The Hickman courier., 1882-10-20

@Don,t be a fool, Charlie whispered Hardy
TO him: ..can't YOU see that fellow looks as II
he would ike 10 murder youF"
Rut the question had been alreaiy decided
by Sins's drawing back her hand from Lin
toms and walking up 10 Walter. The latter
however, did not look at her, but gazed mood
ily across the valley.
"a sweet youth, that" remarked Linton,
carelessly.
hands in his pockets and muttering to him
self: s'She told me that she did not know
where he was, aud he was in the house all the
time. And be would have kissed herr
CHAPTER II.
'sWel, Charlie, suppose we are 20 push or
to Werhausen to-day" said Hardy, as they
sat outside the cOttlge next morning ovel
their breakfast.
ssYes, / suppose so. Where's Nina vanished
want some more milk
"You've about pint left; let Nina alone,
my bow AS it is, tina. fellow Walter seems
to be unable TO make up his mind whether to
be angrier with YOU or with Nina. Look at
him now; his scowi is enough to turn milk
souE-''
~, bother Walterl I've come twenty miles
out OF nv way to see Nina, and shall ignore
Walters existence FOR the next hour. | sup
pose we ought TO start at nine"
''Yes and we shall have all our work cut
out, for don't mean TO try any more short
cuts without guide"
perhaps Nina can tell US whether we can
get one. Pm going TO see, at any rate.
Nina ~
She came running out and Linton made her
SIT down while he questioned her about the
possibility of obtaining a guide to Werhausen.
His excuse for OBTAINING her was not a happy
one, for she at once said that Walter was re
turning in hat direction to-day, and would be
glad to guide them.
Hardy looked at Linton interrogatively
II wish, Jack. you'd try to arrange it with
him." said the latter; ''he won't do It if
ask him, I'm afraid, and time is an object
now.n
'All right, I'll try what I can do,'' replied
Hardy. Il think he'll come if only to insure
our being at distance from Nina"
Walter was not very tractable; a. first he re-
fused, but presently yielded, apparently be
cause OF some iiea which had struck him He
recommended that a start should be made a;
once, to which no objection could be well
made, 50 the friends packed up their kuap
sacks and were soon ready.
''Good by, Nina, said Hardy, holding out
his hand; ''don't forget me before this after
noon.n
% Good by, Nina, -echael Linton. :" Come
Hardy, I'm REL. & znna.gl. I,ye. -.
the room, so he coulf refuse to do as ne
was requested. The mohnt he disappeared
Linton drew Nina to himlnd kissed her
That's a good-by kisssNina, for l suppose
you'll be married long hore come to Swift
zerland again. Mind yol don't tell Walter"
But, as Hardy knew, sere was no need to
tell Walter. The bedroofwindow overlooked
the group, and the lover al been a spectator
of what had happened Hardy saw his face
for moment with an amy flush upon 1t, but
he did not see the intensi ha red which shot
from his eyes as he drewback into the room.
However, in few momsts he came out ap-
parently calm He kisse Nina and the frau
lein, who only came out athe last minute with
the bill which.she had ben c ncocting, and
soon the Travellers wereonly a soeck in the
dis tance to theinhabitaus of the cottage.
Linton did not give, alhought to the jeal-
ousy which he had eycitel in Walters mind:
In fact, ne was scarcely 4Eare of its existence
He did not know that The guides was an in
tensely passionate and suspicious tempera-
meut; that for one thingAe knew he Imagined
a dozen; that he alwau made his visits to
Nina uneXpec- edly in order TO know whether
she had anv other admireTs but himself. Had
he known all this he mghs have taken seri-
ously the taciturn way in which the guide
piodded on, never otferfngan observation. and
replying as little as possible to what was said
He even refused a cigar which Harry offered
him. very rare thing fora guide to do.
a. shan't be sorry when we drop our new
acquaintance, rem irksd Linton; " he is very
al shan't care II that's bis worst fault re-
piled Hardy.
q He certainly has one rather more annoy
ing; he seems 10 be able to pick out the worst
bits OF ground in the district Pm getting
tired already, and we haven't walked three
hours.''
'And with one rest. This is most wretched
sort OF wilderness Have you ever been near
here before!n
"Never. I'm utterly out OF my reckonine.'
at seems to me-" said Hardy, ''that Wer-
hausen lies a good deal more to the north,
while he is working us continually to the
west"
Hardy did so. but ELECTED no answer, except
that the way they were going was the right
one.
But look he-e,~ exclaimed Linton, testify,
as they had to help each other over rock:
'swe don't want to do any climbing to-day;
we want to get TO Werhausen, and the road
can't be over mountain
.If you are not cont ient to follow me" re-
piled Walter, surlily, ''it would be best for you
10 go your own road"
This was finish to the conversation, for, as
the tourists had already supposed, they were
utterly out OF the ordinarF track, and neither
Of them had am idea OF their position Linton
received the mans imperltnent answer with
phil sophie shrug, resiguing himself to the
Of harder wall than he had
but Hardy, who had caught sight
OF his face as he spoke, began to feel seriously
uneasy.
II say, Charlie - he said ''don't do anything
to make that fellow angry"
Make him angryl Ifs the other way,
think I'm getting fairly s..age with him Tor
leading US this dance"
II wouldn't tell him so Il were you"
why not2'
"Well, you see, IL he we're to become un-
pleasant, Il wonld be rather awkward Tor US,
itp'
II don't see that: we are two to one. Be-
sides, why should he turn unpleasantF
He saw you kissing Nina this morning"
Did hei can't heipii; he shouldn't have
ceen lookingn
'ninking ne means to pay us out.
You think he is taking US this round by
!, way OF administering lesson oust By Jovel
II thought so-'f
"Do keep stiT, Charlie; don't make him
'.why, what on earth's come over you,
,acka , Surely you aren't afraid of that fei-
Yes, lam; 1 confesfit"
why, believe 1 could tackle him single
ahnleu, and I'm sure y0u could"
res, but we are In his power. II he means
nlscnief a ne has nothing to do but to choose
lis time for doing it. ~
Good heavens, Jack do you mean that he
ninks ~ Oh losing us on the mountalnF
aon't say he does, but | fear 1t. And IL
le does, how can we prevent hims All he has
. 40 is 70 suddenly run on; we can never
'vertake him, as he knows very We'll In half
y % hour ne would be out of sight, and We
there should we bel',
Linton grew pale. but recovered himself.
-hey we're now walking along the side of a
uttress OF the mountain up which they had
een ,oiiing. The ascent was very gradual,
n nd tney could talk without undue exertion-
triding ahead.
what shall We d., Jacka' asked Linton,
'no recognized in his companion stronger
llnd- rs It any good to ten him that /