The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1879-07-26
MISS JARVIS MYSTERY.

"Will We ride2"
"GidnBarker drew up his horse to ask the
question. The little muddy buggy drawn
by a big bay horse, with sharp bones and
short TAIL was in sort Of road-an uncer-
tain wagon track-wlnding through scat
tering growth Of scraggy pines, more or
less under-grown with pink lowered man
zanita. AT the side of the track tall,
sunbonneted girl was walking with an alert
air swinging tin lunch-paiI. She turned
at Barker's call, showing pair Of bright
black eyes,,and a comely, capable sort of
face, assented promptly, and mounted to
the seat. Gid Barker drove on in silence
for few minutes, slouching forward till
his elbows were almost on his knees. and
watching the ears of his horse. Mean
while the girls bright black eyes took an
inventory of his small, leathery face and
'seedy" clothes.
"Yer the new sceool-mom in this yer dis.
trict9" he drawled at last, without looking
up.
"Yes."
Now it was not at all strange that Mr.
Baker knew these facts; for quarter tc
nine that morning he had traversed thu
road in an opposite direction affixing post
ers to pine trees and houses; rosters which
sst forth his claims and accommodations To
a vacant place in the California house of
representatives,. He had stuck one to the
tiny log school house, just behind bend
in the road, and had taken the chance to
ask of a heavy-faced, half-breed boy who
stood by and stared:
Got new school-mom9 What's her
namel' :
But Miss Jarvis had likewise improved
her opportunities.
YOU'RE Mr.. Barker, | s'pose9 Running
for the legislature, amt your"
She had catechised the children about the
poster, and the man who put it up. Miss
Jarvis was blessed with very large share
of the spirit Of inquiry.
"How come you to run in Jenuary9" she
said.
especial 'lection--man dead" said Bar
ker, cheertully. "Course ye stop at MIS-
Sharp's; l kin take ye clear home, then"
They continued to investigate each others
antecedents Barker learned that Miss
Jarvis was ''from the mountains" and that
this dismal wilderness of low knobs, with
its thin growth of pines and occasional
sheep-ranches was populous region to her.
Her native taste for her neighbours affairs
was stimulated by thus coming into new
neighborhood, and then subject came up
that reused her curiosity to the utmost.
They came out from among the pine trees
and crossed wide, gravely eek-bed,
where cottonwoods grew, festooned like the
banks, with wild grape-vnes. A moment
later they came to the ancient bed of the
same creek, now become the most fertile
spot in the same region. Here was ashanty
shaded by very old cottonwood that had
once marked the edge of the water, and
surrounded by thriving garden and orch.
ard. That was rare sight in that part of
the country, and Miss Jarvis leaned out to
look at it with eager interest.
"Reckon ye've never been by here" said
Baker.
mo, I've only been here three days, and
cut across home through the pine trees.
Who lives here9 asked Mrs. Sharp who
all lived around, but she never told me Of
this place."
swell, Mis- Sharp, she's kinder funny.
She don't like to answer questions an l
recken she thought it'ud make a good deal
O talkin' to say anythin' about OF Tom.
He's queer stick. Lived there by him
selfthis five year. Thar he is, in that cor
,or hxy Tho water. Mines y
Sure enough, in the fence.corner was an
ingenious homemade hydrant, connected
by rude pipes with the steam farther up,
where water was perennial. STOPPING over
this arrangement and tinkering with it,
was tall, gray-haired man, stability
dressed and slouching in his carriage.
''Do you know himl" asked Miss Jarvis,
eagerly.
"Oh, yes, know him. Been in his
shanty, an that's whar ther amt many
been"
'Why not stop and speak to him, thenl'
"Jest's soon" said Barker, drawing up
the bag horse, and whistling call, fingers
in mouth. The gray-haired man turned
and came slowly across the dsld.