West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-12-16
"But I'm tired ont. 1 can't go step

"But I'm tired ont. can't go step
further"
well, you wait here. I'll call Tor
you as l come down.
There was nothing for IL but excel
slor. We found the path once more
ana left the road 20 follow the red ar.
rows. At last the cross was reached.
alter climb of two hours. The ruins
OF the unlucky hot i were strewn around,
and little heaps Of ashes showed where
camping Irties had cooked their meal.
he little strip of brown rock, as viewed
from Palenville, proved 10 be a great
precipicc that took steady nerves TO APP
proach and peer over, and milo below
the scattered town looked like toy viii
iage. Round Top, the highest noun
tain OF the range, was just opposite, and
separated from US by the tremendous
tree clad chasm Of haaterskill Glove.
Away TO the east stretched the Hudson
valley, dim in the waning light. The
iuli moon shouo white upon il and turned
tho winding river ten miles away with a
silver ribbon. In the west the sky was
still red and the mountains bulk stood
out black against the crimson IL was a
superb scene, still l did not forget that
we had several miles of wild forest and
mountain path between us and supper.
l think mentioned this at the time and,
II memory holds its own, / believe tho
remark was considered incongruous and
out OF all keeping with the panorama
before US. Still we started down.
The downward path is always easy.
AT times the way was very dark, but in
the openings the moon shone brightly.
we took the path we missed i'm going up
and j congratulated myself that il led
us down quickly and did away with the
necessity OF passing the quarry, as we
would have had TO do If we kept the
road. The rough quarrymcn were con
tinually in mind and many n man in
ambush had turned out TO be no innocent
stump or rock. / Ind more money in
my possession than n newspaper man is
generally supposed TO have and was
completely unarined. / had Just begun
to think my fears were ground,ess when
the path came TO the road again. had
walked ahead oil the way down. As
came out on the road my heart stood
still. A few rods further down a man
was standing in the m ddle of the road
apparently listening intently. The moon
shone full on him. Fortunately / had
not stepped out into the light. | went
cautiously up the path bit and said in
whisper; Don't be alarmed, there is a
man on the road below"
"A quarryman"
81 think So"
"Wellf
"Well, don't know exactly what to
do
They can't mean any harm. They
must be we'll known in the neighbor-
hood"
There are shanties up at the quarry.
don't what the man would be doing
down here. He seems to be listening. y
We both went carefully down the road
The man still stood in lhe moonlight.
Another man stepped from the shade of
"Hcar 'em, .Joel' ras
Thought did little while since.
Don't now"
you'll see it's as told you. They're
gone down long ago. III ~g2FtEf
Don't believe it. They conldn't have
passed without US seeing EN-
The two men sat down by the roadside
and one struck match and lit his pipe
We were evidently in for a siege. / sat
down on a rock that seemed dangerously
loose, but there was no chance of seek
n
twig would betray US. +,
There seems to sbe only two of them, ~
whispered II believe it would be n
good plan to take them by surprise. |
conld work carefully along above them
and brain one OF them with a stone,
probably both OF them If | had good
luck" A woman is always against ex-
treme measures. knew the plan was n
hNN
lives. The next instant IL was too late.
The loose rock on which sat gave way.
and was thrown on all fours into the
m ddleo the road. with startled crv
both men sprang forward.
''Are you hurt7" asked one jumped
to my feet and looked for my alpen
stock.
I'VE were surs you would miss the
path, being strangers "a we thought
when you asked the way. We were lust
going up to look for you. It's good
enough road in the day time but it's
pizen at night"
"Tain't so much the danger OF losing
your way, said the other, ''or Of falling
over as Of sptaiuing your ankle. II a
mans not used TO the mountains he's
powerful apt TO twi.t his foot comm
down. Where's the lady7p
The lady stepped down into the road.
I'm sorry YOU took the trouble TO
wait for us, ;" she said
''Oh, faint no trouble, " answered the
quarrymau, taking off his hat ''You
sec we live down at Palenvile. and so
we Just sat down and had smoke"
That is about all there is 10 tell We
found them very efficient and courteous
puidce and they xvould f,ko nofhfn,, To-
their services. - Detroit Free Press.
The school Marin.