Show the JUL house of the three ganders by IRVING BACHELLER BACHELL by br irvins Mc mccoller holler CHAPTER VIII continued 18 with deep interest lie he listened to their talk and their stories as the dinner was served he felt rather drowsy while tho the men sat with their cigars and colico talking of local politics politico nothing could have tempted him to yield to this feeling soon they buiey came to the familiar theme of tho the murder of oscar perry are you seeking the guilty man tonight shaw asked tho the colonel answered strictly between ourselves I 1 hope to show you tile the fellow that the rin pinkerton kerton men are after I 1 think that lie he knows who killed perry and why I 1 want him shaw turned to the district attorney and said 1 I guess that you know who killed perry its ita a difficult problem my friend twice I 1 have thought that I 1 knew the man then I 1 have had to backwater back water anter I 1 had evidence enough to convict bumpy brown but it was artificial although very well made the waster master mechanic who made it Is the man we have come hero here to meet I 1 want to know him lie he has an intellect mr shaw told of an event which had begun to be a subject of gossip in ogdensburg 1 I have heard that the bank robber disappeared from ashfield in the evening of the first 11 he sald said that night near eleven a big stranger in a long ulster camo came into per quetter qu ottes ettes saloon in our city ile he bought a drink and some cigars and inquired how he could get across tho the river A frenchman who works for me happened to bo be there the stranger made a bargain with him to be taken across in a rowboat I 1 would not have heard of it save cave for the fact that lie he gave the tha frenchman a counterfeit five dol lar bill for that reason ho he told we me of the incident and showed we me the bill which the savings bankead bank had refused to accept I 1 asked the frenchman to de scribe calbo him he said that the stranger was about six feet tall that his collar was turned up so BO that he notice his cars lie ile did observe that the wan nan wore a sandy beard the thought camo came to me that it might have been a false also beard you were probably right said hake blake 1 I have reason to believe that we ke arrived in ogdensburg a little before the hour you yon mention and that we lie crossed the river that night at eleven all lights were extinguished on the yacht except those behind covered windows A little later the iho colonel and shad in his makeup and the sheriff with his loaded rifles were taken ashore in a small email boat shaw and his men were to be on deck at a quarter of twelve ready to turn on the searchlight when they heard beard tho josuns bo suns whistle in blakes posses slon lion at last the stage was set the actors in their places the weather as it had bad been for weeks was remarkably mild for the time of year shad rehearsed his part A night boat passed they stood waiting suddenly they heard the measured beat of oars anxiously they listened as aa the sound drew nearer A small boat was coming the colonel and the sheriff stooped down among the barrels their rifles in hand shad stood in the middle of tho the do dock ek some twenty feet from its ita edge the great trial of his life was closing in upon him the boat drew near A little lettla way out from the dock it stopped the tha whistle sounded one two three in exact compliance with dl di shad answered with two whistle the boat moved forward and touched chodock tho the dock A roan man came ashore the boy imitated trams trains voice to perfection when he said let the boat go A gentleman of your talents should not be traveling in rowboats row boata ellere here he sniffed and grunted as aa tram had done obrien len Is here with a steam yacht come on the newcomer paid and discharged his boatman he turned addressing his supposed comrade with a profane and affectionate oath of the wild west shad made no answer but started at a fast walk toward the small custom house the man followed precisely at this point a thing happened which was not part of the program the sheriff in rising shouldered against one of the barrels and created a startling noise the stranger turned it la Is likely that he saw the risen figures of blake ana colewell ue he flung fiting off his coat like a sped arrow his bis form flushed flashed through the darkness to the d docks edge and leaped into the water he called to his boatman now liow well out of sight night neither the sheriff nor C colonel blake had bad tried to stop him the colonel blow blew his whistle As they stood facing the docks edge another form darted by them and tore into the river surface with a splash that wet their faces it was waa the form of if anad who had bad thrown L w oft off hla bin two coats coata andaas and wag pursuing the fugitive the searchlight was waa now shining on the dock and tho the two men it swept tho the water anti in a second or so its ita ray was falling on the swim iners what a hole la in tho the night it made I 1 shad as expert in water as aa a duck was gaining on lie he went drawing nearer to tho the fugitive at every str oko it was A thrilling contest bathed la in that flood of golden light in a moment shad had caught the back of the mans collar and was hanging on the fugitive turned and was waa trying to break hla his hold but could not A boat and boatman drew up at the tha dockside dock side colonel blako blake and tho the sheriff jumped aboard pull out to thern them as aa quick as aa you yon can tho the colonel commanded we aro are not here just to see a swimming match the struggle la in tho the river continued the water boiled around tho the boy and his bla captive blake and those on the yacht were watching it with eager eyes they could nee ece that the tha desperado was tiring in a moment ho he had riven given up trying to shake oft the strong and adlla lad who clung to his gap I 1 JIP tile the boat drew up to them collar the boat drew up to them the colonel who sat in the stern took tile the hand of the tha boy which was waa now disengaged thus thua with shada arm as an a towline tow line they hauled the boy and the exhausted criminal to the yachts yacht side you tou be afraid of him said shad 1 I took hla his revolver out of bl his hip pocket and threw it away the two were pulled aboard sheriff take this man to your room said eald tho colonel ril ill bring a dry suit of clothes clot hesi and a good stilt stiff drink of 0 hot whisky for him im going to put this boy to bed and give him a rubbing A first class claas criminal and a first class boy are not to be carelessly treated 11 CHAPTER IX the doctor makes a discovery when after a drink of hot water and a good rubbing nib bing shad ceased to shiver and was lying comfortably in bed colonel alake went to the sheriffs room algyre in the tha co colonels loners dry clothing was sitting bitting by the bed his feet shackled he was in a bitter mood he greeted the district attorney with foul and profane words dont be nasty just because youve been outwitted said make blake im going to treat you well as an long as youre in ray my hands algyre shouted angrily id rather be in h I 1 than spend another day among the god d d hicks in this part 0 the country well sir every one in your line of business feels the same way about it blake answered with a smile of good aa nature ture it a man inan has anything on him its about the roost most dangerous part of gods godo earth to be in there was rt a moment of silence the colonel went on 1 I happen to know that youre an able chap you ou ghant to bo be living the life of a fugitive the best thing you can do is to clean your slate begin by telling what you ten know about the killing of oscar perry it do that ill do what I 1 can tor for you hero here and elsewhere tile the answer of the unfortunate man W was as rather decisive go to h 1 he be said 1 I know nothing about the perry murder the district attorney gave up knowing that no progress could bo be mada mad w while hale the criminal waa in his present frame of mind the yacht had bad arrived at her dock in ogdensburg the party spent tho the remainder of the night aboard next day shad the colonel and tho the sheriff took the train to canton with their prisoner whose resentment had not abated he was sull still sullen bullen and abusive that day shad returned with more BOOM provisions to the little house bouse at browns cove 1 I know bo be a comin 11 bumpy shouted ch this moraln I 1 see a white swan in the sky it means that u friend Is comin dy by I 1 ive got suthon good fer yer dinner aw an dont you doubt it tho day you lettl left I 1 shot ahot a wild goose on the marsh marah below here ive been him lies hes in prime shape keep him till tomorrow shad suggested bo be sunday ill go up u p and git bony to come down exactly Ex Exa acly cIly I 1 bumpy exclaimed the tha caper we dont really need that goose youve brought some lome beef steak bacak 11 they had much to talk about shad told of his great adventure while they were at the table by I 1 you ought to have fit at gettysburg said bald bumpy 1 I guess yo ye would tf if a been born an wits was old enough this place beats tho the world for good eating shad remarked as he took another helping of tho the grilled steak when they had washed and put away the dishes bumpy sald eald if youre goin to be a lawyer youve got to study I 1 dont want to hear another word from you till night ivo ive got 9 flomo me wood to cut and ill att alt out ol 01 0 yer way that afternoon sitting comfortably by a window in the worm warm room blad began the tha rending reading of Blacks Black tonea stones commentaries the colonel had lot him take the tha first volume of the famous classic with the notion that it was waa like hitching a goat to a plow it will be interesting to see what ho he says about it he remarked as he took the first volume from its case 1 I wonder if the lad will surprise me again I 1 rathor rather think that this flits will stump him shad was a courageous goat when the light began to fade bumpy came to in how bo be yo gattin along I 1 the old man asked good but theres some words here that are not in my dictionary what does doea contravention 1 I dont just eracle know dumpy bumpy answered as he put some wood on the fire 1 I guess it has ban suthon to do with politics its like a snag in the river when I 1 run on to one I 1 push my boat off an aa back up ift n little an go round it ive putdown put down a list ol 01 0 words that got cot to know about ill go up to the dam early tn in the morning and see sea the doctor hell explain em to me shad lighted the reading lamp iia he found the story in which he and bumpy had become interested and baldt lets see what pip and old joe are doing by you wait till I 1 draw my boot an loosen my bolt an git my pipe ut lit I 1 want to be good an ready ile ha drew his boot and lighted his pipe with a silver allver at the stove hearth and hauled his bis armchair near the table saying now let or er go shad began reading Rean meanwhile the parrot stood holding his head bead down near the bars of bin cage on the win dow sill bill and saying in a low gentle voice hello darling hello are you happy 1 praise the lord I 1 it was vas as if some unseen hand were pet ting him shad paused a moment looking up at the bird with a smile of amusement curlus Cu rus aint it said bumpy betsy brown la Is there rubbin hla his head just as she ehe used to he sees seen her plain he can feel her hand I 1 guess parrots eyes can see things that we cant do you mean that her ghost li Is here shad asked with a tingle in hla his nerves gervea 1 I dont call it that its ita a kind of 0 mean word it aint friendly id say bay angel was the word dont mind it go on with yer re adins ng shell enjoy it as much as aa I 1 do soon goon they ore both absorbed in tho the moving tale and smiling or laughing at its quaint humor for more mora than two hours they sat entranced in that magic world of the great story to teller the clock struck seven the boy closed the book im tired and hungry he be maid lets have tt a little snack of cold victuals 1 I could bumpy 1 I know book could grab hold ol 01 0 yo ye an hang on so BO come to think of it im hungry too bumpy brought a snack of cold meat doughnuts and cheese and a pitcher of elder from his keg in the cellar under the floor they finished their snack and read on until bedtime bumpy as usual put heavy sticks on the fire turned the damper covered hla his bird with a shawl tend and hung bung the cage on a hook fastened to one of the cross crosa beams As bumpy got into bed yawning the boy heard beard him saying baying to himself TO BE |