Nebraska Newspapers

    4
THURSDAY, T)ECi:IBn 2!. I)1L
PLATTSMOUTII ST"MI-WEEKLY JOURNAL.
PAGE 7.
f
November
Joe
The Detective of the
Woods
By HESKETH PEIGHARD
Copyright. 1313.
By Hesketh Prtchard
CHAPTER XV.
Man In the Black Hat.
I v,.ne silent for a moment.
TI. it IVtershuin turned tc
I ';:t ; ick.
"What K yon think of it.
v ?
I'- n: Vim have oiue experience of
these squatters u i if re Do you think
Hi i .can business?"
"Tliere ain't much f'ttt'.iv.z about
Mountain iikii." Puttick iinswer
i! bitterly. "And now I says this to
you. .Mr. P tel sha and I can't never
:ty nothing stronger. If you're mind
ed to icfay on tii-re ;it this phee. you
i.n;t pay if you d :it want Miss Pe
tersham ri ; j it "r killed."
".My daughter?"
"T.'iafj. how 1 rcid it. What else
cald he i:;f..n? lit sai 1 you'd be sor
ry a!l j nur lire."
bud keaveusl Lvili The most hard
mod radians would in t hurt a woman
You don't tl.ink it possible?" iVter-
tl..lUl lUrilfiJ to UIO.
tl.ink that Linda ruts a wry great
risk liy s".a iag ''
'Then she shall go."
Put whin Linda vn called and the
facts i;;;i.L' clear to Lor Sue ttbsolutc !v
rtfusid to leave Kalmacks.
"You will force me to pay the nuu
ey, then." said I'c tersham. "though 1
am well aware that this demand will
only be the t:r.-t of many. Whenever
these blackmailers want "fLO'.'J. aye.
or jlC.cw. th-y know they wiil only
hae to ask me to supply therm Put
1 can't risk yon I'll pay."
Joe turned to Petersham. '!f you
climb down now I'll Le riht sorry 1
hit come v. ith you. l don't hold with
Lacking down under a bluff."
I. who knew Joe. was surprised to
bear him offer so dctiuite an opinion
in such strong terms, but Linda clap
ped lier Lands.
"It's all t.osiser.se. ir.'t it? Why. if
any one attempted t hurt me Joe
woidl make him regret it. wouldn't
you. Joe?" She Unshed him a glance
of la r glorious eyes.
'I'd sure try to hard enough.' re
I lid November. "And now. Mr. . u:r
ri;:h. I'll ask Pen here to show me
ju-t w!;ere t.:e t'cila stood wiicu Le
bold him up this morning."
Joe went down to the Lr.vok. and
I went with him. Wo were soon be
tide the cauoe which Puttick Lad been
I'. ,QT i : i T :
"Here's where I was. and there's
where !'C stood." said Puttick. poiritin
to it small nms of rock close by. "And
there's the piaee I set down nry waudi."
November glarcel over the details
and then followed the t:;:il: of the
brook for some distance. I'resently he
returned.
"Did you strike Lis trail?" asked rut
tick. "No. the -stones lead riht away to
the lake, and like as not he came iu
a cnuoe."
"I..ke as iKt." agreed Puttiek and
resumed his work on the ea::- which
Lad been so rudely interrupted earlier
in the day.
We found Lin. -It in the living room
arranpin. some tishin tackle. She at
once appealed to Joe.
"Oh. Joe. 1 wai.t to try some of
those LncKsh lures Mr. Ouaritch pivc
me. Im pom;; to f;sh. and 1 want to
i:v this two jointed pole. Will you
fix it for me?"
"I'd like you to make uie a prom
is... Miss Linda."
"What is It?"
"Not to go ut at nil today."
would very likely sit here, and he was
afraid."
"Afraid? Of what?" said Linda sud
denly trom behind us. "No one could
hurt me here. Why. I could call for
help and you are Loth here. You could
protect me."
"Not agnin-t a rifle bu'iet," said Pe
tersham. "For my sake, go iu. Linda!"
As he said the words from fr.r away
:;m the sound of a shot- Distance
robbed it of that acrimony with which
the modern rille sj'eaks. and it struck
a dull, even drowsy note upon the air
if that languid afternoon of late
t-prir;s.
"What can that beT cried Linda.
As if in answer came the sullen far
oT sound three times repeated, and
then, alter an intervaL a fourth.
"hootim:!" cried Linda again, very
w!.;te. her blue eyes wide with terror.
"And it's from the direction of Scniis
Jake!"
"Hen! Ben Tuttickr roared Pcter
jdiam. Put loud as was Lis voice, Linda's
call rose higher.
"Here. 1 am!" We heard Futtick's
voice from inside the bouse, and he
ran cut a minute later.
"We heard five shots from Senlis
Inke." I baid, "We must start at once,
you and I. Mr. Petersham will stay
with Miss Linda-
Puttick looked me in the eyes.
"Are you tired of your life?"' be ask
ed griirly.
"We have no time to think of that.
Gci ready r
"There was five shots." Puttick said
deliberately. "I heard 'em mysedt.
That means Joe's dead, if it was him
they shot at. If we go we'll soon be
dead too."
"Oh. you coward!" cried Linda.
Puttick turned a dull red. "I'm no
coward. Miss Linda, but I'm no fool.
I'm u woodsman. I know."
"There is a good deal of sense in
what Peu says." 1 put iu. "1 think
his best place is here with you. ile
"You dou't think I'm In danger?"
"You're in great danger. Miss
Linda."
"Then you mnst go out with me.
Joe. If you are with me they will not
dare"
"Look here. Miss Linda, if you'l! stay
in the house just over today I wouldn't
wond'T but it might be quite safe for
you to co out tomorrow and ever
after."
"Joe. you mean you have discover
ed" "No: I ain't discovered nothing, but
if you stay in the way 1 ask maybe J
shall." Joe took up his hat
' Where are you sing. November?"
I asked.
"Over to Senlis lake. Mr. Quarltch
Will you see Pen Puttick and tell him
1 won't be back till lateish and will he
cook the potatoes and the cornflour
cakes if I don't i;et bat k to time? Miss
Linda, will you please tell every one.
even your father, that yon have a
mighty painful head and that's why
you're staying in?"
"Yes. .Joe, " said Linda.
After Joe's depart ure 1 took a baok
Hid sat wiin it In the veranda, where
I was joined in due course by Linda
and Mr. I'etershani.
"It's col here, the only cool spot in
the place today." remarked Petersham
"Yes. and don't the spruces smell
sweet?" said Linda. "Joe cut them t
gi e ii.e shade."
She pointed to a row of tall sapiings
propped against the rail of the verau
da so as to form a close screen.
"Joo always thinks of things for peo
ple." she added
Petersham glance-d trom me to Lin
da. "If your headache is bad you had
better lie down in the house." he said.
"It is ever so much better, but I'll
fetch some smelling salts."
I was alwut to offer to tiring them
for tier when I caught her fathers
eye behind her back and remained
where i was As soon as she had gone
In Peters ha in stepped up to me and
whispered :
"To give her shade." he repeated
I looked around and nodded
"There is always shade here." h
iviti on "The sun can't get in through
the pines on this side. The wood i-
ti ickest here."
"That's true." 1 agreed. l-oking at
the close grown junipers that stood In
front of i. "Joe stacked these sap
lings against the rail for some other
reason."
"Of conrse. fie knew that Linda
shall stay to help you in case of need
I'll go aud find Joe. After all. it's as
likely as not that he was tiring or per
haps some one else was tiring at a
bear."
I hastened forward at the best
pace I could attain until from a ris
ing knoll I caught a glimpse of SeniLs
Jake. The !oies: pa-:!i lie'o !-,. I
fell in a series of short steep inclines
I labored up these little hills and ran
down the slopes. ' Suddenly I tame to
a turn j.n 1 was about to rush down a ;
sharp dip when a voice, seemingly at
my si.Ie. said:
"That you. Mr. Quaritch?"
"Joe! Where are you?"
"Here!"
1 followed the voice and. parting
some branches, saw Joe lying on the
iV
t. j. r
Joe Leaned Against the Maple Tree
and Lcokcd Down on Him.
grouucL His face was gray under Its
tan, and a smear of Mood had dned
opon his forehead and cheek.
"You're wounded!" 1 cried.
"His second passed through the top
of my shoulder."
"His? Whose?"
"Him that shot at me."
"Did you shoot back?"
"lie lies about teu paces west o that
small maple."
"You saw him?"
"Hardly. He had a black hat. I
saw it move after be bred his fourth,
and I shot back. If you'l! give m
your arm, Mr. Quaritch, we'll go up
WW
I
and take a look ;it Mat"
With difficulty and with many pauses
we reached tin- top of the little ridge, i
The dead man lay as Joe had saal J
quite near the small map!-. The built-: j
had entered ids throat. He was a long I
haired, black bearded man of medium
size
Joe leaned airvint the maple tree and
looked down at him.
"1 seem to know the fellow's face." 1
said.
"Yes; you seen him the day we come,
cutting wood by the shack."
"Now. Joe. lean on me. and we'll try
to make for home," for i saw fie was
very weak
"Must jiit look around. Mr Qua
ritch See hero! Ho is srto';iiig his
pipe Look" at thr nsrni a regular
handful of them He must '' lain for
me all of a tioiir before I rn along.
Here's his r;t'e a ".'KIM Wonder who
he is?" Joe lay back, panting.
"You're not aide tn walk." said I.
111 go iia-.-I. to Kalmv.eks and get a
rig to l ring y...j home."
"No. Mr. Quaritvh. It would never
be right t do (hat. It Wo :'.d give the
oth r li Has warning."
"The others;"
"This (h ad ;i ''a's p:.r::H is "
"Yiiii knov.- he has s,,me. then?"
"Mie anyway. I'.;;t let's be moving
Cut me a po!-' l-o as 1 can ue it as a
cru'ot!."
I dii! as l.e asi;. (1. and i Mimonci-d
our ku.g ai.d. far him. paii.i'r.l walk
back.
CHAPTER XVI.
The Cr.pU.r2.
A S we walked .1 v gae me in little
jci l.s the sl-.ry i" his adeii
"ii li:re.
'1 slarled oi:t. MTT J :.a ri I h."
he began, "and i ,, ,-,l ihe lake to
the camp '.;!. ere I'.ill Y.'oi ke was tired
al you n.i:i.l Mi-s Linda d.opMed a
1 loo,'.: there? I had a seal' !: for !t,
but I u.iin't lir.'d It. though I iv!!. e
across what I'd l.o; to lind a l.t ol
traek men's tracks."
"Who had been there since Satur
day?" "Huh! Yis: only about two days
old. After awhile 1 built a l it of a
tire and cooked a pinch of tea in a
tin I'd fetched along. Then after
lui:!:" Joe always called lunch -dunk"
"I started back. I was coming along
easy, not on the path, bat in the wood
about twenty yards to the south of it.
rnd a fore I'd giK' above three or
four acres a shot was t::vd at me from
above. The bullet didn't strike me.
but as 1 was in a wond -rfal poor place
"for cover just three or four sprmvs
end half a dozen sticks of wild rasp
berry I went down, pretending ld
got the bullet, pitch.-.! over the way a
man does that's got it high up. an I 1
took care to get the biggest spruce
trunk hat ween me and where I think
the shots come from.
"Sometimes, if y. ti g tr'wn like
that, a man"! f t ratt h tt-like an 1 come
out. but not this one. (Tuess I'm not
the first he's put a bit of lead into,
lie lay still an 1 tired again got me
in the shoulder that lime, ami I gave
a k'e-k and .-diovid in among the rasp-U-rry
canes in good earnest. Lad some
of them wkitey buds in my mouth and
was .-hewing of th -m. when the fe!!a
shoots twice more Loth :ais:-c.;. i :u u
he kind o' paused, and I g'.u ss:es lie's
going to nice to where he can let me
have it again.
"I see the black hud on hi in for a mo
meat an.l then I lets drive. I tried
to get up to have a look at him."
"Surely that was risky. How could
you know he was d"ad';"
'Heard the bullet strike and saw the
hat go bad: ward. A man don't nev
er fall over la- kward v. L; ri he's rduim
ming. 1 couldn't get to Lin fainted.
I guess. Then you come along."
.
Evening hud f:'-"eii before we ulti
mately arrived at K;!lr;:ir!:s. We ap
proach.".! the house wiih care and en
tered by a window at the hack, as
Joe thought it possible the front en
trances might b? commanded from tin
w-ood on t hat .' ide.
We v.ent i.t once to th" room wh'Te
Worl.e was lying ami J"C g-ve him a
rapid description of the man he had
shot.
"That's Tom'.inson." raid Worke at
ozne. "Them two brothers lives to
gether. Whut have they be n d. in:::"
"You'll know afore night." replied
Joe "What a-e th' ir names?"
"Dandy i. the one with the black
bean'.. wh:S: h'.ru they calls Mr.; py is
a fc:;v colored nan."
"Thank yon." said Joe. "Now. I'.ill.
if yon ke"p them names to jor.r.e'.f
I'll como back in half an hour and tell
you vi ho it was shot you."
On Joe's ,-pptarance Linda started up
tuid ran to him.
"You're wounded!" she cried.
"It's not bin" nunh. Miss Linda."
Put as wo laid him down on the
com li he seemed t lose consciousness
Petersham brought brandy, and Linda,
holding Joe's head upon her arm. put
it to his lips. lie swallowed some of
it and then nisijtod upon sitting r.p.
"I ir.'tst bind up your shoulder. We
must stop the bleeding." IJudn's dis
tress and anxiety were very evident.
And Joe had to give way. With her
capable ami gentle hands Linda soon
dieted the wound and afterward in
sisted on sending for Puttick to help
him to his bunk.
"So you've got it?" Puttick said. "1
warned you. Lucky you're not dead."
"Yes. ain't it'.'" returned Joe.
Well I knew that soft drawl, which
Novenilw's voice never took except in
moments of fiercest tension.
"You'd best join your hands above
your head. P.en Pun irk. Lock thr
thumbs. That's right!"
Joe had picked my revolver from t!u: ,
table and held it pointed at Puttick'?
breast.
rie's mad!" screamed Puttick.
"Tie his hands. Mr. Quaritch. Miss j
Linda, will you I'leasi; to go away?' i
"No. Joe. Do" you think I'm fright
linn: I know you re t rave. uui a
man acts freer without the women
looking on.'
Without a word she turned and walk
ed out of the room.
"Puttick"-- going to confess, Mr. Pe
tersham." went on November.
"I've nothing to confess, you fool!"
"Not even that story you invented
rbout the man with the red banket
across his face the man who wasn't
"never there?"
"What's he ravin about?" cried Put
tick.
"Have you forgot them long uairef
Tondinson brothers that"
The effect of this speech on Puttie!
'was instantaneous. Evidently he leap
ed to the coneb'sion that he had beei
bi rrnyed. for he turned and dashe;
for the dof. We flung ourselves upot
him and by sheer weight bore him t(
the ground, where we quickly overpow
?red him. snarling and writhing.
Some hours later we sat round No
vember Joe who was stretched upon
the couch. Puttick had been tied up
and imprisoned in the strongest room.
"No, Mr. Petersham." .Toe was say
ing. "I don't think jou'il have much
more trouble. There was only three
men in it. One's dead: one's locked,
up. and I dare say we'll t.nd a way of
dealing with No. ",."
"What I don't understand." said Lin
da. "is how you found out that Putti' k
was iu it. When did you begin to sus
poet him?"
"Last night, when Mr. IVtorsham
didn't go to ltutier s cairn. 1 he leiias
v. !:o promised to meet him never put
in there either. That was queer, wasn't
it? of course it could n.eau one thing
-that some one had told 'cm that Mr.
I etor-harn weren't coining. There was
only us three, and Puttick knew. So
Puttick must 'a' been the one to re!'.."
"i'.ut. November." I said. -Putt:-1:
over left the house, for you remem
ber you found no tracks on the sand
How. then, could he let them know?"
"I guess he waved a lantern or made
seme other sign they'd agreed on."
"I'.ut why didn't you tell me all this
at once?" exclaimed Pe;.ors.ham.
"P.eeause I weren't sure. Their not
going to I'.utler's cairn might 'a' been
i 'nince. Put this morning, w hen Put
ti k comes in with his yarn about the
man with the red banker across hi-f:e-e
that made him hold up his hands
and threatened him when he was
mending the canoe. I begun to flunk
we shouldn't be so much longer iu the
dark. And when I went down and
bad a look around by the river. I know
at once his story was a lie. and that
Le d got an interest in scaring Mr. Pe
tersham away."
"How did you know that?"
"Y'ou mind Puttick said the fella,
ccme just when he was beginnin" to
mend the canoe? I tool: a look at the
work he'd done on it and he couldn't
'a' got through all that under an hour.
He's ti.ed a little sqiruv of tin over
the rent as neat as neat. And then
wasn't It queer the fella should have
(c:u.' oil him there a place be
wouldn't be in not cue morning of a j
hundred?" J
"You believe he iu;.de up the whole I
story? And that no one came at all?"
"I'm proity sure of it. There wasn't
a sign or a track and as to the ft lla's
jutupin" from stone to stone, there's
distances of fourteen and sixteen feet
between. Still he might 'a" done it.
or he might 'a' walked in the water.
and I were not going to speak till I j
were sure."
'tin on. We're stil in the dark, Joe."
said Linda.
"Weil. Miss Linda, you remember
how Puttick advised Mr. Petersham to
pay or go. and how I told him to stick
it out. and when I'd given him that
advice. I said to you that I was going
across to Senlis hike, and rsked Mr.
Quaritch to toil Puttick. I thought
there was a good chance that Puttick
would put i n one of his partners to
scare me. You see nobody knew w hich
way I were going but yon and him.
so it'd be fair certain that if I was
interfered with it would prove Puttick ;
guilty."
"That was clever, though you ran a
horrible risk. Was there any particu
lar reason why you chose to go to Sen
lis lake?"
'"Sure. I wanted to see if any one bad
been over there looking for your
brooch, uu'y us and Puttick knew it
was lost, and you'd said how your fa
ther had paid ch llirs and dollars for
it. When a thing like that's lost
woodsmen '11 go miles to try to find it.
and Puttick must 'a' told the Tomlin
sens, for there was tracks all around;
our tire where we boiled the kettle."
"Do you think they found my
brooch?"
"Huh! No. I pick" it up myself live
minutes after you drop' It. I only kop'
it. pretendin' it was lost, as a bait like.
I've told you what happened to me
coining back "and how I had t shoo?
Dandy Tomlinson. His shooting at
me after I was dawn give me a sur
prise, for I dhln't think he'd want to
do more than scare mo. but I guess it
was natural enough, for Puttick wa?
gettin rattled at me always nosiu'
e round."
"It's all very clear. Noven her. anri
we know everything except who it was
tliot Pill Worke."
"I guess Muppy Toinlinsoti's the
man."
"What makes you think that?"
"Pill wis shot with a -l.VTo rifle.
P-th Ptmick and Dandy Toiulinson
carries CJO-oO's. Muppy'a ritie is a
-iC-V."
"How can you know what sort of
ride was used to shoot with? The
bullet was never found." said Linda.
"I picked up the shell the tirst time
I was over with you."
"And you never told me
"Put that doesn't matter.
!" said she.
What I'm
really angry w ith you for is your mak
ing lie piomise not to go out e-terday
and then deliberately going out your-
self lo draw their fire. Why did you
do it? If you had been killed 1 should
never have got over it."
"And what "ml I have done if you'd
been killed. Miss Linda?"
"What do you mean. Joe?" said Lin
da softly.
"I mean that if one of the party I
were with got killed iu the woods
while I was their guide I'd go right
into Quebec and run a boarding nouse
or become a politician. That's all I'd
be good for!"
CHAPTER XVII,
The City or the Woods?
LTIIOUOII Dandy Tomlinson's
A bullet had passed through Joe's
Z .shoulder, it had left a very ugly
wound, but the young woods
man's clean and healthy life stood him
in good stead., and the process of heal
:ug wont on rapidly.
We had fetched a d ctor from Priani
ville. w ho left a string of instructions,
which Linda carried out as closely as
he could. Indeed, she would have de
voted most of her time to Joe. but he
managed to make her spend a good
part of each day out of doors. Some
times he wou'd beg for a fish for his
supper and she must catch it herself
to prove how well she had profited by
his tea liing. There were half a hun
dred things he suggested, not one of
which was obvious or trifling, until I
marveled at his nig. unity.
"You are fimiiag the time long, Joe?"
i said on one occasion.
"No. Mr. Quaritch. the hours slip
past quick ci!ii!;;.'u. I've never had a
lie-by and awhile for thinking since I
been a man.' There's a good few puz
zles to life that wants facing one time
r another. I s'poso.'"
"Which puzzle is it that you are fac
r.g now ':"
"Mr. Petersham wants to be the mak
ing of me."
"Then you're about the luckiest
yov.r.g man in this hemisphere."
Just so. and 1 fed Lis kindness is
rv.ore'n I eVf-orve. IIed make me bead
warden here for a bit first and then
send some kind of a professor to teach
me Low to talk and fix me up general
ly." He paused.
"Weil, that sounds very reasonable,"
I commented.
"And after they'd scraped some of
the moss off me he'd put me into bis
oliice."
I hid the astonishment I felt at this
announcement. "After that it'd be up
to me to make good. He'd help all be
knew."
"It sounds a very brilliant future for
you. November."
.Tee v.-.-s silent for a moment- "It
does. Mr. Quaritch." he said at length
iu a different tone. "And it gives me
something to think about. So they
caught Muppy all right? Him and Put
tick "II find prison a poor place after
the woods "
"1 can feel for them." said I. "for 1
am leaving the woods tomorrow my
self. I inust get back to Quebec."
"Huh. yes! There's no call for yoa
to stay longer."
"As to that, you'll be here for quite
awdiiie yourself."
lie made m reply, and when I turn
ed from the window to look at him he
was lying with bis eyes closed, and,
thinking he was tired. I left him.
At the end of the south veranda was
situated a small detached room which
we had turned into-a workshop, and
early the same afternoon I went
around there to repair a favorite fish
ing rod. The veranda was empty as I
passed through it, but presently Peter
sham joined me.
"That fellow November Joe is an in
fernal fool!" he said presently. "Tie
is a dolt without an ounce 'of ambi
tion!" "In Ids own sphere"- I began.
"lie is all very well in his own
sphere, but be should try to rise
above it."
'He has done uncommonly well for
himself so far." I said. "He has made
good use of his brains and bis experi
ence. In his own way be is very, very
capable."
"That is true enough, but he has got
about as far as he can go without help.
As you say. he has done all this for
himself. Now. I am ready to do a
good deal more for him. I'll back him
in any line of business Le chooses to
follow. I owe him that and more.
Heaven knows what might have hap
period to Linda but for him." v
"You owe a good deal to November."
I am well aware of it." replied Pe
tersham. "I am convinced I owe him
Liuda's life."
Something in Ids tone showed me his
further meaning. I dropped my fish
ing rod and stared at him. I knew
Linda had enormous influence over her
father, but this was beyond imagina
tion.
"You'd never allow it!" I exclaimed.
"Why not?" he retorted angrily.
"Isn't Joe better than the Hipper
dude? Or Phil Pitsheim or than that
Italian count with bis pedigree from
Noah in his pocket? Tell me. where
is she going to find a man like Joe'
Why. he's got it in him to do things
big things and I hope I'm good enough
republican- not to see the injustice of
nailing a fellow down to the spot
where he wr.s born."
"Put November would never dare
look so high! He's modest."
'-Ho'll get over that!"
"I doubt it." I said. "Besides, you
are reckoning without Liuda. How
do you know that she"
"Naturally I don't know for sure
nliotit Linda," be answered shortiy;
then, glancing at bis watch, be got up.
"Just about time to get uy mail
ready."
We bad been upon kin jr, in low tones,
for the subject of our conversation
naturally did not lend itself to loud
talk, and besides, during the last quar
ter of an hour or so a murmur of
voices from the verandah had warn
ed us to be enrcful. We hgd nut shut
the door leading to the veranda.a it
was the only one, jtBd we needed it
open for light ami air. Peti rshr.ni
walked toward it, but. instead of step
ping out, lie turned and hud a hand
like a vise on my arm..
"Quiet! Quiet for your life!" be
whispered. "She must never know
we were here!"
"Put, Joe. you're mistaken. Joe. I
wish it!" It was Linda's voice, shy
and trembling as I had never heard it.
"Ah, that's all your great goodness.
Miss Linda, and I haven't earned none
of it."
I pointed frantically to the door. We
must shut that door and shut out those
voices, but I'etershani - swore at me
under his breath.
"Darn, you know those hinges
screech like a wildcat! It can't be
helped, for it would kill her to know
we heard a word of this."
We crept away into the farthest cor
ner of the workshop, but even there
phrases floated to us. though merciful
ly we could not bear all.
"But father would help you, for you
know you are a genius, Joe."
"All I could ever do lies in the woods.
Miss Linda: woodsways is the whole
of it. A yard outside the wood and
the meanest chap bred on the streets
could beat me easy. I can t thank yon
nor Mr. Petersham the way I'd like to,
for my tongue is slow." Here his
voice fell.
"Put if you hate the ity life so
much you must not go to the city.'" It
was Linda again. "Live your life in
the woods. I love the woods too."
"The woods is bleak and black
enough to them that's not born among
the trees. Them that's lived outside
alius wants more. Miss Linda."
A long interval followed before the
voices became audible again.
"Oh. no. no. Joe!"
Petersham clutched my arm once
more at the sound.
"Y'ou're so young. Miss. Linda, you
don't know. I'd give my right hand
to believe different, but I can't. It
wouldu't be best not for you."
November's tone moved me more
than Linda's passion. He was a man
fighting it out against his own heart.
I knew well the power of attraction
Linda possessed, but somehow I had
not guessed how it had worked on Joe.
I had. indeed, been right in so far that
Le bad not dreamed of aspiring to her;
nevertheless the cpisole would mean
pain and loss to him. I feared, for
many a day.
Once more T hr-rird him.
"Don't you xLiuk I'll be proud every
hour I La e to live that you was so
good to me. Miss. Linda? 1 shan't nev
er forget it."
"Joe. 1 think I hate you!" she cried.
And then the quick tap or.' her footsteps
told us she had run into the he use.
There was absolute silence f.-r a min
ute or two. At length Joe sighed beaV
U.y and with the slow laborious move
ment of weakness went t J hi loom.
When all seemed safe Petersham and
I stole out of biding like thieves, aud.
though we exc hanged no word. Peter
sham was swearing violently under his
breath until lie shut his otlice door.
Rather to my surprise November Joe
came out for awhile after supper, be
cause he said it was my List evening
rt Kalmucks. Neither he nor Linda
gave r.ny s"g;i t'::.t : '. g unu: u.il
had passed between them. iuJ.'cd. we
were gay enough, and we bad c'iiarlcy
Paul in to sing us some l'reucii-Cana-ciian
songs.
After saying good by as well as good,
night to Linda and her father I follow
ed Joe to his room.
"I won't wake you up in the morn
ing. November." I said. "There's noth
ing like rest and sleep to put you on
your legs again."
"I've been trying that cure. Mr. Qua
ritch. and 1 won t be long behind you."
"Oh, where are you going to?"
"To my shack on Charley's brook.
I'm kind o' homesick like, and that's
the truth."
"Put how about Mr. Petersham's
w ish to give you a start in his business
in New Y'ork or Montreal?"
"I'm not the kind of a guy for a city,
Mr. Quaritch. All the chaps 'd get
turning round to stare at the poor wild
fella, and I'd sure be scairt to sleep in
one of them up in the blue sky houses
anyway!" He laughed.
"Put you would soon be used to city
ways and perhaps become rich."
"That was what the mink said to the
otter: 'Go you to the city and see the
sights,' says he. but the otter knew
the only way he'd ever see the c ity
would be around some lovely gal s
neck."
November Joe had no idea how far I
could read into bis fable.
"And what did the otter say?"
"Huh. nothing! lie jvst went down
bis slide into the lake and got ohasin'
fish, and I guess be soon forgot be
missed seein the city all right."
"And bow about you. Joe?"
"I cuess I'll get chasin' fish. too. Mr.
Quaritch."
When I arrived at the depot at Pri
amsville in the morning, to my sur
prise I found November Joe there be
fore me.
"Why, Joe!" I exclaimed, "you're not
fit travel."
"I thought I'd go on the cars with
you. Mr. Quaritch. if you'll Lave me
There's a good many times to change
before we gets to Silent Water, and
I'm not so wonderful quick on my feet
yet."
He soon grew strong again, and be
wrote me of bis trapping and shoot
ing, so at any rate he is" trying t for
pet all that be renounced at Kalmucks.
Put will Linda have no further word
to say? And if she
I wonder.
THE KXD.
Wall Paper. Gcrinj Sl Co. Phonr
3G.
Farm Loans at Lowest Hates.
T. II. POLLOCK.
12-14-tfw
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i.a.l eae! of yini ale ri"t:il-l to ari-v. :'
saiii p.. til ion en . : before tl.e lltl. day
of Jaiitan v.
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t l.e i otiril v of 'a -. .s' :! . - k.t in... I" .",
tl,e l.iii ..a' of o ,ll I" i . A ' I . 1!' I.
for t ; a sa ' i, f t I e ! .-a I . - t . . I . f I . -.iter
lie., i I,.-. I. ti,.'.- v i . ! . so, I ., !
t I .-- oit', e'l 'i'li! 1 1 "I t i '..i,i ;
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A'. i,i ii - lai. on i'e ' ' t - i !.t "I .1.. ,..! .
A. I '.. lit at .-! a ., io. 1. . M a i
c i-ti'iee t" 1 ; .- I ii. : e.- ! ! ,.! lei ln
C-, ,., tie- , , ; ! , , u i a -. i !'.' 1 1 ,e, ! i . a i i - -rate,
t "- wi! :
!."t t i.i; i.-.-ri i : nn.! t.iat t.- n ill.
in tt.e tlast llit!f ill. '. . ..f 1 1 No. t .
west i' a iter i N. ' , i i : , t , a
Tv. tit v-eju :.t '-"'. 'I'liini'i ii' ci-o i
till Null:., Iliiii:.' 'bi'iili'i'ii i III llit-l
of ti.e i,t : If ,. i : i i . ni la -,
Nei : il- k.'.
Si: pi sale to teaiai'i epi t, en. I om
I'ate.i t I.i. :.:i. .1.,. ol I ... n, '. .
A. I'., b'i I.
'I i CI. IIS i; s. 1 1 K.
Kxee.,.,,.' ,,f ,. ;il we, all. I t' - l,i.
Iiull! e!' I "l . in I. .' a I,. I .... a - ,1
k.WVLS A: 'p.ili: I -i N.
A ( 1 'I !! -
In tlie Coi.nty Court of Cass County.
Ni !;:a.-l.a.
LP'.iAL NOTICIl
In ti.e Matter of the Kslate of John
M. Jih'son, I Ifcciisc 1.
To All Pei'sons Iniere-tcai :
You are he: ' by notiiie l that on th
: th day ef December, A. I. I'.HI, at
10 o'clcck a. m., in the County Court
Loom in the City of P!attsmoul!i. in
said county, there wiil be a he:r ii. jr
upon the f'r.ul report of the admin
j. tiato!' r.f -ni i elate and his peti
tion for iiui.1 settit-ment ; that at anid
time and r.!acc evidence will be taken
and an order entered naming the
heirs-nt-lgv. of said clecca.scu, ami us
?igrmg t!.e reniclue of .sai 1 estate, if
any, to the heirs; that all objections
to said report and petition must l.e
file i iii this court on or before i-aid
hour of said day.
Dated this l'Jth day of December,
A. D. 11)11. Py the Court.
ALLEM J. BEESOW
County Judge.
12-14--:vk:-
31. Tritsch, refracting optician, at
(.'cring Co.'h Wednesday and Sat
urday evenings. Examination free.
Tor Sale.
A number of pure bred Plymoj:h
Rock hcr.s. Mrs. R. M. Si ruder, M'. r-
ray, Neb. Telephone 4-N.