, 1884-12-07

WA
mona After leaving ths trrgiodyte we
ztroled along the beautiful little river until
noon. when wc returned 10 the house.
CHAPTER ".
i had remained three weeks with Mr..
Jefnries, whom 1 found TO be, despite his
lack Of education, very much of n gentle
man When l thought OF leaving IA sadness
oppressed mo. Ny health had improved, SO
mnch 50, that tho old man declared I could
Jump a ten rail fence, staked and ridered-r
] don't think that Mrs Jeifries bad left of
knitting ten minutes since my arrival. /
don't know how many pairs Of socks she
had finished, and Ia truth don't know that
she had finished any, for the work on the
needles always seemed about the same length
One day while Jeffries and his wife wero
away, walking around ths small farm the
wife carrying her knitting-Lsntie burst into
the room and exclaimed;
"Oh, Mr.. Mossley, leave herei Please dot
Don't look at mo that way, for it Is bee-suse
/ love you so that l want You TO leavel
Somebody viii kill you. Oh, please goiT
caught her in my arms, and with her
head resting On my shoulder, she told me
something that made my blood Leap.
when your father returns 10 the house. >
said ], releasing her, tell him that l am
gone but that WILSON return"
But they viii kill you II come back"
IL will bring men with me. Don't tell
your father anything OF what you have dis
covered. He might say something that
would endanger his life. Goodbye"
cHAPrER v.
Not moro than a week passed until / re-
turned with ten men, brave fellows who had
served in the army. Having secreted them
to advantage, l went to call on Mr.. Jeffries.
1 saw in an instant that his daughter had
followed my instructions
AComs back airtsr more health, chr said
he with a ally wink at his wife who sat in the
corner, rafting her knitting needles.
"Yes, and l hope that l will find enough 10
last ms for some time TO come"
II reckon you are tired, cap'n- Better 90
TO bed. don't you thinkf'
@No, ! have work to do tonight"
AWorkr' he repeated In surprise. -sWhAt
work can you do to-nightfn
II will explain tomorrow. Good night
Lentie followed me to the door. Her tears
rolled down my cheek
l found my men anxious for tho fun, rs
they formed it. They had not much longer
TO wait. We crossed the river without max
ing n sound. when within a short distance
Of the cave, we halted. The
boys secreted themselves, and 1 ad-
vanced. The moon was shining brightly.
The old troglodyta sat on nis stool. Seeing
me, he took up his flute. He was out Of
patience with me. His manner was insult
ing. Looking around. while talking to him,
I saw my men, creeping from rock TO rock.
Each one was nm excellent shot
you AVE been in this n~eighborhood long
enough. " said the old man Il don't want
you bere. 1 warn you go"
suppose l don't gos7
Fatal superstition"
why, do you own this countryf'
Don't question me-
-Old man. / will not leave herei" I had
moved aside and was not standing directly
in front OF tho cave.
lie blew a loud, startling note.
A yell came up from the cave. A body Of
rough men rushed forth. l lodged behind
n rock, and my men Cred. Wild yells arose.
Then am a hand 10 land fight. / knocked
the old man down with a pistol. The fight
was desperate Two of my men fell and
rolled into the river. The ravine rang with
the terrible din at last the ~ruffians, seeing
themselves beaten. sprang into .the river.
Only a few Of them escaped. The old frog
lodyte sat up. Convulsively be tore away
the long white hair and whiskers, revealing
the face Of a comparatively young man. We
bound him and entered the cave. After
entering the old mans room, we noticed
that a rock had been removed, discover
ing a dark apartment. 10 was a large dis
tillery. A passage led to the river, far
Town the stream. A complete exploration
showed how complete we're their arrange
ments.
The old troglodyte proved TO b a once
noted Kansas cutlaw. He was sent back TO
that state and was hanged.
My men preferred 10 camp after recover
ing the dead bodies OF their comrades. When
/ returned 10 the house / found Lentie pros
tated from excitement, The old gentleman
was almost wild. Thon ] explained how Len
tie, while gathering nuts, had heard several
men speak Of killing me II / over attempted
TO go near the cave again
-Wall, this do beat anything l ever heard
about" exclaimed tho old man. Il heard
the shootln', an 1 didn't know what 1t was
about, but II muir thar hadn't hill rue 1
woulder jined In Wall, blast my stupid
skin, / never moved that thar was n 'stillery
20 close. I've not here night airter night,
sufferin' fur a drink, when thar was oceans
O the stuff In the neighborhood- But say,
cap'n, we KANT stay here no longer. Them
folders what got away will think that / was
the cause o. thor DOWNFALL
You can pack up and go to town with u.s.
Lentie clapped her hands. The old lady
who had thrown down her knitting made a
movement toward me then sat down, took
up her knitting and ratified the needles.
Lentie placed her hand in mine. I kissed
her.
avail said the old man. The old lady
ratified her needles. She's yourn. / reckon
said the old man. Thought 50 from the fust.
Mother, we'd better see about packin' up.
Stir your stumps for you're goin' to be a