The Argosy, October 1906 — page 140: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

= . : =e though I proved. myself innocent - of the murder of De Watines, I should receive scant courtesy from the-~ officials from whom I once escaped, and whom I shall _ have proven fools at their own profes- sion.” “You are quite correct. You have a most difficult problem to solve. It be- hooves you to move with every caution. What are your plans?” a “T have no really definite plans ex- cept to penetrate to this region where no- body goes. I understand that these peo- ple are absolute pariahs. They are shunned to such an extent that even a If one physician will not go near them. of the men is seen loitering in a village he is locked up by the constable on suspi- _cion. Thesidea is to make things so in- fernally unpleasant that they will move away. But they own the land and the only thing to do is to drive them out bY harsh measures.” “Then, alone, you propose to go among them? E “Yes, and use eyes and ears to the best advantage.” “Ts there nothing I can do to as- sist you? Would it be wise to have a reserve force?” ‘No. The reserve force must neces- sarily consist of officers, and the first thing they would do would be to arrest me. I will make this arrangement with you. This is Wednesday. I can reach Brewerton in your boat.- I shall proba- bly be at this settlement—I never even asked what it was called—some time this afternoon. Give me till Friday noon. If I am not here then, organize a search for me unless you hear from me direct.” “That is a good plan. bly between now and Friday noon f shall not see you.” “It is not likely.” Having made a good meal, not know- ing but what I might see the time I would feel the need of one, I returned _to my room and completed my toilet. As I came down with my pack, my back bent as from: years and incessant labor of carrying my wares, Mr. Pog- gitt smiled grimly. “Your make-up is superb,” he said. “Unless you discover yourself to them es, by some careless act they will not sus- ue ’ “~pect you. 2 Then proba-- THE AR GOSY. = He left the island. in charge of his foreman and took me to Brewerton in — the, launch. We arrived there at about — eleven o'clock. Mr. Poggitt at ence turned the boat back, giving me a hearty handshake and wishing me all sorts of good luck. I tried my disguise on the hotel man. He did not suspect, and purchased a few trinkets, some shoe-laces, and a comb. “Which way are you going?” he asked. “Oh, I go any vay. I shust go vich vay I like. I find a leedle grik here, _ I go along it.” se “Well, you'd better not. The Dalers will steal everything you've got.” “The Dalers, you ‘Say, mine frent?” *" Yes, they are a bad lot. — - They would knock you down ‘for a shoe-string.” = ‘Vell, I must-do something. I am — not avraid.’ eZ I plodded on, followed by his kind and well-meant remonstrances. I struck the creek, which was about ten feet wide and navigable for a good-sized row- boat, and followed a path along the right I passed one farmhouse, but as it ap- peared to be the *home of people of a good class I did not inflict myself upon them. I found that the creek had sev- eral turns to it, and the two miles in a straight line meant about three by this path. It was a lonesome walk. I passed forsaken hay-sheds and broken ‘fences. The country was good and had been well tilled. But it was evident that the presence of the undesirable people I was going to see had killed the locity, tem- porarily at least. At last I saw my goal ahead. And a collection of crazy huts it was. Surrounding woods had been robbed of their saplings. Huts had been thrown together regardless of location. The ground was swampy, and wherever there was a hummock that was dry, a house perched on it. Back of the settlement was a stretch of swamp-land with here and there an island, with a few trees, but for the most part a waste that could be utilized if the miserable wretches who now inhat <.- ed it were driven. A a See I learned “their history later.