The Secret of Lonesome Cove

red the fragments of the glass upon which the painter had set his labor of love. A high old-fashioned chair faced the wreckage. On its peak was hung a t

ve that ther

e back of the chair,

window

you see

est on

edgwick's hand, outstretched toward the destroyed port

his open window," he leaned out, looking around, "any man gaining acce

pass-key fo

ncy. You didn't chance to notice that things hav

and, not finding what he was looking f

t, with his quiet smile. "Now hang it acr

et from him. "Why, there's a h

he path of

bul

destroyed is merely a bit of ill fortune. That you weren't inside the coat when the bullet went

ick o

uncommonly like a man sitting in a chair before his work. At least, I should think so. And yonder thicket on the hillside," he added, looking

the studio presented, at that distance, an excellent simulacrum of the rear view of a man lounging in a chair. Bidding the artist stay outside the copse, Kent entered on hands and knees a

ted Sedgwick, who had begun to comprehend

thi

you so pleased

t is

ou've foun

act

stem," observed the

shot from here. The marksman-a good one-saw you, as he supposed, jerk

ce behind him,"

tangible. Therein

don't expect me

at the ground i

en there, since you've

l is ver

a spring jus

a footprint dis

rt of the lesson

the place trackless. That some one was a keen soft-footed woodsman. Putting it in words of one syllable, I should say he

t? Gansett Jim!

he place, I should have known it wasn't he

the other. "I suppose he's likely

iscourage him-as

ng him a

rship in this affair, as you know. Gansett Jim honestly thinks that you had a hand in the Lonesome Cove murder,

e sheriff wa

suspect, and if you were put out of the way every one would believe you the murderer. There would be a perfunctory investigation, the

do you know who t

've a shrewd guess that I

Ganset

an. What I'm going to see hi

o you expect

me there. But I want you to go to the spot where you

clear, holding the lantern above him. The light showed a strange spectacle. Kent, watchful, keen, ready as a cat to spring, stood with his eyes fixed upon the distorted face of the half-breed. Terror, rage, overmastering amazement, and the soul-panic

oice of one who soothes an affrighted horse. "I didn't know whether you c

ou mean," grun

elt the peril of that determination; for he hung his head. "I've brought you here to show you why. Pay good heed, now. A man traveling in a wagon was met here, as he says, by a woman-you understan

the lantern on the ground. Hound-like, he nosed about the trodden earth. Suddenly he darted across and, seizing Sedgwick's ankle, lifted his foot, almost throwing

damn you!"

the other made no slightest attempt at reprisal. Catching up the lantern, which had rolled from his hand, he threw its li

the footprint,

small," grunt

ny peop

hr

n't shoot Mr. Se

circus-wagon man. He came later. But,

for?" demanded t

at, if you want to satisfy yourself further that he wasn't here. I'll let yo

breed mad

's the destroyer. Do you

" replied the a

ture," commented Kent with a smile. "Well, our night's work is done."

uh

ints, come and tell me who the body in Annalaka bur

or the lantern, Gansett Jim, now nine of Indian to one of negro

peared in the forest Sedgwick spoke. "Well,

"but we've done what's as g