Whatever could THAT mean?  Like so much scat on the trail, we look at each daily strip and try to interpret its meaning, blind to what might befall us around the next bend!

Name Sir?  “Uh, Jason…Smith… uh that’s right… I’m with the … uh… local paper… yeah, that’s it…”  I don’t believe him for a minute, but of course Trail does, since he, possessing a great Generosity of Spirit, always believes in his fellow man…

But did he call the paper AFTER getting shot?  Or before?  What shack out in the middle of a game preserve would have phone service?  Is that Ol’ Eddie sitting on something or leanin’ against a wall (damn the dialogue, it obliterates a clue!) Why does Smith need help?  Isn’t he the one with the vehicle (truck parked outside shack)  Or was he content to let the victim bleed out, not wanting to soil his upholstery?

And what of the fact that Mark is the only guy in the shack with a full head of Hair?  Facial hair can be a tip-off to evil (says the Trail brain) but the newspaper guy seem legit… perhaps Mark should ask him for his press card (or do they even carry those anymore…) Wait- this guy might not even be “from the local paper…” he probably got laid off and is still pretending to be employed while blogging for peanuts… so sad…