAL
10y? Nothing but shiftless old fish
erman. 'Spose he comes up to my
place cunning for me? I'll put slug
of lead into him and the coroner's
jury'll say done jest right. Who're
you? Nothing but old Pop Malloy's
gal, and If you make a boiler, nine
tenth Of the folks in this township'll
say you're trying to blackmail me.
I've got mortgages on half of 'em and
they won't dast to say anything else.
Gal, I'm worth fifty thousand dollars
and Pm offering to marry you. You
| must be fool in the head"
$50 you'll make me go?" she de-
manded.
"You bet l will! And I'll run your
old man out of here if don't fill him
full of lead"
He took a step toward her. Harri-
man had poised himself to spring
through the doorway, when another
actor projected himself into the
drama. Pierre Beaudry stepped forth
from another room.
II have hear some very big talk
from you, M'sieu Barnes" he said,
| with CLEAN of teeth
Murdoch Barnes took deep breath,
and then he fairly famed with wrath.
what you doing here, you sneaking
whelp?" he shouted.
II help take care of Mademoiselle, !"
Beaudry replied, almost softly. "The
Pop Malloy, he go to fish pickerel
every night. stay here. Tonight
hear while she make you say some.
| things to her She have a witness
now. You will go back home, Msieu
Barnes, and If ever you make bother
for Mademoiselle again, we hunt w
those sheriff. He is bigger man than
you"
Now Hartman began to understand
something of the mystery which had
baffled him. Beaudry had enabled
Malloy to fish at night, while he wait
ed to get evidence that would restrain
Barnes. This did not help Bill, but il
helped his opinion of Pierre.
Barnes was confused, even while he