ted the
pistol as he saw Dick rushing to rescue the deed. In a few seconds it
was wholly consumed, and with that, as all knew, the last claim of the
Pogues on the property, for Caleb's own possessory was safe in a vault
at Downey's.

"Now," thundered Caleb, "you dirty paupers, get out of my house! Get
off my land, and don't you dare touch a thing belonging to me."

He raised his voice in a long "halloo" and rapped three times on the
table. Steps were heard outside. Then in came Raften with two men.

"Magistrate Raften, clear my house of them interlopers, if ye please."

Caleb gave them a few minutes to gather up their own clothes, then
they set out on foot for Downey's, wild with helpless rage, penniless
wanderers in the world, as they had meant to leave old Caleb.

Now he was in possession of his own again, once more comfortably
"fixed." After the men had had their rough congratulations and
uproarious laughter over the success of the trick, Raften led up to
the question of money, then left a blank, wondering what Caleb would
do. The good old soul pulled out the wad.

"There it is, Bill. I hain't even counted it, and a thousand times
obliged. If ever you need a friend, call on me."

Raften chuckled, counted the greenbacks and said "All right!" and to
this day Caleb doesn't know that the fortune he held in his hand that
day was nothing but a lot of worthless paper.

A week later, as the old Trapper sat alone getting his evening meal,
there was a light rap at the door.

"Come in."

A woman entered. Turk had sprung up growling, but now wagged his tail,
and when she lifted a veil Caleb recognized Saryann.

"What do you want?" he demanded savagely.

"'Twasn't my doing, father; you know it wasn't; and now he's left me
for good." She told him her sorrowful story briefly. Dick had not
courted Saryann, but the farm, and now that that was gone he had no
further use for her. He had been leading a bad life, "far worse than
any one knew," and now he had plainly told her he was done with her.

Caleb's hot anger never lasted more than five minutes. He must have
felt that her story was true, for the order of former days was
reestablished, and with Saryann for housekeeper the old man had a
comfortable home to the end of his days.

Pogue disappeared; folks say he went to the States. The three-fingered
tramp never turned up again, and about this time the serious robberies
in the region ceased. Three years afterward they l