Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-08-23
The Tigers
BY EDISON

In some way lndI i Was yet 10 llu
out, he was involved in the prob
lem of Southley Downs. He had wash
ed the blood from the rock on the hill
side. He had eluded the Inspector nd
myself in the chase in the darkness.
Now | had found him with Southley
working upon the engine in the pow
err house and yet they had seemed
merely to be examining it, rather
than at work. | remembered that
neither of them had held tools in their
hands, or even seemed to have any
tools with them.
| was suddenly deeply suspicious
of this man Robin. | remembered that
he had volunteered his services to
the negro Sam, and that looked as if
he had business of his own at South
ley Downs. His excuse for coming
seemed somewhat trumped-up. Be-
sides, he looked his part too we'll.
He was too perfect an example of a
certain type of squatter . He had an
English accent, and | had been watch
ing all through my visit at Southley
Downs for the intrusion of some one
with such an accent.
Roderick, of whom Alexander had
told me, who evidently had not yet
put in his appearance, had lived long
years in England. The names were
somewhat similar, too; and / had
heard before of that peculiar trait of
human nature that influences a man
against giving up his own name al
together. The alias he adapts is usu-
ally somewhat similar to his own
name.
| made a feint of going back to a
book. Southley seemed relieved. He
left me in a moment, and Joined his
daughter in the den. Villas had gone
to his room, and lost as it was a
mong the many, breathless corridors
of the great house, | could imagine ii
was the last place in the world he
had really wished to go. l drew my
chair up to the great dormer window
that overlooked the power-house.
And didn't see one word of the type
beneath my eyes.
The hill was swept by %moonbeams
There was a silver path across the
face of the swamp, leaping ever tc
my eyes. | waited possibly five minu-
ties. And then / saw Robin emerge
from the power-house.
For a long minute he waited in the
shadows, and my suspicious leaped
to a certainty. Then / saw the edge of
the marsh.
A minute more and | was out in
the darkness too, trying to shadow
him. / tried to keep to the less open
part of the hillside and yet not lose
sight Of my quarry. He walked slow
ly at first, and | shortened the dis
lance between us to one hundred
yards. AS yet ! had no reason for
thinking he had seen me. His form
was perfectly visible in the moon
light but | had kept mostly in the
shadow. But all met he increased his
pace.
| walked faster too. My quarry
broke into a slow trot. 1t was i'm.
possible that | could run behind
him and still keep out of sight. So ]
made a furious dash toward him al
top speed.
For a moment | thought | woulC
overtake him before he saw me;
but when | had recovered half the
distance between us he began to run
He Strengthened out his long legs
and fairly seemed to fly-straight
for the marsh at the bottom of the
hill "Stop, Robin!" | shouted at him.
stop at once!"
He only increased his speed. ]
never saw a man run faster. | was
in good condition, and / gave hin
the best | had. He hadn't the chance
to elude me that he had in our pre-
vious encounter earlier in the eve
ming. The moon was out now.
He splashed across a pond of shall
low water at the base of the hill
Possibly he thought / would not fol.
low him here. But he was to be dis.
appointed. No water was deep e.
nough to throw me off now. | was
going to find out his connection with
the crime if | had to follow him tc
the mainland across the swamp.
But at once he splashed out of the
pond and circled back up the hill
was soaked to the knees, but | CAV
1t no thought. Of course he couldn't
run SO fast up the steep slope, nor
could !. And my breath was com
ing in great sobs before / approach.
ed the house.
He swung about the great struc-
ture, and dipped far enough to one
side to watch | saw him slip into
the postern door hat led to the IL
brary.
Twenty seconds later | entered the
same room. Evidently he hoped to
elude me in the maze of rooms. But
he had forgotten one thing.
His boots-the same boots that
had left the telltale track beside the
rock-were splashed with mud anC
water. They made a trail across the
rugs and hardwood floor of the H.
brary. And they turned into the den.
Once more the drama of Southley
Downs had shifted to this little room
Once more | stood at its threshold
And | had a curious sense of porten-
tious developments that would come to
pass within its doors.
Southley and Josephine were
standing up near the same table that
had figured in the drama of the pre-
vious night.
"Close the door," Southley told me.
"But where is that man Robin ?
/ saw him rush in here. And / know
he has something to do with this
mystery"
robin? You mean the man who
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