The Ledge on Bald Face

leeping away the heat of the day under a spreading birch tree a few paces off the road. He was sleepi

of his guilt. He made no resistance as he was being hurried along the road, only clinging firmly to his black le

bside-a fact which the constable noted narrowly. He steadied his voice enough to ask several questions about the murder-questi

head of it and the shaggy black form of Jim close at his heels. With a savage curse Hawker sprang forward, and a

e them, with one hand on the big revolver at his hip and Jim showing his teeth beside him. The constable and his party, hugely astonished, but c

uty in a voice of steel. "The law will look af

oys,' commanded the Depu

uth. "That's the man as done it, an' we're agoin' to string 'im up fer it right now, for fea

forward with Hawker in fro

boys," said h

paces, except Hawker, who held his ground, half

n' Tug's right, anyways. The law's good enough, with Tug to the back of

ted another. "Seein's ye feel that

revolver back into

eiving that the crisis was over. "But keep an eye on Hawk

des from the mill, laying firmly persuasive hands upon the excited m

demanded one. "Did the book agen

s at now," suggested another. "That'

boys," interrupted Blackstock, i

ct, "an' tell us what ye've done with that fancy belt o' yourn '

That accounts for his foolishness. Sam

an effort, as if only now realizing that his followers had g

explained quickly. "Me

we'll ask this here stranger what he knows about it. It's there, if anywheres, where we're most likely to git som

t of eloquence to explain how glad he would be to tell all he knew, and how sorry he was that he knew no

when we're askin' ye," answered Blackstock.

longside the prisoner and rubbed against him

you in such a

who was more or less a friend of

ite so discriminat

interest. "Time will show. Ye must remember a man ain't necessarily a murderer jest

indignation. "You show me another book that's half

y, with a curious look. "This ain

t time, thought of the money for

he demanded. "Let's hev a look

e don't s'pose he'd be carryin' it on him, do ye? He'd hev it

the deed ain't likely to carry the evidence around on h

etor of the store, who was also a magistrate, swore in a score of special constables to keep back the crowd while awaiting the arrival of the coroner. Under the magistrate's orders-

Mother, Home, and Heaven." His face was wreathed in fatuous smiles as he saw the precious book snatched from its case and passed around mockingly from hand to hand. He

aker's dozen o' that chap to do in Jake Sanderson that

to account for that piece o' paper, the book-agent's

y. He's been a-sowin' 'em round the country so's an

ould not out. But at that instant came a strange diversion. The dog Jim, who under Blackstock's direction had been sniffing long and minutely at the clothes of the murdered man, at t

strange accusing growl. Hawker's face went white

ome showin' yer teeth at me!" And he

stock, sharp as a rifle shot. And Jim, who had eluded

demanded one of the mill hands. "I ain

me," panted Hawker, "coz I ha

ou an' Jim were good friends only yesterday at the store, where I saw ye feedin' him

he game-warden. "Looks like Sam Hawker has gone plumb crazy. An' now there's Jim, the sensiblest dog in the world, with l

digging furiously with both forepaws beneath the

orners of his lips. He plucked his hunting-knife from its sheath, and leapt forward

been watching him intent

that the bright blade fell to the ground. With a scream, Hawker struck at hi

red. "Seems like he's gone mad

hind his back, his legs lashed together at the knees, so that he could neither run nor

" said one of the constables, "b

friend o' Jake's!" muttered

of Jim to dig under the big white stone. His absorption in such an apparently frivolous matter attracted the

for, you see!" muttered one of the

think so, neither

he constable who had just spoken, "would ye mind stepp

d up, his face covered thickly with earth, wagged his tail

elight Jim plunged his head into the hole, grabbed something in his mouth, and tore around the pool

inted Indian belt, and it was stained and smeared with bloo

poke, and even the raving

one consent, turned his eyes away from the face of Sa

and stern. "But I think you'll all agree that we hain't no call to detain this gent

ent, as his guards, with profuse apologies, released him. "

d turn this day, mister,"