The Barnwell people. (Barnwell, S.C.) 1884-1925, April 21, 1892, Image 1
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Lkua)., Mi feantlU* ami mis-
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'ne People., Pxi^e
[irt-aniik* and.;
cllamo*!-!—:—
Printing
Aeouted !*mr,r)t!ly al .l iii tin
ist It bolt tin; i'uh’t.i: 1
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4
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A. T, WOODWARD,
ATT ORNEY-AT-LA W
liarii«veil, S. C.
Munm to leiKl <M farmf*.—
Tovu, l<ii« Htul iiiii»rov* u >.;
Un,N l<*r hair. Will ;
•t • * uf c’i arcti Ai>'4 Uiaitf •
•a i h at d la,) /
tv ( Ui lift. ' ' : ',-1: •
/ *
-
"T‘
VOL. XV.
BARNV/ELL COURT HOUSE, S. C., APRIL 21, 1802.
* V %
Ho. 34
rrrivX -i-rv. r-.-i.rty -xwy?
Postmlsiress
CP
• Laurel Run.
* •/
, jo Y BRET H B R T n .
CopyJltfUt, tsw. b>- tlio Author. All Uiglits Ueserjed
Hi! o* v ; i ■
1 At‘ '.l t ' f i i! ’ V
C • • 1 ■ it
# I>! .u<* : :u! t•
plird the wko!'
Lqgrrga
n t v hi^tii you ui the leasts
r' 9 ^wr' fT 1 .
sent froin Laurel post oflicc. It *was a il.en, it t
inenu insiiHiatiou! She would sojtid in - -^t m> far as it # may relieve, you tuul
her resl piatioii at once! Site would {jet sonu: otiier^ 'ili.it theti partuientvliuo'VH
UilTJI^UBgT
hot ahd
■ r * t ; • J
The rotvtn wav.very hot atid very
qtiiotj, site cpu'M hear the vwijrpin.T
iiiiil creakimr of the shin jles under the
1 . She was
foreman < f
b..
wifQ- of .!• ’ri
the. ** boy’s 51 -to write an insult in jf letter equally well from a certain responsibil- r ,.* ;ix i, v , 0 f the nearly level sunloarav
’o r \q Somttor SlocumV»-ldrs. Balter had ity. and, perhaps anxiety We fire The o|.,ee cloeh stnielc teven. In tho
lakes the^eniihine idea f^f pwerniucnt us n pretty well post Pd down ther^ in all blV:il i,Kv>s K.Lneo that fV. lowed, a
purely personal institution—and shes that e<.>r.ce.rns Laurel Bun. and I think*
CHAPTi:?. L
for a year lyin^ tlisa'l in»(U‘'r h: i it mhe
of truslied. und heaten-in t and at
Htmit There had h . « f a, sUvi-
*deu . outcry from the depth’s atV rh,-* ohl
would fin'd iout who it was tiiat 1 uid put
them up to lids pryiivi, crawiinfr impu
dence! It was pi
ab! v that- wali-eyc l
hot notmtide one (lay, and .John’ had
The mail staj-e liad just passed Laurel rns | ie{ j f r om- his ehl.iu,- .his yonn^,
Hun. So rapidly that the whirling foolish, iiirtin;r wife eii^ 'iny to him,
cloutl of dust druyeyd with it down tho ^ an swor that de‘oaiian ; cry But
htcep grade from the summit hung over s .,f, rose suddenly with ay, Je fc.'-e find
how.** lie went; the mi n wore fr- i H —
wife of the post/haste? c<f Heavy•.
Tree Crossi-n'r, vfho v. as jealous of her. *
“Remind hoi; of their previous unan
swered eominunidation,'” indeed! Wliero
was that c mnuur.ieation, nay we v? She
rein, •.-nl.-ere 1 1 lie hud ■ vnt it to her ad-
tlav level
vanished.
i-rr--
•toTlif Trfm-
and tlien, driitiny
Tw'lh ivh T‘ 0 ht haw) “we've known all
about you and .John TTaTcer"• Wy only
bn me s her-'is. to take your place to-
n slit in ivedivi i;' the r omrtTtT«TS way
hmr,’ t. t you know arrives hero at
kruOr doesn’t it?”
“Yes. r," snid Mrs Baker, hurried
ly; “but it never has anything for ii<
ex’c'mt -”( lieeau/ht herself up quickly
with a stammer, as she remembered the
away,
slowly sifted a red precipitate over the
^ hot phfu'orm of tho Laurel - Run po^t
ofiice. •
t)ut of this elond presently^emerged
the neat figure of tlu* postmistress with
the mail ba;r which had been de.\t« rov.s-
ly flung at her ‘fret .from the bvpof the
passing vehiHe. A dozen loungers
eagerly stretched out their hands to as
sist her, but ijic warning: “It’s agin the
rules, boys, for any b’et her to touch it”
from a bystander ynd a coquettish
shake of the head from the postmistress^
herself~ j nui t 1 'more eiTcetive than any
oflieiiA Intenlt^t— : wHhheld them. The
l^agj^s not heavy- 1 -Laurel Run was too
recent a'aettlement to have attracted
much corfesp'vndencc—and the you!, j
woman, having pmiucoil upon her prey
with a ct rtatn feline instinct, ilragg-'d
it.t not—w^liov.t diCieuity, behird the
pn ru; ion i'll ihelosuro in the of.I aj aiTf
locked the d>*or. Her pretty face^mo-
inentxrlly vivIMe through the window,
xyqs -ulirrhy v tfuahed with the exertion.
\! the 1.• -e or is of her fair hair, wT
h per pifati u, curieJ then, riv-'s
r her forehead into tantalir.ing little
ilint tli# ■>. low Khu%t«r wait
tjnichly el and t 1 is inomen!xry hut
t^nniii’.q v: .ou withdrawn frv.:.i t..c
xvui’it ^ pul !i •
•MI nrkuert otighter have more sense
than to moke a u mm p;« k tnn.l bags
o. i% r the road,’* katd J<» r'.unn 'tis, 4-yin-
p. 'tt.etieaHy ***i: r:t in her i*'y’s
w rh. •tw; r <T r m-1 %-r t
’em ov. r t<> her 1.. a lady, it» riyii
enough and ne’y n 'jugl,.*!
**’Tain t govern.:i»
ceinpiioy o am. an«l y
a newcomer. “Thu;
line to s*w b.'B .i I v
take thc'.r dust j*
air.’t in their o <n
Lrit she had waited for him ever suiee.
Yet in the shock of the eulam.ty and
in t!ie after stYiiaglcs of that poviwty v.
which had come to the ruined camp
she had scarcely change (L Riit I ho
men had. AUhOugh she was to all
appearances the . same giddy, pretty
Betsy Brtker who had been s > di turb-
in^g to tlie younger members, they
seemed no louge.r t > be
her. A certain subdued
spect, as iLthe'mai tyixd spirit of John
'Baker still held his arm around her,
mirer at Uiek' rv lliil. Odd that ho
■•b.u! nTTmi \v. idylt Of ctTtrrve-. he>nevv ci^Tmc'Mfis-ru’si m-e.-ogmi:il.ulIe.nngtLL~
dll about this meanness—could he too
woodpecker to,.i< up his interrupted
ivofk on tlie roOf, ami seemed t • beat’
out tnoix toriously in her car.tho lact
words nf thed>trauger: SiaBtoa Gr ca—
a tl ief! Slant n Green, otto 6t tips
“hoys” John had helped out of tho fall
ing tunnel Stanton (Ireon, whoso old
mother in st-Ae* still wrote letters
to hinutd, LaurelTl’n'ri. in a'fuw houra to
be a disgraced and ruined man forever!
sW remembered now, ns n tnoughtlcss
vvoin :i nnlumbers, t'.les of his c.\-
ehange.d a’ the sight of the . whdJ, dg-
termined fnc'g th; t ha.d never lob’ .
o^»*e I. ..?<*: . • h.h.n'bv.t wo** u.ved rgon %
•lar f 'e bag, who • * .v.vning.in wr..,
ft ill open an 1 proppgtl up beside [Liu
d es^.. _ -> 1 _ ,
‘•Y.’hrro is the. f irough money l>tfer
thnt c.wiar 'tn thut t.ig?** she said, -
(juk lily. *•
“What—df>—you—mean?” he stam-
.merrd, wi’rrn, face that hdd -sud kvnly
{pr e.vn whiter t’uuj lier own.
“I mean that it’s a tleedy, eheehod at
Heavy Ye e C’ro ing, and.that Mr.
Ilome. of I i 1 !
fn r at my ofiice for .to krunv if you have
• a it.”
disturbed by
a've a■ i i i • ‘-
Itave. dared to suxpeet lier! '1 he thought
durued her m ini ;.»n again. ’ lie, Stanton
(Irt'en*was an «)!d ‘'Laurel BurAicr," n
ifrk ad of John’s. La li tie“U iijin* ” an 1
“presooinm',” but still an old loyal ph>
neer of 11 - ; **Why hadn’t he
-■
'i heye was the soft mnfdeth fall of a
horse’s h ( f if) t!.e thick of the
hi Sr.v. v, th ■. j: ge .of dlsjmnriting
spurs, pad a lira! tread on the platform.
“exeept a notifleation from
Hill post o'llee. It leaves there,” she
went on. with an alTeetation tif preci
sion, “at hh!f-post ei dst exactly, and
it’s al>out an hour’s run—seven milch by
road."
“Hvactly,” snid Mr fforno. “Well, 1
will receive the bag. open It-jind »lis-
pateh it a gain. You can, If you choose,
take a holiday.’*
“But,” said Mrs.
The InuMi and lie that he had at. fiE.sl
rnrr:rT:Trr~ar>Tr yn :I ■ i^'r,\tth rrrrrd’*r^/ : Tv-To' i v iTh”r~TT\?~
she had taken no heed, and, with n never r-u hiuKH m. 1 under the
sense of shame, of presents sent her sjiell of h.er rnxl, trut’ ful fe.ee, he
that, she-now clearly saw nr.u.t, have tur.'ed •» tm .enieaMjr to his desk
it; it'«* thr.t
mh's.” Intern!.•w'tl
think ti m ditv
seeincd to have cottv* upon them all.
Th.ey held their Breath ns this pwetty
woman, whoso brief mourning had not
seenlcd to effect her cheeriuhu s or
even playfulness- <J spirit, passed be
fore them. But sh« stood by her cabin
and the camp—the only woman in a
icuimniiut uf ^rty. m.-a--- J ’•
darkest hours of their fortune, help
ing them to wash and cook au l mbi-
i>t> r1egto ttioir domestic i:‘•■•Is. Tiie
snuetitv of her cabin -was, however, al
ways kept as InviolaII* us if it' h ’d
been l.ii tomb. No one cxa' tly knew
w liy, fir it was only a tacit irst.inet;
but even ore or two vie h lit
. . I • . .• : f > L • . h
during J 'tti B - hh* ►. .. . i ...
ev n u ‘. eggestion of f • a” nri'y i ov;.r i
tho woman \v|v» h i'i sit t !».,.•
would “wnit f whim t-. re. *
\' r i ■
sett.cinel.t e ; l i-* T .• .• J i .•, •••■ ,
. f :■ I "I a j? giii >4" aup.ii d ‘h i 1 k ■■n
hurrtc^ up * » r--.. ,vu tac ►%.! 1**-
h'u.ruere I and hwked-up w i lth *>f
Burnt llUlff**, th# ne. !« • f V •> con;-
vibt, one .of the boys returning for
.]u.«nt ii rc > irks u-ntler the
her »mi a.
j'le tieji.re, and she h
i i ‘c*uyotin’’r. • Vnd’,” Imt now
er top ’ur out her wr >n r s to
:.it r. .%!:•'had h^r handdra-
n th<! Tlw..r (f t!.u partition
will* ;< n-“.v ,caso of
. . < . . > con
tieen far heypnd .his tncpjas. VYiiat
would the hoys sny? What would, John
have said/ Ah! Avhat would John liavo
done! - -•
She started suddenly to her feet,
white and edld as on that day tlirt slie
had parted from John Baker before tho
tunnel. She putvsn her hut and man
tle, and going to that little Iron safe
mut of the superior luisiiro . t }, ut tl . „| tlie corner, «nlo-Led it,
and t'M'k out its entire eonf.i'i’ts-of gold
and : liver. She had ruaeheiT tiio d<K>r
when nneChcr i lea kcI.-a l h* f, and
Balder, ns she re
membered that Laurel Run nlwavs
made a point of utteri hug her evening
levee <>n a
ht B •.•’■ I - “1 o.-i-w .-ire the people who
r -* conic for letters, you know ”
“I thou *ht yon said there were.no
letters at that Luiu,” haul Mr. Home,
quickly. . .,* -
“No— bet—butr—”(with s slight hvs-
t • : ■ ai) — ‘ 'l ..e boy conic all
the same."
“Oh!" said Mr flnrie. drylr
andto‘d;out.:jp.i ka 'e.'v
“Good (loti! Y*nu'vo opuntd it - rl-
rendy!" r.ha cried, pointing to tho
broken seal. — ~ v .
d’lie preralon dtu hrr X.'c A , raAre
• thar» nnyliiin * she had saM, e ’. vin -ed
him that ■ he l.new all.
under thb new ahvrm t
i*ig t ne • e, e “V
somo hill.-- the colhv'
W
lie re
thin.
f r the m
■ from tho p
I !e sf ii'iiaered
it her do ;K>hr-
r ! v. a>«<vv i.. j
r \ya< waiting
1 took sbme-
But I was r;t>
o]>rnifig h r desk sho colleetud h< r
stamps to the h< d sliret, and hurrietiiy
r< ihai them up tmder her cape. Then,
with a glaiwe at the el a rypid,
survey * f the r >: i fr> ei tin* plutfpriii
sh»* s'ip;**' 1 frotn if, iiml seeiqqdTo l>o
I i ("> Mi ^1*
—'I '1 • p H. 'L
"-fimV p LI
. |( n •. \ \ # K I -L r?
1 i;vV 1 !
IV - * 1 , V- ’ jT/r"
“And—(> l*qrd!” But here the xpectv swaHowud up pi the W^itli^jpAvooda be
■ r !'-• i msible dlaeOtnfilure of yond.
Laurel r.’.m at meeting the bearded face ' .
C^'d A P’i I U IT.
frier, llv shadows oj
>f Mr It. :n ” IhsT A *ld of‘hrr min sm«»th •
j /_■
t i-
JL
■man
I.
ag 1.
f
inanity nnd the
John Baker wt*
cd Quarters t
i t
dais
iU
‘ of
f_l
non
r\r.u vou to real n?"
her w.w'’.. * *rs? But h#rs
) t wv'W •U J- A
r v
f
sr.d
to
w at
bi
evn
f t’
to
* 1
mils
d t:
igti
• even ns s; -iv in* -laor was p
U eoveut pmv. ! ir< :n th'* a
inn-t<‘r a? Bur: t tL-’ «* e
|<fo!d “-Js- b * ' li and •
1 l »
■
an.ably — ui .-u.rit.
Thief# were sew t •*i‘l -
of w hieh tire we» e f.’r le r - •
the proportion wn, smi i the.
Two of* them were rr.arkv
business," and were pro:r;!>f
with fvuiii.hi,' <:.• •
4t
felt
l.rasx wai
hi Nia-. l t
other .cptnpui Uncut Itnau t’.-! 1. >!dirg
tlie presents. • Then the shutter w.:-.
opened and tho task of delivery com*
mo need.
his
. *f r5 Raker.** h#«a!d,
, ...... ...s !.at Nrca ly in his
rr^* rforre, of San Fr>T)e?s , *o.’*
. • his eyes «wpt appr win dy
..t »n<> are. the prhnly-tied
l well kept pigeon Uolet; tho
vers f n her desk; her china
■. and hilling lilt! * chip hat,
is ha.. • ;g * *.. . t the wall;
lier own p.nk, flushed fnee,
tt? ey> s, t« firtwed citi.guig
c n f d up n t iB Icwtli^cu
.1 !; * .. .• I the t.. I•!•.*.
.•t. me fixed on the m ? a ta-
of tl,w ;in.or(*ns exprl man
nm i: ‘d liaagiii'f from the
? f * T I , ... ! ' , » ^ I
Lt > Oi Iti*' i «AS.a iiO .aLvi
ruv^ril it.
.d:er was before him.
checks, at the window, combined with
her r.ervoxs • xeit**nicnt. overvalue her
so t’aat, t nruwang he^ bttie frilh'd app u
<»v?r ii« % r head, s!ie ga-ve way to u parox-
of liyst w. -al Iriu/hbT Mr thoufa
wait ! with a'nvjw*<i t"lora*l 'O for it to
s’, g. und when she hat rt*e<iv*rcd re-
i> • j. 1 “Now. I shoal I like» v to refer
an ijist mt to my first e t-nniunieatiou to
yo-i Have you g.*t it han!ly' > ”
Mr*. Bjkur’a L.u f:ll “No, I *cr.t
ft over to Mr tireen, of Hickory lliil,
for information.**
“What!"
Terri‘led nt the audfVn verlousnesa
of t lie man* voice, she man*g»*d bi gasp
out, h everer, that, aft^r her usual hat^
it. s.iv» ha in t o* -ned t%v oflicul let-
. t r. s, lit h • I sei.t th* m to her more ex-
eri' ‘1 colleague f.*r udvieti and m-
nxliotv. that s!i# never could under*
tv] them ftersclf They made hrr
-I r ’e and interfered with her
»r duties; but he or.derstood them
tent her uror 1 what to do Remein-
i.. /, a! o, his usual •*} 1c of ludursu*
cm them.*
i!<»nie, with •
it ti few mo
his beard ha
Ixned woman.
M s (taker, k>s,s-4k
y to ymi than I had in-
Onee w Itbbvtln
the loiur b. it , f j.% . Mi, Ikiker kept
t!>*mi until .!,e 1 rd left the limit, d s t*
I!• "tii.•!'t «*f L.unc 1 Lnn f ir r» the rigid,
and e'.me np -n mi open rhuH* of B irnt
Rid t*. where fch * knew Jo Finmni.i-’
mustang* Itlno l.igldning. would Ik-
quietly feedil./. She hud oft. n rid-h'n
him In fore, and w ln-n sj'e had deta* lied
the fifty-f* 'Friata fr>nn TiifhvJel ’all,
he |.« rui’ited her the further ryeognued
fadilllanty of twtr.ing I'er’flrrger- in I *s
bluish mane and climbing.»u itis ba a.
The too* sued of Burnt Rl.lge tunnel,
w hero Jo's saddle and bridle always
bun *. w as but a can*, r further on. Sh.*
yon to make i-.j'self rich, end to bo
;i i>l<‘ %... r yo eahomC and take yoil
uwT»y fru:'n > r.hurv'd Run, It was rVU’fq?;
y.n'j it v.. .';!1 r>r lore of you, Bet.7^
rev liarlhi.'. h:-ten. to mo." T- .
In .the ft,;-;.-, i.ntra ;od sen sihi’ity, Ir-
di na<i'irf .y . h lag.* disga^tkrtt CiTed
her 4rtH-' 1- 'y iN—momeTrt, ahit
! h.ui! 1 !.•■'; • ! . ur. br *.*, imperi •
•lesa-lilv . I e r ding. Bxit (Jo»l
i at 1 S .1 s::'.'*rinT
\ .'l only v.rit’i 0
her .hat: l from Iris- :--p xvitlrchiklisU
contortl.»nv; k’u* i n. I only glare nt»
him with s th t were prettily an l
plqua^itly br:]ii’at; shire uild4>«fy.slap
at hi • de’ ;ie.iii'* ha;: 1 with n plump nnd
VeI . ah/4-.'..n. an.l w,: n .sin- found he#-
v.: ' ;■ 'v ; r- rvrrr-'TT-^niraTi hir>"’
• v \ . ‘ t. I Ye 1.10 bo, loot;ey,
or I’ll ; cream
He as- e, with a wn:,k. ror fused laugh,
‘ .1 UXl half
of real aiug'r and shr.in A . .*
“Vi h;;t did ytdl eomt* riding over hero
f' g. then? V. l.at did you take nil thin
risk fi^rlL Why did you rush over hero
tq^fiare r: / di grace, for you are a.-*
much mixed np with this now as I am—
if you uidnT 1 ..icuhd.e !•> fehtre erery-
Ihi: g c]> • w ith me? YiTmt did you.
com • here fqr.Mhen, if not for me?’’
‘•V.’hat -did—.>mc here for? \Ycll!t
1 came here f r J oh n Baker’s sake!
John Baker, Who at *<1 between yoa
iir.d d 'nt’.i at -Burnt’ Rid/e, ns I stand
betwet a you :p 1 damnation nt Laurel
L m, r «i; Yes, .1 dm Uakj r, Ij--
i-Hg wvW-Italf oLihiiiot Ihulgi!, liutnuiro
t » in,* t! N d, iy than nny- living murs
crji’X’brg ov. r it In In—*’. Olq fatal
cl A 1 th of Mird.i v ! Whet
i u«
livin’ wifo to carry ors
d.-
. -$1
. ! c .. I
John Bak f
T 1
’u nt-ut i.i
u-* t<» tnah'u
• ** a
“Ilow miK
•M *;,lv a tr
tmaii. 11 uoxrv
I »wear
\. m
.ther
>r
i»h it
1M!
1 r.
p.a
ht I
V V
n\-t t
f .1
.. * t
ra
rrt.
she pew rd again.
p I* t ’
•*r
•*A«
id wh. t d.d ha say?”
ft 1.1
.n •
“N*
Ailing; be d lri t r.'t:
!r o r ;
•X
••X*
ittn I’.'.y,” said Mr 1
1! vr i
th
r-f
'•mil
• r c.xpre«* i m Afh
a * .»
ii-
li*.
•..*
»* si’.'-ut *trokiut* of
PCX!
Ta
•By fa cd the fright
1.
Which h
in rrnrirt 1
:il th
tl tin* next
•ctrtnir over
a. t’
d »
I t
foot
work this time, ui.Tybe, Mr. Green; hut
his work, nnd for him only—precious!
'i’hnt’s v. !iat I enmo her%* for; that’s,
what I li\ • f .r! t’.iat’* wh^t I’m wait
ing f< r t>! ngtoliim und Ids wark|
ulw.iv . That’s mo—lU'tsy Baker!** *
* f
Fhu.>v*Ba ! up and down rapidly, ty
ing h. a r thh> hat uah'r her chin
Th •!» M ' ** ;v*b and, taking her’
cluiuiois pur-' (run her pockbt* laid iB
sharply on the it*‘*M.
“"taoto!*iin en, don’t l»e n fod! IliiO|
Up out of this, und be a tnan* ugain.l
Take rno i 1, out o' that l^ag to I*®.'*)
what you owe the gov’ment, tend lot
y »ur resignation, nnd keep tlie rest Ur
start yoti in an hnomt life rls(»*w Uerr.i
But light out a* Hickory UiU afore thiM
nm.**
1 h**r m;
a
“You »r<* fcoln"?** hn said, bitterly. *
••Yes.” Hither s!i# tsmld not hold
serl »usne*s Idig la h.*r capricious liltki
fancy, or, w ith feminine ts* t. s!m»
•ought t * in.al.rt tlws partin/ les* difil-
i*H l t f r him. for sho broke into a daz-
rling . nd*. “Yes, Ihn tn»in* to nmJ
I.Iu* Li ;htn'fig agin Charley and thaft
w. . 1 *t U to Laurel Ruu, and b re air
Uuu! tem
intle from tho wall
l
r t?r
cU :
; vt n
,, kv>-r*
if vrmaUon
•n!!!!^.! sas;
ha!
l
i Q-t* e unwittingly. I be- *
to a man OT
‘•t*ofpecu- ° : -
ixe, with* nt l.nowlng it,
‘mxster utlliukorT Hill r; ''
drd, nnd. ns you might ‘ !l
• f; • 1 oar plant for Lacing a
us • f ernbcz/’ciotnUs to their proper
•e.'. v >n w ill sec that y »u might
• ubo«! me great wrong to yourself
la, ouly r.gighbor nn I t!ie next ro*
■Ndo pel*, n In plain word*, wn
t .1 the ditr.py aran.-o of money
er* to a tv>*;it vYarn it !• *s between
• te • >l !• -e*. -N^rw-. | hare riot tlio
t be-.t.g.ion in^tyTTi'! f you tiut wo
. A ► t f .-.urcl Run, and never
> * is r-i-t. B it. Even Hie result of
r thou* Id h-'f act, ulthonghil warned
•ji-: ms our nusrsi ion of his gn» U
Lo t!iu warning, it lu.s failed, or ho
er rvn f*‘ " ’ • <, for i.u Bier lett'r
flirt I
tape fastfliiii, - were 1
limucii 'i 1
•• % 1
I. “N
give nn* *• •m« thi?ig In n
JO 1 •!
no u brass *»uim
l wH/ht, an<l
the xim * feverish tm
t c..|k*c
tc 1 h.t
Tvr ;T*pnt it in pr)**r. -ne
, «4#4#i
it, nnd, : ddiv :*i • it 1
n a Inr
V prill
hand t » her- df . t Laui
r. 1 UIU
. dro.»j
t
.1,
f;
!
.f t
I ,
was aeeoTtipanievi
social
i<H‘ulixritp»atl - ttt-^uid in time become a
inbH-^of Laurel Run. A- the y. u: ;
•iivered the sjlters in turn to
v wrote ."tiers, v■. a :..e re-
ver, tl at t e^ ' ite *b*-
diennisly apd su;. iei, usly in e 't* of
tho.se received. To e> iviat * t!ii*. i ! t
I'rrtie* made foiv d journexs t * ILek-
ory Hill, tlie r.ext i t < h , wit'i .li
ters jukI circulars a«b.re .i %•> them
selves at Laurel Run Ih w long the
extravagance wouM have eon* "nurd is
not known, but it was not until it was
rumored that, in consequence <>f thb
e.\ec ; ive I’a'W ( f bu-.ness the depart
ment had concluded th.lt a [ - t iierk r
would be better fitted for the place that
abated, nnd a eomnvnnihe was cf-
d u itli t!:e g ncral othee by a per-
uiunt'ntxalayy to t!:e j'ost: , ‘re.s.
ha'd^just^fiwN.hed her cftclrnoon
levce^^*mlded a smSdng “go ■d-Ur” to
, her last (U^M^nii r aial o*-. -! her s'l :! %-*c-
agahi. Then shsgtook up luJrdbwB U t-
Jng them rshneec!
lo M , <
l »t inJuT arms. She had been
Empied and bewildered to re-
nr t intrusion behind the p -.r-
tition, but lids hi "t fennllanty w ith her
sacred c hi i;.l property—ullnHl empty—
cap;- 'd the climax of her wrongs.
“How dare you touch it?” Sho said,
indignantly. “llo.v dare yo’i ooitw in
here? Whoarayou, auyvvuy? Goout-
at onee’’
The Ktranyer fell back with an amused
deprecatory gesture, ntrl a long, silent
’ nigh. “I’m afraid you don’t know me.
ho said, pleasantly. “I'm
Harry Home, the department agent
from the Sun Francisco ofli -o. Mv note
of iuivav.
. t !io» ( nvcj.
■■ t—.rr-edr-b
V. l! h'
seems to have been inis-
1 -ince T<>-right, how-
• c*t.e all doubt in the matter
n tint br. r la this oQice to*
I <1‘* not find a certain decoy
h;.s been m
ever, ill se
Y' l.en I one
night
letter in it which was last * aeelied at
lit rvy 'i ree Crossing. I shall know that
it remrirfs in Grueu’s possussioa at
: . . v Bill.**
She was sitting hack in her ehuir,
wh’te nnd breathless. Ilo glanced ut
her kindly, aial then took up his hat
“Come, Mrs. Baker, deuT let li»is worry
the sky, hut t’ e ;^* wr -‘id t*. •
th.* C•'d l reath *-f night, i * sii
Ur.ew it. had not yet liegvn
down the m mnfnln The lowei
of Burnt Rid/e W..v*tiM istiecdij
the creep:itg hhadew of t!i * to
ahead « f I r. V.t^hout a wat
wit!» this familiar nnd s’ nvlv <!(
iii.il S| r; I out before 1; r, >!u
the time t i a uiinnt • H e y »•
a ! >*r h i d t in d. ‘
r adv w :p*al out by that -ha h \
fin ■ r h..!f i . \ !evi n!
would be at IHckoiyrtli
hr.'.f past i i,ht; i iie on*, hi
it, if po-; ibie—it would s*r:
to change hor v cs—she m
in .v:
iU.i »± _ A*1
4^
man.
>f t!
sh
.,1.
t
hill.
An attitndo o
f.^dish [• i* ion
hi* former tremulous f<
exc ledlv, 'but without
Baker wijssl her Tie »U
1 tr lad li, •. a'id sh. -ok
n and
Mr
rt
llu*
h t b.-
so.
j Ik re was a , n
f re the r.se of
Blue Light rang
thr.t was mueh
und fluttering ri
■ d two-ml!"
.I:e iu \t ran '•
T\a^^^-kn«
for t!v• lit!le
bans well be
over the bluish mane, and the
spiraling, ey,
ilin r motith a
r*. Bah-vr:’*
t put Tier flri
lip , und threw u i
nnd enigmatical nr
chievons fu'ee.
‘ idlere’s n big San Francis
Inkin’ my place ut Lmnvl
Charley."
“Yes, ina’aih.**
“And it’s a pity that the
way bag happened to get sue!
ing up ai*(l bano
in/ h re.’’
“iii.r
“I say,” continued
to
into frr rTTi i
name <»n
with a orot
t tlie two'
fiv iah,efi.velooi i . add. . eiPHo. herself
wliich s!:e had shelved, h iiey wen^pon-
ered-’.v a lot ( f new rules (?) or m-
-crttiree*. ee-—H o--iH'd” 4{ne ,V-.oe-w hieh-
Joli.N;
WILL
UKP.K.
WAIT TOlt
huid !'
onlv
ache,
turned f r tv-
brows rind iiwg
’ er pr:v:'‘“ (
open the 1. ‘ ri
fie. it eui i. •'—* t
tlie men who were patiently draw n up
in Indian file, she made that simple act
a medium of privil '.• l but 1 invited con-.
versa lion on s;;e.eial or general top’-s—.
guy'or serious us the » :-e might 1 e—
or the L'tnperament <u Ibo man .sug-_
gosted. Tliat ,4t ur*. almost'ulw.i.- of
u complimentary thaiaeter on their
part, may, be readily imagined; but -it
was invariably characterized by an <‘le- 1
n.ent of reiinod restraint, aiid, w lu'ther ' V; S <■ •*“
from some implied understanding or in-.
divylUftl sense of honor—it never passed
the lypunds of eonvenb-Miality or a e.-r-
raia deli.a.vof rc-p.-ct. '] lied, livery
wax, conse.quently» .more or le-.s pro
tracted, but wdicvr each man had' ex
changed his thr.*re t>r^fonr minutes' eon*
vi’r-.itioh w .tW t h-- fair p-t m:-* •-•'s«-a
eomcrsiitioa at tunes inipodeil by basfi-
fulne.*s «*r tltHrlity.yn his-part m*!, iy,
or-re>tricte*l oftedCto rTgoo-MiiIiuig—hJ
resignedly made w uc for thwiwYt. It
. tv^hft formal ievoe. mll!J^»*d bj, tin? in
formality of ru»tM tact, p,? -t v *•
I * '-Ci *p u a'. .;*b^ i te . p.. iv a c c, -■ — *
h't'*do do with Luurgl Run, and
■red lier ;;;. ! “'in;; e 1 t head
had u-ually referred
them to her ndmimig o*' gl-.lavr at li'ick-
drj’ Hill for e\p!ana1 ion, who had gen
erally returned them to her with the
brief ind<UVenjent: “i’urp stufi’; don't
bbther, ” or ’* ! I eg w a'
'rem* rulsf’rfn- row t!
hi:
•t
ltd- It slide.”.She
he b:. V : Y- -
-AVitJi knitted
• • • • t . 1- ! -
n in her fright and astonishment
it fl ht d upon ?-h‘x. Be.kvr that she had
fc#;d thf!11fieo, too. -to iliekory Hid.
■i: it with iLall tlie feminine seer' tive in-
stln-t vvilhia her wa- now thoroughly
kept silent. .
I os; -.it t » have explained,” lies went
. A * . . ...
on^'r.’fkviiy.; “nut you uro qu.v ri ;ijt,
dnr. ilkkcr. h » ao led;;nodding toward
- Ing —f ^ .■ y-ou knOw,—l -had
x.o aNid'' s tlVgo n-.'ar it. Glad to 'rt"
yon kmwys^o'v t > kidfend Fnel * Sam's
])•*. rty wtsih I iviSjo-mly;.t hit puz
zled .to kn-wv” (pHftHng t>><tb(! wire),
“if- that thing wa* oVCii-o b;qjs\)hen it
was (;<-live red to you/
Mr* Baker saw ro ren^efn tcfNcone'-
t down'
sirenra
in'' gauze of her mantle, ulmost level
with ihd horse’s back, swept down
across tj;e h^ng table-land like ft ! kim-
rning bluojay. A few more bird-iihe
dips upymd down the undulations and great gravity and dancing eyes, “that -
;Tte.-
omuibiLs
rou..d »11i v*a.s’ , v*'ua■
[rs. Baker, v.itlu
tlveiTi ame tlie long, cruel aseu.nt of the
Divide.
Acrid with perspirali%n, caking with
dust, sBthering in the slippery impal
pable powder t,f therom], groggily *':ig-
gering in a red, dusty dream, nigh'ng,
snorting, head tossing, becoming sud-
denty dejected, with slou hiiig ha inch
xnnd limp legs on easy slop. s. or wiully
spftjanodic and “agile on sharp accliv
ities, Mid Blue LighYidng began to have
ideas iindCAJenllectionsl Ah! she was a
devil fdr aUgrk—this Irghtty-etinging,
caressing, btarhqi'ing,* cooing ereatTire
rAMiivYnh>lTe< 1 her now.
it worltl be jn - 1 awful if that keerful
city clerk found thing-, kir<.der mixed
up inside when lie conn s to open it. I
wouldn't give him trouble for tlie
world, ( barley!”
’“No, ma’ain, it ain’t Idee you.** .
' “So yon‘11 be parlieulariy careful on
my ngcoitnt.**
“Mrs. Baker,said Cliarley. with infi-
r.iU* {rravity. “if llu:t laig sho'idd tumble
<d7 a dor.' n tiuies-bv tween this nnd lain-
IVrbap* ow -
mt t!»o grad# of Um#
Laurel Hill w.m iu
; •.he could aTo'.d the
t * tho kuiamit
. or thalow ing to thu
h*u!ti#x it* the ear-
.» '—which h.. l to
I i.a.L r Che win i Is of
■nvl the Lamspl Rnu
j». t >fil,s! h th'* c* 'h haulers c.uot*
Irotting up the hid. Mr. HuaiJ w a_. al
ready on the plat f »rtn.
“Y.*mT» have to ballast your next way-
bag, 1 .’’said ('Uatley, gravely, as it
* >1 bis i-lut dies once.morv in t!*e
»hi t of th • road, “or you’ll have to
make a new V-eitrad with tho company
c’v.‘ 1 t t- u mi utes in five mdckovcr
that W. U , ”
Mr. I r r.u-did n.«t-reply, but quickly
drag o*d hi • i r’./e i:d > tlie 'lillce, scaree-
1\ n i.* f ’Ir,. 1*r, who stood b,*-
sM.-lo.i » ie and breath le s. As tho
b It I f th* 11, r wax drawn, nwculing
it - eh . % irt.-riTT, Mrs. Baln r gave a
little h Ilo i* glanced quickly at
her. ct iot! -I tlie bu r t;d*ou the 11 -or and
j ' dad i p the br-deen und half tilled
m • .‘-y pare'!. *1.4**1 he eoIU*ctcd th.o
scattered «*•.'.:.* an l counted them. "It’J
j: ! j-? it, Mr.*. L iker# lie sa.d, gravclj",
“lie’s safe t.ii,. time!”'' .
“I’m • » gla l!” said little Mrs. Baker,
with a hyp lentieal gasp.
• “So am I,” return- .1 Home, with in
creasing gravity as he took the coin,
“ibr, from all i have gathered thi» uf-
r.. • . ' - ’ --
l«'j
/ \ v l \\
H)T)
the trtg.h.
-.r
nn
:M<1
\ ft r tins of!l irt! was a
in I v *'• ,»••!!.- ", and il w t* »*■ as
! ’ that ,.e i . 1 uao . n i her
;■ ' ■ ■ . ' the .1 . . li ' S
■ . : - , ’■ tty
ttlsh ; - ' ■ - i. • 1* “lie
•r.s d- rt *'» t • * ' , ..-g'n -!!•■.■:’ • (.m
t.vith'tiie wire w hen ..v- fling's
GOING TO TIrK UTTI.K IKON SAFK TI
\t t VOOIV IN TUT. CORNKK.
yon.>v As I to!.| you at first, you have
n r king'd'" fear liven your thought
lessiicss anaHgnoranee of ruleslnis con-
r. 1 Hill, i’ll hop down and pick it up*
tnyself.” ~. . ~
“Thank you! shake!** I* I
They * ho .!< hands gravely aero? > the
w indow ledg-'..
“And-you ain’t goin’ down with us.
Mrs. Baker/” .
“of course, not- it wouMn'l do—for I
ain’t here don’txj c»u see?”
•“(if course!”
Iuiuded him the bag through the
sumrniL The eveningstar had just door. NN't -ok it carefully, but i:i spit •
pricked Itself through the golden mist < f his gtxgt pTT'suition fell over it
ofThe horizon line—<*i,':ht o’el.M'l;! She twice <1 IgNAv. y. to t he road, where
Rut k.ere, sIidd-'ilf'/ThcT ‘ Tro’a'c.ert riU'CiteliilliatiOUS and shouts
-^lip there!
Ha! very well, then
suddenly hsming out -I
bucking, trotting hard, nn
walking oh three
hiiir-elf- as onlv a ('aiiiorniuripun rrsng
coaUN the invinciTiITtai'xBlqe Bi.gitmng'
at hv t stood triumphajitly upon t!ie,,.
And,
a mb Idt,
; Hditly,
rv'gyeatitig
1
f
.Ng F ILNj
NT J -'W^
ipex
“You’Ka Ai
mddXp it now’
lirst !h-'U.;J i'-M
ize.l li'T. S'!u* knew
r..
\our o\yn innocence. 4 . j,, wbjHn (-lie
.1
rule
I’m- frown deepetu'd
and became fixed.
47” AgMu tiny
opeia-d t lie others
on her !>!»
It wax a summary of certain valuable
money letters that Ti d nl^earrieil on
the route. :ind of'Xvhie-li. th. y hadg.v. u
hr' i- in fori H; iv j. *11. d »r a hi*i-
'n! »vt h« *- «.vs .1 i, -i. I,. >w . ire
tfi.V. *vh-.t din tj V mean? Her wav-
!• k ;k pmi r. < - 1 *. "• C ne-. it ..id;
si ..- kt.cw the' nan. -s •>(. c. gv nmn,
.. ' , : d. . !’iilt , 1 1., r d.-lr..l:*nn
pretty
*-df lr Itis eyes on h
t h : 1U* i4.«. . 't pihuman
on* f< ?!v. “As long as he
I01110. w
at. seemed *
or uir^RrUinab
d<K's:i’tmcq.i!c withiiie inside of the bag,
I suppose vofNmust, put up v\ ith it,” ho
s;. . I, la :u --A.«h i !isj ,re • - : *-
t ion t hat the H u-’aoiht. H ill ’ |*osini'as.ler
irel i »'d tiie. ttidi. e of the bag to con-
vev ids f .* .'c:*- *. ca ‘a. c • * Ikt. It
- tribui.ed.to
N b Iy *v ill evci* be'vth-g w ist-r for tlux.
\Ye d'f i .ot ad vi vti>e ouY aiTuirtt in tlie
d **<!• nt N.-t a soul but yourself
knows the ng .1 c'/uxe of' my visit here.
I-will ! a\o you iA. re'sil-.tnu for uwhilj,
»e> as to divei t-any suspicion. ' You wall
t-.me, ris usual, this even wig, and Im»
Keen by your friends. I wii only l»o
here v. lten'thc b;ig arrives, to open it
Go d-bv, Mrs j’.aloT; it's a rauty bit of
bushn-.ssl but ilT 0.11 in the dav s vv«*rk.'
her horse, sh,. knew the t
herself but d*d sh»* knu.z the - mnh-
■au, s ie Uliv-V
A cold c
eren* -
>ver her, afid llielK^lit' shivered in
a sudieii blast; fight at last,
swooping down froniNHic. i;ni i’-i:
.'sierras, and p. ■sse.*wrn e g..cll TW tou *ke<B
it s emed that a Rka i;i.’. * Table mis-,*
chnne*' attend.-d its clcvgtion to the
b »v.t. ‘1 hen-Mrs B o. r cam .*• back in
to- t h ofii : n.R as flic wl.evjbC rolled
away, threw h
iiietui' i -tent! v
tl!
t on*
•self ifit > a ci.nir,
mve - way for the firs'
’v:i! - st of te^rx. 't hen her
hand was grasped xr.ddeNv,
w: r
1
V ou!.i licVi-J ■ t
.fr.v r i.sT have s:
for-Gie • -1. I rv
~r .b i rr:ij, LaN rei
eoivn-ss it no«
•wn .so:n.
! *’ ,
Her
‘M-Xf.
Tfrt—ti-
.M-curgly on it s win, 'NIalf-past eight
'I’lie lights of the settlement were jnat
ahcadaif her, tmt sp. to<v w ere the’two
-k mpx of tin* waiting t/Ligc before-the
ofiieu and hot.’l. -
Haply the founging crowd were
gathered around the hot<‘l, and she
s f..,fste rs ,retreat into;^.—.,, Q* \.,st ofiicc from the
andlUeontqf th# plntr ^ , r(l A , s -. .* u-
in. tb« jypgleof | 44 s spm s. and .tho. hind only-oct 'p nf-a
gooil;l»K»kinlf y**un j 4 feil.rTv witli a ra*J-
rtish mtistaohe— tamed towards her w.th
m Huso of J xurpii^c. Bat it
But it was rfnly Oiir^Tong de>>x?nt to f-rind t!re< iry»n h « lances before her.
Hickory Hilj i.Lw, and ‘-fi ■ swept UAvfn She's' :r: '.llo-lu*r f.-et
-y- \
nsoilr V.UATKVF.R llAI'-v,
• i;:ns.” 1
ternoon. It seems her was nn' Old pioneer'
<.f 1/tun I Km, a friend of your hus-
b;:nd's. a 1 1 think iujre h>ol than
kiiuve!” He was silent for a mom. nt,
c'iektng the cNns. again.-t ea h-vrthcr;! .
•tlien I * sail, car la s! ■; “likl he get
quite a . ay, Mr* B.'ikvr/” *
“I r 1 sun* l.dv :. t* know whftt yun’roi
taSHr 'abut," said Mrs. Baker, with a
NtySir of di, n ty, but a somewhat *»e-
“! don't .sv'cwh.y I should
I' ve ; ■‘•‘u woi *e, a;iv1, thank (..xi, you’re
oatofTf. ’* * '
She h(
“Dhu t’ move,*'® he said, with weak,
hysteric passion, “Imt li ten to me. for
Goil’sxikc! M r.m ruimsl, I know, even
f’iionghy >11 Huv - jn; t saved me from de
tection a id di ra"0 I hare ,1- en
fn; 7 >'i —a J 1, t > <!.» wh:.t I I.tvc dun *.
1 kt >*.v. 1/pt y« n do u t kauw utl—you
dob t kn ov vg.v I did it—you cam..-t
t!d:;kV} ti • t. 1. a th t lu.x •T.vv a
basing, c
\v
y ho
km/’.v anvtrdqg about it, or
should go away atoll.” ;
*'Well," said MrNHome, l ay ip g hi*
hapd gdntly on the widow’s shoulder,,
“well, you see, it might liaYe occurred
to l.b fiiendx that the coin* 4 w*ero
Tn;irk« d! That ir*, no doubt, thcrwMSKl
way l;e would take their guoj atlvii
bra*'* rf—trrs—t.nrvohin fa -that
4‘..i
I have
k .-j to > .*<* 1 ?o i ni a du . c. ho iu'LDr uwu
L.** 4 aixg i .e v,x.c.a.v
; > (Jut, as I said before. Mrv
you're" ft)l right \*hatever
, the gureruajeut will slaiul by
1» k
T fruKr.MiJ
t'
J