The Osceola times., 1876-07-22

he tried il over and over and at each
response it licked seven times, Dsver
more, never less, but seven times, clearly,
distinctly. Suddenly he sprang up, and,
through shut teeth hissed:
"The seventh day, by heavens But
I'll cheat YOU'LL not kill him "
He darted noiselcssly down the stairs
and struck out through the woods. In
half an hour he emerged on the edge OF
the clearing, dozen yords from chop
per's cabin. Creeping stealthily to the
door, he shook it, then, after moments
irresolution, cried out;
"Peters Peters look out for Shiflet.
He has sworn to murder you tonight"
Without waiting for reply, he sprang
away, and was quickly lost among the
trees.
A moment afterward a tall form arose
out of the shadow of stump near the
cabin, and passed rapidly in an opposite
way.
At the summit of the hill east of
Agatha, steep precipice is formed by
a great bare, projecting rock. From the
valley, its outline resembles an enormous
face in profile, and they call it "The
Devils head" The full moon rendered
the unbroken mass of cloud translucent,
producing peculiar, sinister effect.
The mist still blew through the air, but
in the zenith there was a dull, ashen
hue, and the surrounding cloud was the
color of the earth. The tar-of hills
loomed up majestic terrible, against the
a. a,al lx
magnifed in the tawny light. At the
foot of this phantom crag on terrace,
is the ore bank and blackened coal shed.
Below rose the metal stack, from whose
stone hearth waste of sand sloped gen
tly to the creek. The furnace squatted
grim and black. Its blood shot eyes was
shut its gaping throat uttered no sigh,
no groan its throbbing pulse was stilled
the fierce, struggling monster was
dead. The only bright spot in all the
valley was the yellow circle made by the
watchman's lantern in the coal she'd
After leaving the " choppings," Monk
threaded his way through the forest,
coming out at last on the open road
This road led directly over the - Devils
Head" and entered the valley by a
steep descent half mile to the south.
At the precipice Monk paussd. The
wind eddied with a mourniul wall, and
the constant motion of tall trees gave the
scene almost the wavering, unsubstan-
tial appearance of vision. There was
something oppressive in this strange
midnight twilight. but Monk did not
feel it. He only felt relief, inexprcssible
relief; he only stopped there to breathe
to breathe freely once more with the
heavy weight thrown from him. After
moment he ran carelessly down the
hill, passed under the ore cars and into
the coal-shed. He hailed Patterson, tn,
watchman, and the lantern threw gigan
tic shadows of the two men over the
ground. Then he walked along thu
narrow cinder road leading to the bridg,
over the creek. Sometimes the willow
that grew o., either side swept theii
damp hair against his face. An hour az,
he would have started convulsively, nov
he needed not, for. he was free and ligh
of heart.
Monk reached the stairs, and asceudec
to his room. As he passed in, the pow
erful figure OF Shiaet sprang upon hin
from behind. There was scuflle, som
muttered oaths, then heavy fall. Monl
lay stretched upon the floor, motionless
lileless, and the echo OF fleeing steps die'
away, leaving the place as still rs the nov
silent death watch.