The guardian., 1940-11-02
Backtrack
90
By RICHARD HILL WILKINSON
CReleased by Western Newspaper Union.)

Black clouds had begun to pile up
in the western sky.
Ahead Wolfe made out a pin point
of light, blinking at him through the
barred branches of hardwood trees.
His evil features broke into some
thing that resembled a smile.
''Well, Mr.. Mountie," he solilo-
quized, you've mushed your last
trail. It's pity, too, you bein' the
cream of the Northwest police.
Smart, they said you was. Smart
enough to outfoX Wolfe Peters. He
fooled all the others, so they picked
on you. Tough luck, old boy, cause
you're gonna join your buddies in
hades!"
Wolfe kicked off his snowshoes,
unslung his rifle and stepped off the
trail. Crouching low he circled the
campfire until he could get a clear
view of it without having his vision
obstructed by low-hanging branches.
The drama about to be enacted
was the elimination of six months
of relentless trailing on the part of
Lefty Small, R. N. M. P, and
Wolfe Peters present victim.
Peters, most notorious outlaw that
ever rOamed the north woods, had,
following a series of daring crimes,
including two murders, successfully
Outwitted the mounties for more
than two years.
Man after man had been sent into
the woods to get Wolfe Peters, only
to meet with a horrible fate-death
at the hands of the outlaw himself.
1t was uncanny the way Peters
evaded capture, incredulous the way
he outsmarted seasoned policemen,
inhuman the manner in which he
dealt with his victims.
In desperation Sergeant Harrigan,
in charge of the Bear River patrol,
sent for Lefty Small, veteran
mounty, a crack shot, experienced
woodsman and honored and loved
by his companions. Small, who had
more than a hundred captures to
his credit, had retired from active
service. Sergeant Harrigan's ap-
peal had stirred something inside
of him that was a reflection of the
thrills he received in his younger
days while on the trail. He had
heard rumors of the activities of the
outlaw Peters, and almost welcomed
this opportunity to go after him.
Peters, too, had heard of Small
and his prowess. And for a time
he became more cautious in his
movements when he learned that the
old man had taken up his trail.
Soon Peters became aware of his
pursuer's proximity. It was then
that he put into execution the crafts
manship that had outsmarted
SmalPs predecessors. Cleverly
manipulating his snowshoes the out
law confused his trail in a manner
that would fool the most seasoned
woodsmen. Then he crossed the
smooth surface of the Little Bear,
concealed himself on the opposite
shore and waited. An hour later
Small appeared for a moment on
the other side and vanished into the
woods.
Wolfe smiled to himself, waited
thirty minutes and took up the pur-
suit
There would be a good deal Of
satisfaction, thought Peters as he
crawled toward the brightly burn
ing fire, to send this flower of the
Mounted to join his younger broth
ers. No fool like an old fool, he
grunted.
Wolfe brought up behind fallen
log and rested his rifle on the sur.
face. He sighted along the barre
at the figure crouched over the fire
twenty feet away. He paused ar
instant. Vaguely he knew a certain
vain pride at thus having outwittec
the smartest man that ever wore
the red and gold of the Mounted.
It was in that moment of evil ella
ton that twig cracked just behind
the outlaw. Peters glanced over his
shoulder, to find himself staring into
the muzzle of Lefty Small's service
pistol.
Don't move, Wolfe. I'm in nc
mood for trifing and I've half {
mind to shoot anyway, just to ever
up in a small way for what yoJ
did to Higgins and Fitzpatrick.
"My God!" Peters jerked full
around, but dropped his rifle as
Small made a threatening move
ment with the pistol.
"Tricked at your own game" the
policeman tainted. "Kind of hurts
the vanity, eh, Wolfe?"
Peters cast a frightened glance
behind him. The figure was still
crouched over the fire 20 feet away
Small laughed and produced Sc
of handouts.
"Kind of wondering what it's al
about, eh, Wolfe? Well, this is one
trick you haven't learned yet
smart as you are. Just to sat
isfy your curiosity I'll tell yol
that l happened to know what yol
were up to when you balled up you
trail back there. / let you thinl
swallowed the bait and then riggeC
up this plan of my own. Haven
YOU ever heard of the trick of build