Jim

s had shut down early, because the supply of logs was running low in the boom, and no more could be expected until there should be a rise of water. Some half-dozen of t

king the smoke, stayed outside on the plank sidewalk, and snapped at flies. The child, who was regarded as the m

lifting his gaunt length from a pile of axe-handles, and thrusting his fist deep into his trousers' pocke

ceeded to select a silver bit from the collection. The sig

money like that," he blurted out

and all Tug Blackstock's detective skill had failed to gain the faintest clue to the perpetrator. Suspicions there had been, but all had

ience stiffened up w

ng on a bale of homespun behind Long Jackson, and smoking solemnly with half-closed lids. His eyes opened wide for a fraction of a second, and darted one sea

Woolly Billy glanced about him, and shook

he repeated.

l no one but Tug Blackstock about his discovery. Seek

politely. "I love peppermin

ong Jackson, reaching for the box that held the pepper

oked apologetic

nd very much, I can't tell any

o one side, as if to convey that their transfe

ed sweets; then his red lips compressed

ck, of course," said he. "An' I don't

and angry at Jackson for trying to get ahead of Tug Blackstock. Jackson, looking annoyed at the rebuff, exten

n, an' of Tug's. An' there ain't no harm at all, at all, in yer showin' us this 'ere traysure what you've lit on to. Besides,

oolly Billy, I tell ye that, till ye promise to t

t Long Jackson with such fiery defiance that the good-natured mill-hand almost relented. But it chanced that he was one of the sufferers, and he was in a hurry

g Blackstock gits back, an' it'll save a lot of trouble an' misunderstandin'

and opened his mouth to reply, but at t

" he screamed shrilly, stamping his

rled upon the outside of the

long legs down from

g, an' do it quick. I don't want that there dawg comin' thr

he door and stepping back discreetly. As he did so, Jim came in with a rush, just saving himself from knocking

lly Billy, tugging at the animal's collar. An