Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 March 1915 — CHAPTER XV. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CHAPTER XV.

The Man In the Black Hat. WW TE were silent for a moment Then Petersham turned to J y Put tick. “What do you think of it, Ben? You have some experience of these squatters up here. Do you thirfE they mean business?” “There ain’t much fooling about these mountain men,’’ Puttick answered bitterly. “And now I says this to you, Mr. Petersham, and I can’t never say nothing stronger. If you’re minded to stay on here at this place, you must pay if you don’t want Miss Petersham hurt or killed.” “My daughter?” “That’s how I read it What else could he mean? He said you’d be sorry all your life.” “Good heavens! Even the most hardened ruffians would not hurt a woman. You don’t think it possible?” Petersham turned to me. “I think that Linda runs a very great risk by staying.” “Then she shall go.”. But when Linda was called and the facts made clear to her she absolutely refused to leave Kalmucks. “You will force me to pay the money, then,” said Petersham, “though I am well aware that this demand will only be the first of many. Whenever these blackmailers want SI,OOO, aye, or SIO,OOO, they know they will only have to ask me to supply them. But I can’t risk you—l’ll pay.” Joe turned to Petersham. “If you climb down now i’ll be right sorry I ever come with you. I don’t hold with backing down under a bluff.” I, who knew Joe, was surprised to hear him offer so definite an opinion in such strong terms, but Linda clapped her hands. “It’s all nonsense, isn’t it? Why, if any one attempted to hurt me Joe would make him regret it, wouldn’t you, Joe?” She flashed him a glance of her glorious eyes. “I’d sure try to hard enough,” replied November. “And now, Mr. Quarltch, I’ll ask Ben here to show me just where the fella stood when he held him up this morning.” So Joe went down to the. brook, and I went with him. We were soon beside the canoe which Puttick had been mending. “Here’s where I was, and there’s where he stood,” said Puttick. pointing to a small mass of rock close by. “And there’s the place I set down my watch.” November glanced over the details md then fallowed the bank of the •rook for some distance. Presently he eturned. “Did you strike his trail?” asked PutIck. > “No, the stones lead right away to ie lake, and like as not he came in t canoe.” “Like as not,’* agreed Puttick and resumed his work on the canoe which

fiad been so rudely interrupted earllei in the day. We found Linda in the living room arranging some fishing tackle. She at once appealed to Joe. “Oh, Joe, I want to try some of those English lures Mr. Quaritch gave me. I’m going to fish, and I want tc use this two jointed pole. Will yon fix it for me?” “I’d like you to make me a promise, Miss Linda.” “What is it?’! “Not to go out at all today.” “You don’t think I’m in danger?” “You’re in great danger, Miss Linda.” “Then you must go out with me, Joe. If you are with me they will not dare”— “Look here, Miss Linda, if you’ll stay in the house just over today I wouldn’t wonder but it might be quite safe for you to go out tomorrow and ever after.” “Joe, you mean you have discovered”— “NO; I ain’t discovered nothing, but if you stay in the way I a£k maybe I shall.” Joe took up his hat. “Where are you going, November?” I asked. “Over to Senlis lake, Mr. Quaritch. Will you see Ben Puttick and tell him I won’t be back till lateish and will he cook the potatoes and the cornflour cakes if I don’t get back to time? Miss Linda, will you please tell every one, even your father, that you have a mighty painful head and that’s why you’re staying in?” “Yes, Joe,” said iJnda. After Joe’s departure I took a book and sat with it in the veranda, where I was joined in due course by Linda and Mr. Petersham. “It’s cool here, the only cool spot in the place today,” remarked Petersham. “Yes, and don’t the spruces smell sweet?” said Linda. “Joe cut them to give me shade.” She pointed to a row of tall saplings propped against the rail of the veranda so as to form a close screen. “Joe always thinks of things for people,” she added. Petersham glanced from me to Linda. “If your headache is bad you had better lie down in the house,” be said. “It is ever so much better, but I’ll fetch some smelling salts.” I was about to offer to bring them for her when I caught her father's eye behind her back and remained where I was. As soon as she bad gone in Petersham stepped up to me and whispered: “To give her shade,” he repeated. I looked around and nodded. “There is always shade here.” he went on. “The sun can’t get in through the pines on this side. The wood is thickest here.” “That’s true,” I agreed, looking at the close grown junipers that stood in front of us. “Joe stacked these saplings against the rail for some other reason.”

“Of course. He knew that Linda

would very likely sit here, and he was afraid.” “Afraid? Of what?” said Linda suddenly from behind us. “No one could hurt me here. Why, I could call for help and you are both here. You could protect me.” “Not against a rifle bullet” said Petersham. “For my sake, go in, Linda!” As he said the words from far away came the sound of a shot Distance robbed it of that acrimony with which the modern rifle speaks, and it struck a dull, even drowsy note upon the air of that languid afternoon of late spring. “What can that be?’ cried Linda. As if in answer came the sullen faroff sound three times repeated, and then, after an interval, a fourth. “Shooting!” cried Linda again,'very white, her blue eyes wide with terror. “And it’s from the direction of Senlis lake!” “Ben! Ben Puttick!” roared Petersham. But loud as was his voice. Linda’s call rose higher. “Here 1 am!” We heard Puttick’s voice from inside the house, and he ran out a minute later. “We heard five shots from Senlis lake,” Isald “We_must start at once.

you and L Mr. Petersham will stay with Miss Linda.” Puttick looked me in the eyes. “Are you tired of your life?” he asked grimly. ‘ “We have no time to think of that. Get ready.*” “There was five shots,” Puttick said deliberately. “I heard ’em myself. 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 a woodsman. I know.” | “There is a good deal of sense in what Ben says,” I put in. “I think his best place is here with you. He : shall stay to help you in case of need. I’ll go and find Joe. After all, it’s as likely as not that he was firing or per- ’ haps some one else was firing at a : bear.” I hastened forward at the best pace I could attain until from a rising knoll 1 caught a glimpse of Senlis lake. The forest path here rose and fell in a series of short steep inclines. Flabored up these little hills and ran down the slopes. Suddenly I came to a turn and was about to rush down a sharp dip when a voice, seemingly at my side, said: “That you, Mr. Quaritch?” “Joe! Where are you?” “Here.*” I followed the voice and, parting some branches, saw Joe lying on the ground. His face was gray under it* tan, and a smear of blood had dried upon his forehead and cheek. “You’re wounded!” I cried. “His second passed through the top of my shoulder.” “His? Whose?” “Him that shot at me.” “Did you shoot back?” “He lies about ten paces west o’ that small maple.” “You saw him?” “Hardly. He had a black hat. I saw it move after he fired his fourth, and I shot back. If you’ll give me your arm, Mr. Quaritch. we’ll go up and .take a look at him.” With difficulty and with many pauses we reached the top of the little ridge. I The dead man lay as Joe had said ' quite near the small maple. The bullet i had entered his throat He was a long I haired, black bearded man of medium size. . ' - . ' - Joe leaned against the maple tree and looked down at him. “I seem to know the fellow's face.” I 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 he was 1 very weak. “Must just look around. Mr. Qua- . ritch. See here! He was smoking his i pipe- Look at the ashes—a regular [ handful of them. He must ’a’ lain for ; me all of a hour before I come along. Here’s his rifle—a 30-30. Wonder who he is?” Joe lay back, panting. “You’re not able to walk.” said I- • I’ll go back to Kaltnacks and” get a rig to bring you home.” “No, Mr. Quaritch. It would never be right to do that. It would give the other fellas warning.” “The others?” ! “This dead fella’s partners.” “You know he has some, then?” | “One anyway. Bqt let’s be moving. Cut me a pole so as I can use it as a crutch.” I did as he asked, and we commenced Our long and, for him, painful walk back. (TO BE CONTINUED)

Joe Leaned Against the Maple Tree and Looked Down on Him.