The Oakdale Affair

ly chap

ious reception hall, the dining room, and those more or less mysterious p

hich the brain deduced with Sherlockian accuracy and Raffleian purpose that the family of the president of The First Nat

ed in a perfectly good suit of clothes belonging to the gentlemanly chauffeur and a soft, checked cap which was now pulled well down over a pair of large brown eyes i

and when, a moment later, he stepped out into the moonlight and crossed the lawn toward the house, the slender, grace

could not have moved with greater confidence. No detail seemed to have escaped his cunning calculation. Though the door leading from the verandah into the reception hall swung wide to the balmy airs of late Spring the prowler passed this blatant invitation to th

room to a door which opened at the foot of a narrow stairway-a convenient little stairway which had often let the Hon. Jonas Prim pass from his library to his second floor bed-room un

th all the possibilities of forgotten wallets and negotiable papers, setting his course straight for the apartments of Abigail Prim, the spinster daughter of the First National Bank of O

into articles of great beauty and some utility; but with scarce a glance the burglar passed them by, d

arent calling, a denizen of that underworld of which no Abigail should have intimate knowledge? Yet, truly and with scarce a faint indication of groping, though the room was dark,

ard a dainty dressing table. From a drawer in this exquisite bit of Sheraton the burglar took a small, nickel plated automatic, which he slipped into an inside breast pocket of his coat, nor did he touch another article therein or thereon, nor hesitate an instant in the selection of the dr

elbow raked a silver candle-stick from the dressing table to the floor where it crashed with a resounding din that se

amite during prayer in a meeting house. That all Oakdale had heard it seemed quite possible, while that those below st

elf the while he listened in rigid apprehension for the approach of the enemy; but the only sound that came to him from the floor below was the deep laugh of Jonas Prim.

speaking. "I feel quite relieved about Abigail," she was saying. "I believe that at last she sees the wisdom and the advantages of an alliance with Mr. Benham, and it was almost with enthusiasm that she left this morning to visit his siste

ts him, all right; but I can't imagine Abbie wanting a bald-headed husband with rheumatism. I w

It was my duty to arrange a proper alliance; and, Jonas, I will thank you not t

side street which bounds the Prim estate upon the south. The streets of Oakdale are flanked by imposing battalions of elm and maple which over-arch and meet above the thoroughfares; and now, following an early Spring, their foliage eclipsed the infrequent arclights to the eminent satisfaction of

became unreal and weird, the deep bass of innumerable bull frogs took on an uncanny humanness which sent a half shudder through the slender frame. The burglar felt a sad loneliness creeping over him. He tried whistling in an effort to shake off the depressing eff

e fact that a very nervous and frightened burglar sneaked along the quiet and peaceful country road outside of Oakdale. A lonesome burglar, this, who so craved the companio

guely, of sleeping in a bed of new clover in some hospitable fence corner; but the fence corners looked very dark and th

ing and asking for a night's lodging when a savage voiced dog shattered th

youth dissemble the bravery it yearns for but does not possess. He almost whistled again; but not quite, since it seemed an unnecessary provocation to disaster to call particular attention to himself at this time. An instant later he was extremely glad that he had refrained, for as he approached the stack a huge bulk slowly loomed from behi

ast? Did he regret the safe respectability of the plumber's apprentice? Or, if he had not been a plumber's apprentice did he yearn to once again

abandoned building. What they saw was a small fire built upon the earth floor in the center of the building and around the warming blaze the figures of six men. Some reclined at length upon old straw; others squatted, Turk fashion. All were smoking either disreputable pipes or rolled cigarets. Blear-eyed and foxy-eyed, bearded and stubbled cheeked, young and old, were the men the youth looked upon. All were more or less dishevelled and filthy; but they were h

He wondered that they had not seen him, and the

yish figure of the housebreaker. "Wotinel!" ejaculated a frowzy gentleman in a frock coat

I saw your fire," he said, "and I though

mp, he is. An' does he think gents like us has any time for tr

d to start sometime. I've always longed for the free life of a tramp; and if you'll let me go alo

ugh to travel with this bunch, kid, so you'd better duck. Why we gents, here, if we was added up is wanted in about twenty-seven cities fer about everything from rollin' a souse to crackin' a box and croakin' a bull. You gotta

murderers and things like that." His eyes opened a bit wider and his voice sank to a whisper as the words passed his lips. "But you haven't so much on me, at that," he went on, "for I'm a regular burglar, too," and from the bulgin

his eyes above the dazzling wealth clutched in the fingers of those two small, slim hands. From one dangled a pearl necklace which alone might have ransomed, if not a king, at least a lesser member of a royal family, while diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds scintilla

along. Yuh can't fool an old bird like The Sky Pilot-eh

xclaimed one of the company

set down," in

ill. He looked about him at the motley company, some half-spruce in clothing that suggested a Kuppenmarx label and a not too far association with

toward him. Was it a shudder that passed through the lithe, young figure or was it merely a subconscious recognition of the final passing of the bodily cold before the glowing warmth of the blaze? "And Soup Face," continued The Sky Pilot.

h twisted the rather too perfect mouth of The Oskaloosa Kid, an appel

band the youth wondered how he had come by his sobriquet-that is, he wondered until he heard Dirty Eddie speak, after which he was

ar all right. Here, have a snifter?" and he pulled a flask

m on the wagon, you kn

sted Columbus Blackie

ing him as one of them, and after the lonely walk through the dark and desolate farm lands human comp

e Oskaloosa Kid and his priceless loot. These two sat scowling and whispering in the back-ground. "Da

hat didn't try to make you think he was a wise guy an' dis stiff don't belong enough even to pull a spi

dn't you lamp de oyster harness? To say

nobody. He's too scared of his neck. We'll look like a bunch o' wise ones, won't we? lettin' a stranger sit in now-after last night.

d both glaring through narrowed lids at the boy warming himself beside the fire where the others were attempting to draw him ou

ie, placing his whiskers within an inch or so of the other's nose as was his habit when address

k and wiping a palm quickly across his lips. "Get

shower bath," said D

ky Pilot, "is that he's got a idea he's a hum

" growled Blackie. "What Soup Face needs is to be learned ettyket, an' if he c

in he leaned close to Columbus Blackie. "Not a cent less 'n f

ted in so gross a bulk, and as he came to his feet a knife flashed in his hand. With a sound that was more bestial than human he ran toward Blackie; but there was another there who had anticipated his intentions. As the blow was st

was new to The Oskaloosa Kid; "and you, too, Blackie," he continued. "The rough stuff d

ftened by dissipation; but it showed him the source of The Sky Pilot's authority a

toward the fire. Some of the others followed his example. "You'll find some hay in the loft there," sai

rama of the events of the night. He smiled as he inaudibly voiced the name they had given him, the right to which he had not seen fit to deny. "The Oskaloosa Kid." The boy smiled again as he felt the 'swag' hard and lumpy in his pockets. It had given him prestige here that he could not have gained by any other mea

aloosa Kid. The youth reminded him in some ways of members of a Sunday school which had flourished in the dim vistas of his past when, as an ordained minister of the Gospel, he had earned the sobriquet which now identified him. But the

m, too; and all I want is to get it off of him without a painful ope

le of their chief. They remained very wide awake, a little apart

nsinuating voice. "You're pretty slick with the toa

ike gents," muttered Dopey Charlie. "I'm goin' to c

we'll get as far as Cincinnati, get a stew on and get pinc

merited reward of service. The General, profiting by the precepts of his erstwhile companions in arms, had never soiled his military escutcheon by labor, nor had he ever risen to the higher planes of criminality. Rather as a mediocre pickpocket and a timorous confidence man had he eked out a meager e

'an they can fer one an' dat's no pipe; so wots de use. Wait till I take a shot-it'll be easier," and he drew a small, w

embarked upon a life of crime. He had seen that the two men were conversing together earnestly, though he could over-hear nothing they said, and that he had been the subject of their nocturnal colloquy, for several times a glance or a

be dragged open again only by painful effort. Finally came a time that they rema

shiny steel and in his heart were fear and greed. The fear was engendered by the belief that the youth might be an amateur detective. Dopey Charlie had had one experience of such and he knew that it

ike a sudden, haphazard blow. Instead he placed the point carefully, though ligh

her, the second Mrs. Prim had from the first looked upon Abigail principally as an obstacle to be overcome. She had tried to 'do right by her'; but she had never given the child what a child most needs and most craves

not have given her for the asking; but Jonas Prim's love, as his life, was expressed in dollar sign

red Abigail's remarkably joyous temperament. She made up for it in some measure by getting all the fun and excitem

ing finished school and college, was properly married. As a matchmaker the second Mrs. Prim was as a Texas steer in a ten cent store. It was nothing to her that Abigail did not wish to marry anyone, or that t

d a fortune by the simple means of inheriting three farms upon which an industrial city subsequently had been built. Necessity rather than foresight had compelled him to hold on to his property; and six weeks of typhoid, arriving and de

Benham to a bright, a beautiful, a gay, an imaginative, young, and a witty girl such as Abi

ed off on a two weeks visit to the sister of the bride-groom elect. After which Mr. Benham was to visit Oakdale as a guest of the Prims, and at a dinne

"I should just like to know who left them open. Upon my word, I don't know what would become of this place if it wasn't for me. Of all the shiftlessness!" and she turned and flounced upstairs. In Abigail's room she flashed on the center dome light from force of habit, although she knew that the room had been left in proper condition after the girl's departure earlier in the day. The first thing amiss that her eagle eye noted was the

ct that while much of value had been ignored the burglar had taken the easily concealed contents of the wall sa

e which the thief had displayed. Mrs. Prim saw it all. The open library window had been but a clever blind to

ee that no one, absolutely no one, leaves this house u

"You don't think the thief is waiting

onas, we shall find both the thief and the loot und

"Why, Pudgy, you don't mean yo

The servants present looked uncomfortable and

ted down stairs toward the telephone. Before he reached it the bell rang, and when he had hung up the receiver after the conversation the theft seemed a trivial

for the second floor, "here's a wire from Benham saying Gail

rim. "I certainly saw her aboar

arch of some clew to the whereabouts of the missing Abigail, and at the same time had reported the theft of jewels and money from his

near to it that morning, doubtless, as it ever had or ever will. Not since the cashier of The Merchants and Farmers Bank committed suicide three years past had Oakdale been so wrought up, and now that historic

wagging for days; but they were not all. Old John Baggs, the city's best known miser, had suffered a murderous assault in his little cottage upon the outskirts of town, and was even now lying at the point of death in The Samaritan Hospital. That robbery had been

prominent clubmen.' Reginald Paynter had been, if not the only, at all events the best dressed man in town. His clothes were made in New York. This in itself had been sufficient to have set him apart from all the other males of Oakdale. He was widely travelled, had an independent fortune, and was far from unhan

a party of automobilists returning from a fishing trip. The skull was crushed back of the left ear. The position of the body as well as the marks in the road beside it indicated that the

the same man; but how could such a series of frightful happenings be in any way connected with the disappearance of Abigail Prim? Of course there were many who knew that Abigail and Reginald were old friends; and that the former had, on frequent occasions, ridden abroad in Reginald's French road

course, that this town was a few stations along the very road upon which Abigail had departed the previous afternoon for that destination which she had not reached. It was likewise remarked that Reginald, the two

e Tribune got out an extra that afternoon giving a resume of such evidence as had appeared in the regular edition and hinting at all the numerous possibilities suggested by such matter as had come to hand since. Even fear of old Jonas Prim and his millions had

eady had the best operative that the best detective agency in the nearest metropolis could furnis

rning Oakdale for the present. We m

to his feet before a second vicious thrust reached him. For a time he did not realize how close he had been to death or that he had been saved b

the other on. The youth was backing toward the doorway. The tableau persisted but for an instant. Then the would-be murderer rushed madly upon his victim, the latter's hand leaped from beneath the

mber, had only time to stumble to their feet before it was over. The Sky Pilot, ignoring

screaming and, sitting up, fell to examining himself. To his surprise he discovered that he was not dead. A further and more minute examination disclosed the additional fact that he was not even badly wo

ng field. The resultant halt and search upon either side of the road delayed the chase to a sufficient extent to award the fugitive a mile lead by the time the band resumed the hunt along the main highway. The men were determined to overhaul the youth not alone

smooth road, searching with troubled and angry ey

ger and his wind unimpaired by dissipation. For a time he carried the small automatic in his hand; but later, hearing no evidence of pursui

wers of The Sky Pilot. Terror goaded him to supreme physical effort. Recollection of the screaming man sinking to the earthen floor of the hay barn haunted him. He was a murderer! He had slain a fellow man.

greening fields and transforming the budding branches of the trees to menacing and gloomy arms which appeared to hover with clawlike talons above the dark and fo

of the lightning had increased; the rumbling of the thunder had grown to the

ahead-to the left ran the broad, smooth highway, to the right a d

t would his pursuers not naturally assume that he had followed it? Then, of course, the right hand road was the road for him.

of the past and terror of the future his only companions there broke suddenly throug

t him to a sudden halt. There was only the road to the right, then, after all. Cautiously he

swinging h

road to Anywhere

nywh

to Anywhere, su

o.

ce because of the bloody crime he thought he had committed; yet how he yearned to throw himself upon the compassion of this fine voiced stranger! How his every fibre cried out for companionship in this night of his gre

pon his brain for life-the honest, laughing eyes, the well moulded features harmonizing so well with the voice, and th

f skidding on these wet roads at night? I told James, just before we started, to be sure to see that the chains were on all around; but he forgot them. James is

ad suddenly vanished. No one could harbor s

e," he ventured, in explanation

r passing it in the dark. It was a year ago since I came this way; but I recall a deserted h

ll some frightful stories about it. It hasn't been occupied for over twenty years-not since the Squibbs were found murdered there-the father, mother, three sons, and a daughter. They never discovered the murderer, and the house has stood vacant and the farm unworked almost continuously since. A couple of men tried working it; bu

l. Such stories are ridiculous; and even if there was a little truth in them, noises can't harm you as much as sleepin

w back. From far behind cam

"Let's hurry," and he started off

to the rear. He recalled the boy's "after all that has happened to me tonight," and he shrewdly guessed that the latter's su

he latter, his first panic of flight subsided, had re

You needn't be afraid of me. I'll help you if you've been on the square. If you

not bring himself to reveal to anyone, and so he commenced with his introduction to the wayfarers in the deserted hay barn. Briefly he told of the attack upon him, of his shooting of Dopey Charlie, of the flight and pursuit.

u're a benefactor of the human race. I have known Charles for years. He should have been killed long since. Furthermore, as you shot in self defence no jury would con

now my name?"

" replied

d' and that's my name-

e knew him as an ex-pug with a pock marked face, a bullet head, and a tin ear. The flash of lightnin

it me to introduce myself: my name is Bridge. If James were here I should ask him to mix one of hi

now you. I was so lonely and so afraid," and he pressed closer to the older man whose arm sti

unning with the cunning of the fox, would doubtless surmise that a fugitive would take to the first road leading away from the main artery, and that even though they heard nothing it would be safe to assume that the gang was still upon the boy's trail. "And it's a bad bunch, too," he conti

, pressing closer to the man. The only response was a pre

space to the right of the road a flash of lightning revealed the outlines of a building a hundred yard

stove there last year and it's doubtless there yet. A good fire to dry our clothes and warm us up will f

len gate and moving through knee high weeds toward the forbidding structure in the distance. A c

l they had just topped in their descent into the ravine, or, to be more explicit, the small valley, where stood the crumbling hou

e in a hurry,"

you and explain his absence," suggeste

ed downward toward them, "I'd hate to ride behind that fe

ered top. Just as the machine came opposite the Squibbs' gate a woman's scream mingled with the report of a pistol from the tonneau and the watche

y of a young woman. The man lifted the still form in his arms. The youth wondered at the great strength of the slight figure. "Let me help you ca

ind him came Bridge as the youth entered the dark interior. A half dozen steps he took when his foot struck against a soft and yielding mass. Stumbling, he tried to regain his equilibrium only to drop full

ied Bridge, with whom The Kid had c

Kid, shuddering. "I

ad?" deman

the floor, right ahead

ht hand pocket of my coat," directed

gold rings in his ears, and long black hair matted in the death sweat of his brow. His eyes were wide and, even in death, terror filled, his features were distorted with fear and horror. His fingers, clenched in the rigidi

close to the man's side, clutched one arm with a fierce intensity which bespoke at once

ding to the second story. Straight ahead was a door opening upon the blackness of a rear

"We'd better go on and make a fire. Draw your pistol-whoever did thi

s leave this frightful place. It's just as

an't leave her, and we can't take her out into the storm in her condition.

anking chain. Something scratched heavily upon the wooden steps. Whatever it was it

ar of the deserted ruin. Even Bridge paled a trifle. The man upon the floor appeared to have met an unnatural death-the frightful expression frozen upon the dead face might even indicate something verging upon the super

"Up the stairs! You g

ss above gave him pause while he waited for Bridge to catch up with him. Coming more slowly with his burden the man followed

directed Bridge. "Let's have

ll into darkness. In his frantic effort to find the button and relight the lamp the worst occurred-he fumbled the button and the lamp slipped through his fingers, falli

t; but pressed close to his companion, again clutching his arm tightly. Bridge could feel the trembling of the slight figure, the spasmodic gripping of the slender fingers and hear the quick, short, irregul

whispered, "-the same pocket in which you found the flash lamp. St

he flare of the light there was a sound from below-a scratching sound and the creaking of boards as beneath a heavy body; then came the clanking of the chain once more, and the bannister against which they leaned shook as though a ha

the chain thumped slowly from one to ano

nd, too, there was an uncanny element of the supernatural in what they had seen and heard in the deserted house-the dead man on the floor below, the inexplicable clanking of a chain by some unseen THING from the depth of the cellar upward toward them; and, to heighten the effect of the

gait seemed pitifully slow to the unarmed man carrying the unconscious girl and listening to the chain drag

e girl and swung quickly toward the door. Halfway down the hall he could hear the chain rattling over loose planking, the THING, whatever it might be, was close upon them. Bridge slammed-to the door and with a shoulder against it drew a match from his pocket and lighted it.

self for a lock and, to his relief, discovered a bolt-old and rusty it was, but it still moved in its sleeve. An instant later it was shot-just as the sound of the dragging chain ceased outside. Near the door was the great bed, and this Bridge dragged before it as an additional barricade; then, bearing nothing more from th

he terrified figure had aroused within him, strongly, the protective instinct. Doubtless it was the

yes, now become accustomed to the darkness of the room, saw tha

ed the boy. "It will come in here and ki

he door and pushed the bed in front of it. Gad! I fee

on the bare floor. With a scream the youth leaped to his feet and almost threw hims

't let it get

onished him. "Didn't I tell

he man down stairs-it's the thing that murdered the Squibbs-right here in this room. It

es. Lie down here on this bed and try to sleep. Nothing shall harm you,

rdered in-the old man and his wife. No one would have it, and so it has remained here

ysteria won't help us any. Here we are, and we've to make the best of it. Besides we mus

ved away. "I am sorry," he said. "I'll try to do better; but, O

at it would be a rather difficult thing to frighten The Oskaloo

o where the young woman still lay upon the floor where he had deposited her. Then The Kid spoke. "I'm sorry," he

examine her. The flare of the sulphur illuminated the room and shot two rectangles of light against the outer blackness where the unglazed windows st

e beside him as he bent ab

d?" the lad

r limbs, bending and twisting them gently; he unbuttoned her waist, getting the boy to

st. "She's suffering from shock alone, as far

to turn a quick look at the boy's face, just as the match flickered and went out. The darkness hid the expression upon Bridge's face, but his conviction that t

he chain without. Now it was receding along the hallway toward the stairs and presently, t

ed the boy, his voice still trem

been a believer in ghosts and I'm not now; b

for a repetition of the sound there came another-that of the creaking of the old bed slats as the girl moved upon the mildewed mattress. Dimly,

"You've just suffered an accident, a

, a note of suppressed terror

ways belied his vocation and his rags Bridge chose not to embarrass the girl by a too intimate knowledge of the thing which had befallen her,

presently. "They drove so fast and it was so dark that I had

see that the girl was running one hand gingerly over her he

r voice was pathetic-it was the voice of a frightened and wondering child. Bridge heard

Oskaloosa Kid. "Bridge couldn't find a mar

hen he threw me out almost simultaneously. I suppose he thought that he could not miss at such close range." For a time she was silent again, sitting stiffly e

kill you-no one will believe me-they will think that I am bad. I didn't do it! I didn't do it! I've been a silly lit

st sight of their presence-she was talking to that father whose heart would be breaking wit

hen she spoke there was

ll me because I wouldn't promise to keep still. It was the little one who murdered him-the one they called 'Jimmie' and 'The Oskaloosa Kid.' The big one drove the car-his name was 'Terry.' Aft

oy at his side gul

I want to die. I will die! I come of a good family. My father is a prominent man. I can't go back and stand the disgrace and see him suffer, as he will suffer, for I was all he had-his only child. I ca

o your father. If you take your own life it will be a tacit admission of guilt and will only serve to double the burden of sorrow and ignominy which your father is bound to feel when this thing becomes pub

n thoughts; which were presently disturbed by the sound of footsteps upon the floor below-the muffled scraping of many feet

e which The Oskaloosa Kid recogniz

croaked him,"

ed this eviden

he swag an' died of heart

on the newcomers upon the first floor, followed by a-"Wotinel's that?" Two of the men had approached the staircase and st

it?" sh

chased us up; and then went down again just before you regained consciou

nd his gang," whisper

osa Kid," came a

light upstairs the

e human bein's. I know the joint-it's hanted-they's spooks in it. Gawd! there it is now," as the clanking rose to the head of the cellar stairs; and those above heard a sudden rush of footst

e door of the room in which the three listened breathlessly-hu

what do you wan

s. "Fer God's sake let us in. Can't you he

ide the dead man as though hovering in gloating exultation above its gruesome prey and then it moved again, this time toward the stai

Gods grind slowl

pleaded The O

er the luv o' Mike have a heart! Don't le

aded the girl on the bed. She was

now, if I let you in

came the quick

ed aside and drew the bolt. Instantly two figures hurled themselves in

THING moved down the hallway to the closed door. The dragging chain marked each foot of its advance. I

e made the door creak and a weird scratching sounded high up upon the old fashioned panelling. Bridge heard a smothered gasp from the boy

e careful!" he cried. "You'll hurt someone. You didn't miss the

he girl sprang from the bed and crossed to the opposite side of the room. A flash of lightning illuminated th

ut of another window upon this porch.

f the two newcomers. "It might hear

sound from

THING without had heard and understood, the clanking of the chain recommenced at once; b

n a single pair of lips. "IT did

ice lot of babies seeing t

ou go down an' see wot it is?"

lied Bridge and pulled t

What good could he accomplish? It might be nothing; yet on the other hand what had brought death so horribly

usually advancing and refuting suggestions as to the identity of the nocturnal prowler below-stairs. The THING seemed to have re

oosa Kid as the murderer of the unnamed victim. The two men who had come last pricked up their ears at this and Bri

d this evenin'," voluntee

claimed the g

s bulgin' wid sparklers an' kale. We was follerin' him an

f either; but now it was borne in upon him that at least one of them was the last person on earth he cared to be cooped up in a small, unlighted room with, and a moment later when one of the

asped the opportunity to scan the features of the other members of the party. Schooled by long years of repre

terrified. Relieved by ocular proof that he was not a murderer and te

unteered. "The little shrimp tried to croak me; but he only creased my ribs. I'd like to l

" he said. "I don't hear anything more downstairs, or maybe we

rm hand on the small, co

Kid," he said.

ned quickly in the di

ere?" asked

dge; "and furthermore he's going to stay h

u?" asked T

nk and Crumb you may also be able to visualize one Billy Burke and Bill

uickly. "This man cannot be The Oskaloosa Kid," she sai

when these guys picks you up. It's so dark in here you couldn't reco'n

ose of any men I have known. If one of them is The Oskaloosa Kid then there must

sible damage by rain. Presently he struck one and held the light in the direction of The Kid's

right," said

is," seconde

ed the girl. "The one who threw

was The Oskaloosa Kid,

e up," growled

ntly. "You're a thief and probably a murderer into the ba

look in his pockets-they're crammed wid swag, an' he's a gun-man, too,

t. He waited in dumb misery for Bridge to demand the proof of his guilt. Earlier in the evening he had flaunted the evidence of his cr

en that they would have to leave the boy alone and in the morning, when the storm had passed and d

r the window," he concluded. "You've tried to kill the boy once to-ni

where we damn please, an' youse can take it from me on the side that we're goin' to have ours out

fail to perceive, owing to the Stygian gloom which surrounds us, that I have the Kid's auto

two removed themselves to the opposite side of the apart

and planning against the future. Bridge advised the girl to return at once to her father; but this she resolutely refused to do

ind it in his heart to refuse him, for the man realized that the boyish waif possessed a subtile attraction, as forceful as it was inexplicable. Not since he had followed th

e was muscled as a Greek god, while the stocky Byrne, metamorphosed by the fire of a woman's love, possessed all the chi

that he would not have had the youth otherwise if he could have changed him. Ordinarily he accepted male cowardice with the resignation of surfeited disgust; but in the case of The Oskaloosa Kid he realized

ad ordered for them, while they also saw in one another social counterparts of themselves. Thus, as the night dragged its slow course, the three came to trust each other m

from the floor below. It was as the questioning fall of a child's feet upon the uncarpeted boards in the room beneath them. Frozen to silent rigidity, the five sat straining every faculty to catch the minutest sound from the black void where the dead man lay, an

craping of the chain against the door frame at the head of the cellar stairs. They heard it pass across the floor toward

s feet. Without a word he tor

?" cried the girl i

Bridge, and he drew the bolt, rusty an

ding her the youth sprang to his f

he cried. "Oh, ple

he man's side and clut

"Oh, for God's sake, don

idge. "Do you suppose I can stay in up here when

outh slipped to the floor and embraced the man's knees in a vice

xpostulated Bri

you know that it is a human voice tha

s stronger than the pleading of the girl. Slowly Bridge realized that he could not leave this defenseless youth alone even though a dozen women might be menac

ence by the window. From below came an occasional rattle of the chain, followed after a few minutes by the now familiar clanking as the iron links scraped across the flooring. Mingled with the soun

rather than heard the youth sobbing softly against his breast, while across the room The General gave a quick, nervous laugh which he as immediately suppressed as though fearful unnecess

of the bed, feeling now in the cold dawn the chill discomfort of which the excitemen

f us sitting half frozen up here with a stove on the floor below, and just because we heard a noise which we couldn't explain and hadn't the nerve to investigate." He rose. "I'm goi

until daylight? See! the dawn was even then commencing to break. They d

attered nervous system instilling within him a new courage and a feeling of utter well-bei

he General; "we'll

e kids up here and we three'll go down. They won't go, and

a moron was not a nice thing, and anyway no one could have bribed them to descend into the darkness of the lower floor w

the girl and the youth walk briskly to and fro in the hope that stimulated circulation might at least partially o

Both the boy and the girl insisted upon accompanying him. For the first time each had an opportunity to study the features of his companions of the night. Bridge found in the girl and the youth two dark eyed, good-looking young people. In the girl's face was, perhaps, just a t

sensitive mouth and thought of the youth's claim to the crime battered sobriquet of The Oskaloosa Kid. The man wondered if the mystery of the cl

nto the room." And to the two tramps: "Come on, boes, we'll all take a look at the lower

ut brought forth no answering clanking from the cellar. The stairs creaked beneath the unaccustomed weight of so many bodies as they descended toward the lower floor. Near th

h cold and nervous excitement, craned

Kid. "He's gone," and, sure en

kitchen beyond. All were empty; then he turned and re-entering the front room bent his steps toward the cellar stairs. At the foot of the stairway leading to the second floor lay

going?" asked T

mystery of that infern

It was an appeal, a question, and a command; and

m whom during the few hours of their acquaintance he had received so many evidences of cowardice; but as the clear brown eyes of the bo

is better to come upon it when I am looking for it than to have it come upon us when we ar

oot upon the cellar stair

going to do?"

I am a coward because I am afraid; but there i

s he admitted mentally that it undoubtedly took more courage to do a thing in the face of fear than to do it if fear were absent. He felt a strange ela

long gone, happier day. Some of the uprights had rotted away so that a part of the frail structure had collapsed to the earthen floor. A table with one leg missing and a crippled chair constituted the balance of the contents of the cellar and there was no l

e he is not you and I will have to carry some of this stuff upstairs," and together they returned to the floor above, their arms laden with pieces of t

duced came a like relaxation of their tongues and temporary forgetfulness of their antagonisms and individual apprehensions. Bridge was the only member of the group whose conscience was entirely free. He was not 'wanted' anywhere, he had no unexpiated crimes to harry his mind,

of the murdered man who was, unquestionably, none other than the long dead Squibb returned to haunt

," he concluded, "for both them pockets full

vent their own gazes from wandering to the bulging coat pockets, the owner of which mo

ar burglar. Then he pulls a gun on me, as wasn't doin' nothin' to him, and 'most croaks me. It's even money that if anyone's been croaked in Oakdale last night they won't have to look

"that you two crooks had better beat it. Do you get me?" an

arlie, belligerently, "until

ag," and he drew the boy's automatic from his si

l get you, you colledge Lizzy," threatened Dopey

dled again close to the stove until Bridge suggested that he and The Oskaloosa Kid retire to another room while the girl removed and dried her clothing; but

into this other room while the kid and I strip and dry our

"it isn't worth while. I am almost dry now, and as soon as we get out o

. "Very well," he said; "you probably know what you like; but a

beggar never was away from his mother before in his life," he mused; "why the mere thought of undressing in front of a stra

after a brisk rub, he put on the warmed garments and though some were still

lking together in a most animated manner, and as he approached wondering what the two had found of so great commo

is just achin',

ttle bite

ead, a little

d of seei

ad me to

something more

ew

kind of tramp, to be quoting poetry," said

dge, "as a burglar who recogni

open road," he replied quickly. "I don't know of

orted Bridge; "but the burning question just now is pots

n adjacent field. "He

lar to mention cow, which, in this instance, is proverbi

ll the time. I rustled

climb-we always put it through.'

amp at all, to talk to," she said; "but I suppose you are used

menced, and then suddenly subsided. "Of course I'd just as

and until he disappeared over the crest of th

d the girl, turni

" replied

perate character; but I know he's not The Oskaloosa Kid. Do you really sup

to believe that he is more imaginative than criminal. He certainl

earest farm house, which lay a full mile beyond the Squibbs' home. As he a

" greeted The

an gr

ething to eat," ex

k, sallow man went up into the air, figuratively. He went up a mile or more, and on the way down he

t gang o' bums that come here last night, an' now you got the gall to come ba

'm not begging for food-I want to buy some. I've got plenty of money," in proof of which asser

r name, eh? What's yer business, that's what Jeb Case'd like to know, eh?" He snapped his words out with the rapidity of a machine gun, nor waited for a reply to on

am and bacon and flour and onions and sugar and cream and strawberries and tea a

e in the wrong pasture, bub," he remarked feelingly

he tips of his ears. "But can't y

my ol' woman's got a loaf left from her last bakin'; but we ain't been figgerin'

" snapped the woman; but as she spoke her eyes fell upon the fat bank roll in the youth's hand. "Or, leastwise," she amended, "I ain't got much mo

d the youth. "There are three

toppin'?" as

lied The Kid. "We got caught by the st

ulated the woman. "Yew did

d," replie

g funny?" as

rd things. At least we didn't see what we heard; but we saw a de

dead man!" ejaculated

id no

head; "but ef you SEEN it! Gosh! Thet beats me. Come on M'randy, les s

n front of The Oskaloosa Kid proceeded to stare a

and bending close toward the other

An' what did yew hear?" he

lar and tried to get in our room on the second floor," explained the

scratched his head and looked admiringly at t

other's fond gaze. "Look here!" and he fished a handful of jewelry from one of hi

there was little left of his face. "But that's

t?" whispe

ed the bad m

facial expression which brought to The Oskaloosa Kid a su

anyone, will you? If you'll promise I'll give you a dollar," and he

Case boy. "I won't say a

"If you tell," he whispered, and he bent close toward the other'

said Wil

provender. "Here's enough an' more'n enough, I reckon," said Jeb Case

e you nothin' fer the garden

replied The Kid. "How much do

roll of bills and wondering just the limit he might

. "I'm ever so much obliged," he said, "and you needn't mind about any change. I thank y

hem pails!" shouted

rse," repli

I wisht I'd asked six bits more-I mought

red Willie Ca

iterally as well as figuratively. As he entered the Squibbs' gateway he saw the girl and Bridge standing upon the verandah waiting hi

ake a successful touch! Forgive me! You are the ne plus ultra, non est cumqu

d you do it?" asked

fruits of his expedition into the kitchen. Here Bridge busied himself about the stove, adding more wood to the fire and s

y tin cans lying about the floor of the summer kitchen. He warned against the use of the water from

greased one of the new cleaned stove lids with a piece of bacon rind and laid out as many strips of ba

more. My! but I never smelled anything so good as that in all my

who was slicing and buttering bread with it, and turned the bacon swiftly and deftly with the point, then he glanced at his watch. "The three minutes a

exclaimed The Oskaloosa

your egg and the shell will answ

ically. "You must have done most of y

oiced man called him a burglar from bragging of the fact himself to such as The Sky Pilot's vill

of pearl necklace protruding accusingly therefrom. The girl, a silent witness of the occurrence, was brought suddenly and painfully to a realization of her present position and recollect

At least the girl and The Oskaloosa Kid were silent and gloom steeped.

to replace James. His defection is unforgiv

ut neither spoke. Bridge drew a pouch of to

e makings

ed over diff

s how this o

n' only so

t there a-bl

taking a quarter of an ounce out of each five cents worth of chewing, I am told; so doubtless each box must be five or six matches short o

ed with their own thoughts, and after

as king o

away at no

pet, parti

o trouble,

or, writing his verse of the things he longed for but had never known; until, one day, I met a fellow between Victorville and Cajon pass who knew His Knibbs, and come to find out this

icked up his knife, wiped off the blade, closed it and slipped it into a trousers' pocket. Then he walked toward the do

thin were on their f

The Oskaloosa Kid. "You're no

don't!" plea

society or not. This Oskaloosa Kid is a bad proposition; and as for you, young

get away so that they can't question me. I was in the car when they killed him; but I had nothing to d

d, passed by the front gate. A mile beyond he stopped at the Case mail box where Jeb and his son Willie were, as usu

rved his light car from the road an

. Case. "Nice rain we had l

ed here nigh onto forty year, man an' boy, an

ed the farmer, scentin

announced the carrier, watching eager

Case. "Was he shot?" I

the horspital now, an' the doc say

xclaimed

was murdered last night, too; right on the pike sou

o' ben goin' sixty mile an hour. Er say," he stopped to scratch his head. "Mebby it was tramps. They must a ben a

bbie Prim's disappeared and Jonas Prim's house was robbed jest about the same time Ol' man Baggs 'u

was a pater

im an' tother was a slick crook from Toledo er Noo York that's called The Oskaloosie Kid. By gum, I'll bet they get 'em in no time. Why already Jonas Prim's got a regular

all he knew he saw plainly that either the carrier or his father woul

ere's the Tribune-there ain't nothin' more

" he muttered disgustedly, "jes' like it was as good as a hoss. But I mind the time, the fust

the effect of his remarks on his son, Willie was no where to be seen. If Jeb had but known it his young hopele

mask of criminality was for the most part assumed even though the stories of the two yeggmen and the loot bulging pockets argued to the contrary. There was the chance, however, that the boy had really taken the first step upon the road toward a criminal career, and

and flagrant hypocrisy of her environment. Himself highly imaginative and keenly sensitive, he realized with what depth of horror the girl anticipated a

through to the front room where he saw three men alighting from a large touring car which had drawn up before the sagging gate. As the foremost man, big and broad shouldered, raised his e

whispered; "they've brought

on?" demand

" replied Bridge, as he moved rapidly toward an

y housed farm implements, Bridge paused and looked about. "They'll

h choked the ground to a height of eight or ten feet around the boles of the close set trees. If they could gain the seclusion of that tangled jungle ther

efined path leading into the thicket. Single-file they entered, to be almost instantly hidden from view, not only from the house but from any other point more than a dozen paces away, for the path was winding, narrow and closely walled by t

ugh a small clearing the center of which was destitute of fallen leaves. Here the path was beaten into soft mud and as Bridge came to it he stopped and bent his gaze incredulously upon the ground. The girl and the youth, halting upon either sid

ts me,"

be?" whispe

o back," beg

father with Burto

head. "I would rather die," she

monster of another world. While, still more uncanny, in view of what they had heard in the farm house during the previous night, there lay, sometimes partially obliterated

The pictures of noted bank burglars and confidence men aided him not one whit, for in none of them could he descry the slightest resemblance to the smooth faced youth of the early morning. In fact, so totally different were the types

ets into a carriage don't run up an' jump on the back of it; but simply hire another carriage and follow.' How in hek kin I foller this book?" wailed Willie. "They ain't no street cars 'round here. I ain't never seen a street car, 'n'as fer a carriage, I reckon he means bus, they's only one on 'em in Oakdale 'n'if they waz forty I'd like to know how in hek I'd hire one when I ain't got no money. I reckon I threw away my four-bits on this book-it don't tell a

nts of which were descending and heading for the Case front door. Jeb Case met them before th

om Bridge had seen approaching the Squibbs' house a short ti

d around Oakdale last night. We are searching for clews to the perpetrators, some of whom must

hed," exclaimed

o' ben upward of a dozen on 'em. They waz makin' fer the house when I steps in an' grabs my ol' shot gun. I holl

id they go?"

which way they turned at the crossin's, er

gers, and then retraced his steps toward the car. Not once had Jeb mentioned the youth who had purchased supplies from him that morning, and the reason was that Jeb had not

lp him not at all, and with the natural suspicion of ignorance he feared to divulge his knowledge to the city detective for fear that the latter would find the means to cheat him out of the princely reward offere

, after all, the very men, the only men, in fact, to assist him in his dilemma? At least he could test them out. If necessary he would divide the reward with th

derer is," he whispered hoar

e of aids. He laid a kindly hand on Willie's shoulder. "You bet you do," he rep

"Goshed!" mentally even as he told his tale. "He come to our house an' bought some vittles an' stuff. Paw didn't know who he wuz; but when Paw went inside he told

idence until he had proven it to be worthless. He stepped from the car again and motioning to Willie to follow him returned to the Case yard where Jeb was already coming toward the gate, having

d then as he neared Jeb he asked him if a young man

ere summer camper pests. He paid fer all he got. Had a roll o' bills

e was The Oskaloosa Kid and that he had ro

rned and cast one awful look at

I was a-scairt to tell you, 'caus

know what you'll get ef you'r

," said detective Burton. "Where

e," and Willie jerked a di

ere has been someone there this morning, for there is st

d Willie emphatically;

here Oskaloosie Kid said they heered things las' night an' seed a

s paw don't lick him I will. I told him tell I'm good an' tired o' talkin' thet one li

e this fer, if it wasn't to keep me from talkin'," and the boy drew a crumpled

asked his mother.

full o' jewlry, 'n' he had a string o' things thet I don't know jest what you call 'em; but the

course I am interested principally in finding Miss Prim-her father has engaged me for that purpose; but I think the arrest of the perpetrators of any of last night's crimes will put us well along on the trail of the missing young lady, as it is almost a foregone conclusion

this ordinarily close-mouthed man, who, as a matter of fact, was but attempting to win the confiden

west toward Millsville on the assumption that the fugitives would seek escape by the railway running through that village. Only thus could he

sappeared, nor did he answer at noon to the r

nd disappear behind the fringing blackberry bushes which grew in tangled profusion on either side. When they came abreast

d the other go back the same distance and then climb the fence. When I see you getting over I'll climb it here. They can't get away fro

nce he vaulted over the panel directly opposite the car. He had scarcely alighted upon the other side when his eyes

ne of the men opened his eyes and sat up. When he saw

hed?" he asked. The other man now sat up and viewed the newcomer,

tramp, looking from one to another of

r The General would do anything; but somebody did something in Oakdale last night and

e-

four grimy fists had been elevated he signa

han knives, dope, and a n

al an' a skoit. He creased me, here," and Charlie unbuttoned his clothing and exposed to view the bloody scratch of The Oskaloosa Kid's bullet. "On de level, Burton, we wern't in on i

he?" aske

d," replied Charlie. "A guy called

e's straight," replied Bu

guy an' turnin' 'im outten a gas wagon, an' dis Oskaloosa Kid he croak

they now?"

the Squibbs' place this

a place to sleep for a few days. I want you where I can lay my hands on you when I need a couple of witnesses," and he h

er?" asked one o

ocket when I jumped the fence. Just wait a minute while I go look for it,"

returned but when he did there was

ed his princip

n. "I wouldn't have

motioned the others to silence and then pointed through the branches ahead. The boy and the girl, tense with excitement, peered past the man into a clearing in which stood a log shack, mud plaste

of of its purpose which lay beside her to tell the watchers that she worked alone in the midst of the forest sol

e, awestruck eyes, filled with a great terror, yet now and again half closing

suddenly shuddered to the grewsome clanking o

t to Bridge's sleeve, s

in a voice that trembled so th

her path leading toward the north. We must b

alico and silk, with strings of gold and silver coins looped around her olive neck. Her bare arms were encircled by bracelets-some cheap and gaudy, others well wrought from gold and silver. From her ear

d disturbed her. Her brows were contracted into a scowl of apprehension which remained even after she returned to her labors, and that she wa

as the dead. Only the twittering of birds disturbed the quiet of the wood. Bridge felt a soft hand slipped into his and slender fingers grip his own. He turned his eye

in the clearing was electrified into action. Like a tigress charging those who stalked her she leaped swiftly across the clearing toward the point fro

e masterful, the other frightened and whimpering; and a moment afterward the girl reappeared d

then turned on her captive. In her right

e truth, or I kill you," and she half raised the knife that he

or somebody else. I'm goin' to be a dee-tectiff, an' I'm shadderin' a murderer;

atchers saw a faint smil

r?" she asked. "Who

y outweighed his own fears. "Reginald Paynter was murdered an' ol' man Baggs an' Abigail Prim's missin'. Like es not she's been

ced quickly at his companions. He saw the boy's horror-stricken expression follow th

ght before. Bridge looked down at the youth beside him; but the other's face was averted and his eyes upon the ground. Then Willie told of the arrival of the great detective, of the reward that had been offered and of his decisio

th the excitement of the adventure and his terror of the girl with the knife he had little or no control of himself, yet it was evident that he did not realize that practically every word

ent a long, searching look in the direction indicated by the boy and then turned her eyes quickly toward the hut as though to summon a

want?" s

m the Squibbs house. We found the dead man there last night;" Bridge nodded toward the quilt enveloped thing upon the groun

I don' know nothin' about it. Honest

. Kill, steal. He know; he tell me. You get

s in Oakdale that I have not even heard of. It seems to me that he must have some guilty knowledge himself of these affairs. Look at him and look at me. Notice his ears, his

se. I ask myself: was this man murdered? but I do not say that he was murdered. I wait for an explanati

s for a full minute before she replied as

d your companions were thieves and murderers and that you were hiding there watching me. You tell me the truth, all the

here!" and presently a boy and a girl, dishevelled and fearful, crawled forth

of escape for his companions, or at least a haven of refuge where they might hide until escape was possible. "And then," he said in c

e at his mention of a bear; but the gypsy girl only nodd

nce; mak lot money when HE steal. Two days he no come home. I go las' night look for him. Sometimes he too drunk come home he sleep Squeebs. I go there. I find heem dead. He have fits, six, seven year. He die fit. Beppo stay guard heem. I carry heem home. Giova strong, he no very large man. Beppo come too. I bury heem. No one know we leeve here. Pretty soon I go w

ut it would be embarrassing to have to explain to the police what we have done," here he glanced at The Oskaloosa Kid and th

t what we do with this?" and she j

e'll feed him to Bepp

for in reality he shook upon his bare feet. "Lemme

out of here. I wouldn't trust that vanishing chin

d The Oskaloosa

you?" ask

rmation leading to the arrest and conviction of the men who robbed and murdered in Oakda

s the better off you'll be. I don't know how you come by so much wealth; but in view of several things which occurred last night I should not be crazy

noted the act and shook his head. "No," he said, "we mustn't judge one another hastily, Miss Prim, and I take it you are Miss Prim?" Th

d; but I don't see how we are to get out of it before dark as the roads are doubtless pretty well patrolled, or at least every farmer is on the lookout for suspi

anguine of his former dreams. He saw his picture not only in the Oakdale Tribune but in the newspapers of every city of the country. Assuming a stern and arrogant expression, or rather what he thought to be such, he posed, mentally, for the newspaper cameramen; and such is the power of association of ideas that he was present

e grave and covering him over with earth they quite forgot Willie entirely. It was The Oskaloosa Kid who first thought

of this in a hurry now," he said. "That little defect

th-" She stopped abruptly, flushed scarlet as the other three looked at her in silence, and then: "I a

We on'y have to cross road, that only danger. Then we reach leetle stream south of woods, stream wind down through Payson. We all go Gypsies. I got lot clothing in house. We all go Gypsies, an' when we reach Payson we no try hide-jus' come out on street with Beppo. Mak' Beppo dance. No one think

laimed the other girl. "Someone

u mens come too. I geeve you what to wear like Gypsy mens. We got lots things. My father, him

r girl were in the lead, followed by Bridge and the boy. The latter turned to the man and placed a hand upon his arm. "Why don't you

did not

on, "that you are doing it f

you need someone to look after you. It would be easier though if you'd

begged the boy. "I ca

d as that?"

s worse. Don't make me tell you, for if I do tell I shall have t

the girl who had halted there as Giova entered. Before them was a

"By George! though, I'd as soon have hunted a real

"You told Giova that you followed the footprints of herself a

rgued that such was the case. The first is that I don't believe in ghosts and that even if I did I would not expect a ghost to leave footprints in the mud, and the other is that I knew that the footprints of a bear are strangely similar to those of the naked feet of man. Then wh

ed the room, scolding him and at the same time attempting to assure him that the newcomers were friends; but th

mother's kitchen wide eyed and gasping from

med Mrs. Case. "Whatever

!" cried Willie, dash

here you air 'n' tell me whatever you got. 'Taint likely it's measles, fer you've hed them three times, 'n' whoopin' cough ain't 'them,' it's 'it,' 'n'-." Mrs. Case paused and gasped-horrifie

the unconscious humor of the statement. "What I got is a gang o' thieves an

bank where detective Burton was making his headquarters. Here he learned that Burton had not returned; but finally gave his message reluctantly to Jonas Prim after exacting a promise from that gentleman that he wou

pey Charlie and The General were unloaded and started on the remainder of their journey afoot under guard of two

woods back of Squibbs' place. I don't know how much to believe, or whether to believe any of it; but we can't afford not to run down every clew. I can't believe that my daughter is wilfully consorting with such men. She always has been full of l

t the simplest way is always the best way and so he never befogged the main issue with any elaborate system of deductive reasoning based on guesswork. Burton never guessed. He assumed that it was his business to KNOW, nor was he on any case long before he did

ld John Baggs. When Burton had found them simulating sleep behind the bushes beside the road his observant eyes had noticed something that resembled a hurried cache. T

s he retold his tale and led them through the woods toward the spot where they were to bag their prey. The last hundred yards was made on h

e," whispered Willi

pt through the underbrush until the cabin was surrounded; then, at a

door of the cabin unchallenged. The others saw him pause an instant upon the threshold an

one here,"

must be," he pleaded. "They must be. I

es' I seen 'em. They was here just a few minutes ago. Here's where they burrit the d

returned a few minutes' labor revealed that so much of Willie's story was true, for a quilt wrapped corpse wa

ods and half to the road upon the south of the Squibbs' farm. There they separated and formed a thin line of outposts about the entire area north of the road. If the quarry was within it cou

rts of the town. There were two men, two young women and a huge brown bear. The men and women were, obviously, Gypsies. Th

abin. No one can know that we are here and if we stay here until late to-night we should be able to pass around Payson unseen and reach th

were queries about food to be answered. It seemed t

eat?" Bridge a

e at night an' he eat swill. I do that to-night. Beppo, he got to be fed or he eat Giova. I go feed

ns, Bridge bent his steps toward a small store upon the outskirts of town where food could be purchased, The Oskaloosa Kid having donated a ten dollar bill f

isible line which separates honest men from thieves and murderers and which, once crossed, may never be recrossed. Chance and necessity had thrown him often among such men and women; but never had he been of them. The police of more than one city knew Bridge-they knew him, though, as a character and not as a criminal. A dozen times he had been arraigned upon suspici

It was difficult for the man to bring himself to believe that either the youth or the girl was in any way actually responsible for either of the murders; yet it appeared that the latter had been present when a murder was c

wo crimes at least? These new friends, it seemed, were about to topple him into the abyss which

be easy to leave the town and his dangerous companions far behind him; but even as the thought forced its way into his mind anothe

id I never saw before last night has a strangle hold on my heart that I can't shake loose-and don't want to. Now if it was a girl I could understand it." Bridge stopped suddenly in the middle of the road. From his attitude he might have been startled e

hile he was thus occupied the fox-eyed man clung to his coign of vantage, himself unnoticed by the purchaser. When Bridge departed the other followed him, keeping in the shadow of the trees which bordered the street. Around the edge of town and down a road which

pping often and looking first this way and then that and always listening. When they arrived opposite the m

ver would get here; but we didn't see

this with a big bear at night and not be seen, and if she is seen she'll be followed-it would be too much of a

The Oskaloosa Kid. Each s

is it makes me creep," she whispered, as the fai

Miss Prim," said Bridge. "We heard it a

pon the boy's face as he heard the name addressed to her. Was he thinking of the nocturnal raid he so recently had made upon the boudoir of Miss Abigail Prim? Was he

iova came presently among them, the bea

ything to eat?"

fill up now. That mak him better

been looking forward much to his company through t

gh. "I don' think he no hurt you anyway

ur surmise," replied Bridge. "But e

ordered ham and eggs from the pretty waitress of The Elite Restaurant on Broadway; but at heart he was not happy for never before had he realized what a great proportion of his anatomy was made up of hands and feet. As he glanced fearfully at the former, silhouetted against the white of the table cloth, he flushed scarlet, assured as he was that the waitress who had just turned away toward the kitchen with his order was convulsed with laughter and that every other eye in the establishment was glued upon him. To assume an air of nonchalance and thereby impress

f the meal and paying his check. Willie's method of eating was in itself a sermon on efficiency-there was no lost motion-no waste of time. He placed his mouth within two inches of his plate after cutting his ham and eggs into pieces of a

empty plate, seized a spoon in lieu of knife and fork and-presto! the side-dish was empty. Whereupon the prune dish was set in the empty side-dish-four deft motions

e's hand was thirty five cents and his check with a like amount written upon it. Amid the crash of crockery which followed the collision Willie slammed check and money upon the cashier's desk and fled. Nor did he pause until

picture theater arrested his attention; and presently, parting with one of his two remaining dimes, he entered. The feature of the bill was a detective melodrama. Nothing in the world could have better suited Willi

too. He was approaching the entrance to an alley. Old trees grew in the parkway at his side. At the street corner a half block away a high flung arc swung gently from its supporting cables, casting a fair light upon the alley's mouth, and just emerging from behind the nearer fence Willie Case saw the huge bulk of a bear. Terrified, Willie jumped behind a tree; and then, fearful lest the animal might have caught sight or scent of him he poked his head cautiously around the side of the bole just in time to see the figure of a girl come out of the alley behind the bear. Willie recognized her at the first glance-she was the very girl he had seen burying the dead m

e, "is that we can't make a fire to cook by-i

ad road by day, ver' much worse by night. Beppo no come

of this canned stuff and have our ham and co

ested The Oskaloosa Kid, "let's change back into our ow

it was over night, and a moment later Willie was racing towa

nery of Payson had been installed before the days of the great central power plan

here was something phoney doin', or I wouldn't have trailed him, an' its a good ting I done it, fer he hadn't ben there five minutes before along comes The Kid an' a skirt and pretty soon a nudder chi

Pilot sat up straight and slapped his thigh. Soup Face opened his mouth, letting his pipe fall ou

he dame and The Kid. Two of us can take her to Oakdale an' claim the re

queried The

p handy," sugge

de swamp," said

e, and Soup Face can arrange matters with The Oskaloosa Kid. I don't care for details. We will all m

'ful then," said

discussing

ce had better attend to that. Blackie can nab The Kid an' I'll annex Miss Abigail Prim. The lady with the calf we don't want. We'll tell her we're

istering the third degree to Dopey Charlie and The Gener

r end of the line; "I'm Willie Case

queried

der guy an' the girl I seen with the dead man in Squibbs' woods an' they got a BEAR!" It was almost a shriek. "You'd better come

" replied Burton. "You say there are two m

ar," correc

t light on my car-I'll have it pointed straight up into the air. When you see it comi

said

anyone," Burton a

local policemen, the car turning south toward Payson and moving at ever accelerating

bus Blackie was in the lead. He flashed a quick light around the interior revealing four forms stretched upon the floor, deep in slumber. Into the blacker shadows of the far end

trong and full of the vigor of a clean life, he pitted against their greater numbers a

any attention to Giova, nor, with the noise and confusion, did the intruders note the sudden clanking of

her toward the doorway and though the girl fought valiantly to free herself her lesser muscles were unable to cope successfully with those of the man. Columbus Blackie found his hands full with The Oskaloosa Kid. Again an

deserted mill. A huge body catapulted into the midst of the fighter

ed the terrifying presence of some frightful creature, caught the reflected gleam of two savage eyes and felt the hot breath from distended jaws upon his cheek, then Beppo swung a single terrific blow which caught the man upon the side of the

ppo chanced at that moment to glance toward the doorway. There, silhouetted against the lesser darkness without, he saw the figures of Columbus Blackie and The Oskaloosa Kid and with a growl he charged them. The two were but a f

hed toward the rear of the mill in the direction of the woods and distant swamp. Beppo, recovering from his charge, wheeled in time to

hing toward him, and dodged around a large tree. Again Beppo shot past the

answered him from a small tree. "Climb!" she cried. "Climb a tree! Ever'one climb a small

ail Prim, they found The Oskaloosa Kid climbing a barbed wire fence and then with complaining brakes the car came to a sudden stop. Six men leaped from the machine and rounded up the three the

amed, pointing at The Oskaloosa Kid. "There he is! And

said one

eutenants, "while we go after the rest of them.

filled scream mingled with

ed Willie Case, and ran

machine and beat it!" he cried. "There's a bear loose here, a regular

u?" asked t

tonneau. "Seize him!" He wanted to add: "My men"; but somehow his nerve fa

in guarding them; then he with the remaining three, two of whom were armed with rifles, advanced toward the mill. Beyond it they heard

ed Burton, and sent

e came slowly forward into its rays the lumbering bulk of a large bear. The light

fles. There were two reports in close succession. Beppo fell forward without a sound

" she said brokenly; "bu

ead. In the eyes of The Oskaloosa Kid there g

s men to march The Kid and Bridge to the Payson jail, taking the others with him to Oakdale. He was also partially influenced in this decision by the fear that mob violence would be done the principals by Oakdale's outraged citizens. At Payson he stopped long enough at the town jail t

s men were armed with rifles which they succeeded in convincing the mob they would use if their prisoners were molested. The telephone, however, h

two sides of the room. A single barred window let out upon the yard behind the structure. The floor

crimes which had turned peaceful Oakdale inside out in the past twenty four hours. There were reproductions of photographs of John Baggs, Reginald Paynter, Abigail Prim, Jonas Prim, and his wife, with a large cut of the Prim mansion, a star marking the boudoir of the missing dau

nd to convince them that you did not kill Paynter I advise you to call the guard and tell the truth, for if the mob gets us

any of these crimes?" asked the boy. "I know th

reason. If they get us I shall hang, unle

y shud

l the truth?"

replied the boy, "and

asked

rings of the mob. Automobile horns screamed out upon the night. The two heard the chugging of motors

ers. Old man Baggs is dead. No one never had no use for him while he was alive, but the whole county's het up now over

boy. "Tell the truth,"

ey are going to murder you they can murder me too, for you stuck to me when you didn't have to; and I am g

it?" aske

hook his head, and

why hang and be damned. We'll do the best we can 'cause it's our duty to protect you; but I gues

," said

face in his hands. Bridge rolled another smoke. The sound of a shot came from the front room of the jail, immediately followed by a roar of rage from the mob and a deafening h

in an attempt to reason with the unreasoning mob, and then came a fina

The great detective alighted and handed down the missing Abigail. T

orously although the heat was far from excessive. They heard the motor draw up in front of the house; but they did not venture into the reception hall or out upon the porch, though for different reasons. Mrs.

the doors swung wide to receive the prodigal daughter of the house of Prim. A slender figure with bowed head ascended the steps, guided and assisted by the

ing room," announced the butler, stepping

Burton, entered the

latter, "to be able to return Miss

amation of surprise and annoyance. Mrs. Prim gasped and sank upon a so

er?" asked Burto

" Jonas Prim's voice was crisp an

ise and discomfiture. H

" he started; but

ignorant little farmer's boy and I did not deny it when I found that you intended bringing me to Mr. Prim, for I wanted to see him. I

aper, that your daughter was not with Reginald Paynter when he was killed. She had no knowledge of the crime and as far as I know may not have yet. I have not seen her and do not know where she is; but I was present when Mr. Paynter was killed. I have known him for years and have often driven with him. He stopped me yesterday afternoon on the street in Payson and talked with me. He was sitting in a car in front of the bank.

me. Mr. Paynter prevented him on each occasion, and they had words over me; but after we left the inn, where they had all drunk a great deal, this man renewed his attentions and Mr. Paynter struck him. Both of them were drunk. After that it all happene

ing that they weren't getting as much as they had planned on; but that a little was better than nothing. They took his watch, jewelry, and a large roll of bills. We passed around the east side of Oakdale and came back into the Toledo road. A little way out of town they turned the mach

em since and do not know where they went. I am ready and willing to aid in their conviction; but, please Mr. Prim

rder of Old Man Baggs?" asked Burton. "Did they pull

them after they threw me out of the car, which mus

arrested with you," continued the detecti

ttacked us while we were asleep. I don't know who they were. The girl could have had nothing to do with any of the crimes. We came upon her this morning burying her father in the woods back of the Squibbs' place. The man died of

rd with you if you don't. What made you hesitate?

to the Squibbs place together. They were kind to me, and I hate to tell anything that would get the boy in trouble. That is the reason I hesitated. He seemed su

stepped into the room to say that Mr. Burton was wanted on th

one for and sent for the police. When they came he told them he had killed a man by the name of Paynter at Oakdale last night and the chief called up to ask what we knew about it. The Kid confessed to clear his pal who

ler almost ran into the room. "Payson wants you, sir," he cried t

h them, and, my God, they're innocent. We all know now who killed Paynter and I have known since morning who murdered Baggs, and it wasn't either of those men; but they've found

iting to find a hat he ran quickly after the detective. Once i

fools are going to kill the only man

orridor before the cell door where the two prisoners awaited their fate. The single guard was brushed away. A dozen men wielding three railroad

e. "What are you going t

Haman, you damned kidnappers an' m

ven tone, unaltered by fear or excitement. "You've not

mouth," interrupted

t in a far corner of the cell. The man noticed the bulging pockets of the ill fitting coat; and

ir minds, or what they think are minds, that we're guilty; but principally they're out for a sensation. They want to see something die, and

as you are. We'll go together, Bridge, and on the other side you'll learn someth

t at a time like this I rather hope so-I'd like to c

one side to the other; then the door gave and the leaders of the mob were upon them. A

's-only a child? If I don't live long enough to give you

llow face turned white, and after tha

but the leaders kept the others back lest all be robbed of the treat which they had planned. Through town they haled them and out along the road toward Oakdale. There was s

the leaders started to search them; and when he drew his hands out of Bridge's side pockets

no mistake here, boys. Look ahere!" and he

Prim's stuff

Oh, please listen to me," he begged. "He didn't steal those things. Nobody stole them. They are mine. They have always belonged to me. He took them out of my pocket at the j

s he listened to the boy's words; but he only sh

," said Bridge quietly, "would you mind explaining just what we

want to do things fair and square. Tell 'em the charges, an'

ements of the doomed men might add anoth

ome doubts about you before, but they aint none now. You're bein'

d he was The Oskaloosa Kid, 'n' thet he robbed a house an' shot a man las' night; 'n' they ain't no tellin' what more he's ben up to. He tole Jeb C

nd now may I make my final stateme

growled

't inter

, go

the reason that if all the brains in this crowd were collected in one individual he still wouldn't have enough with which to weigh t

is because Miss Prim is not dead. These jewels were not stolen from Miss Prim, she took them herself from her own home. This boy whom you are about to hang is not a boy at all-it is Miss Prim, herself. I guessed her s

women here," said Bridge. "Turn her over to them.

reached forth to seize the slim figure. With a sudden wrench Bridge tore himself loose from his captors and leaped toward the farmer, his right flew straight out from the shoulder and Jeb Case went down with a broken

p you if you've killed either of them, for o

The Oskaloosa Kid gave him a single look of surpris

she cried, "don't

ynched the only daughter of Jonas Prim. Burton slipped the noose from about the girl's neck and then turned toward her companion. In the light from the automobile la

re have you been? Your father's spent tw

nto my blood, and there's only one thing that-well-" he shook his head and smiled ruefully-"but there ain'

ection. "Hurry, Bridge," admonished The Os

, Miss Prim," he said, "I can't do that. Here's your 'swa

them myself, Dad," she explained, "and then Mr. Bridge took them from me in the jail to mak

kling that you were a girl, for you looked so much like the one of Miss Prim. Then I commenced to recall little things, until I wondered that I hadn't known from the first that you w

want Father to know you and to know how you

ed Bridge; and he climbed into the car. As the mac

's my reward? I want my

rd to your father-maybe he'll split it wi

illie is a natural-born detective. He got everything wrong from A to Izzard, ye

p yet," said Jonas Prim

being held merely as suspects in the case of your daughter's disappearance, whereas I have known since morning that they were implicated in the killing of Baggs; for after I g

xclaimed

he back seat beside her father, told him all that she

know you were a girl

ous and kindly to them as a man could be to a woman. I don't care anything about his clothes,

Burton's men, while Burton, sitting in the back seat n

omes of one of the finest families of Virginia and one of the wealthiest

daughter. "Gail," he said, "before we get home I wish you'd tell me wh

nd so I ran away. I was going to be a tramp; but I had no idea a tramp's existence was s

ou can be an old maid all

ly want to choose my own

ror; but she couldn't see Bridge at all, until Burton found an opportunity to draw her to one side and whisper something in her e

th the feel of fresh linen and pressed clothing, even if ill fitting, a sensation of comfort and

I venture to say," he drawled, "that there are

on s

to secrecy about her share in the tragedy of the previous night. On the morrow she would return to Payson and no one there the wiser; bu

be more strictly a truthful historian, Abigail outgeneraled

ind to me when you thought me a worthless little

I felt toward you,-it was inexplicable,-and then when I knew that you were a girl, I understood, for I knew that I

ings in her heart to murmur; but a man's lips smothered hers

ectioins made in the

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