Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-11

with light "good mornin'," and was soon
at his side.
"Goin' back to it, eh?' calculated Zeke.
"Yes. 1 don't see any reason for giving
up"
"Nearly all of 'em have gone home"
81 know it. Are you going to follow
them?'
Young Zebedee drew back and looked halt
resentfully at Phillips.
''Me? Me - Zeke Zebedee - quit the
hunt?" he exclaimed. you'll find me
there till this mystery is solvedF'
! Phillips put out his hand. 1t was soft
and small, and in a moment was lost IN
Zeke's giant palm. The two went across the
fields together. More than once Phillips
caught his companion eyeing him in a
| quizzical manner; but as often as caught
Zeke would suddenly transfer his gaze to
other objects.
$50 they're goin' to have the turkey for
all, are they?" suddenly asked Zeke.
81 don't know"
can Pstty's mince pies, too?"
The young merchant looked sharply at
Zeke.
'Who says SOP" he inquired.
"Old Pemberton. He don't know whether
his gal s dead or alive, but the unsartainty
amt goin' to interfere with the Thanksgivin'
dinner they were gettin' up for you."
Phillips halted. They were in the heart
of the wood through which rushed the wild
creek at its swittest pace, and the noise of
the toamy current at times filled their ears
The sunlight did not penetrate to that spot,
and the trees stood so thick that one might
easily conceal himself among them.
There seemed to be an insinuation, not
unmixed with sarcasm. in Zeke's last SEN
tence; but it was not this that broke the
merchants tramp.
''They certainly won't do that" said he.
SIT wouldn't be right under the circum-
stances"
"Old Pemberton didn't stop to think.
He's got scheme in his head, and an eye
to business. 1 wouldn't keer so darned
much about the turkey, but there's the
mince piesl Patty baked 'em! You can't
stop the feast by going back; SO come
along
Phillips felt Zeke's grip on his arm, and
in another moment he was dragged toward
the stream. A change had suddenly come
over the country youth. He now looked
madly at Phillips, but the young merchant
did not seem to take notice of it.
Lets start.in where / left off," said Zeke
when they had reached the high banks of
the creek.
"Just as you say" was the answer, spoken
almost mechanically.
The two went down to the water by a
dangerous path. Here and there they were
compelled to cling to the sharp, cutting
edges Of the rocks to accomplish their OBJ
ject, and once Phillips, who was ahead.
almost lost his footing. He could not help
thinking how easy it would be for Zeke to
send him headlong to the bottom of the
gorge by slight push, for he had come to
look upon his companion as one not rightly
balanced in some things. Was Zeke in
love with Patty, and did he think that his
rigid search for her meant more than the
mere restoration of her to her parents?
Once Phillips thought of stopping midway
between cliff and current and telling him
the truth; but he sealed his lips and kept on,
At the foot of the wall Zeke explained
his theory. 1t was that Patty had fallen,
not thrown herself into the water, and
that the current had carried her far from
the fatal spot, and left her in one of the
many caverns which abounded along the
stream.
Zeke's plan was to search several of these
caverns, one in particular. He said it could
be reached by following the water into it.
"But, " he added, looking half contempt
uously at Phillips city garments, "it III
ruinate store clothes like your'n."
"Never mind my clothes. want to find
Miss Patty. Come onP'
Zeke led the merchant to the entrance of
the cavern which he proposed to explore
The water was rushing in with a steady
roar, and in manner terrible enough to
deter the stoutest-hearted.
Its not hard to do if you know how"
smiled Zeke. Watch me an foller-if Won
dare %
There was subtle sting in the last words,
ana Phillips detected it.
The following moment the country youth
sprang into the current and was whisked
out of sight in an instant. PhiIlips fol-
lowed. For little while the merchant
found himself in food of boiling waters.
and then he emerged therefrom in a dark
place, and upon wet. slippery ground.
''Whatd tell you 2" said voice which
ne recognized as young Zebedee's, and then
he felt grip on his arm.
Zeke took from a tin box some matches
which had escaped the searching Qualities of |
the water. and little bunch showed the pair |
the walls Of the cavern.
Phillips saw his companion hold his |
torch near the ground.
Zeke, looking up. "Look at thisr'
Phillips stopped and uttered a sharn crv
The light of the matches shone upon the
print OF a shoe!
you're a capital deteetivep' cried the
merchant. why, you've found PattyI''
Zeke grew white.
I've found nothing but that" he said.
pointing to the footprints, and then he
sprang erect and clutched Phillips sbouI-
der.
"By the eternal heavens! Iwant To know
! thing or two, he went on talking boarseIv
ike man Who has lost control of his het'
5er judgment. "You came down hyer to do
,ne, if not two things. You came to eat
Patty's Thanksgivin' mince pies, an"
He seemed to choke.
"And what else, Zeke?'' asked Pbillins
his fear-he had fear-of the
young giant before him.
"An'-an' to make love to her!' blurted
leke. You know you did They say
7ou're after Molly. Old Pemberton wants
you to take the gal what knows tbe bifaIn.
in names of the flowers; but / knows
vhar your eyes ar. Don't know what
Patty said to me onee?"
"What was that?"
"That you were one o. her best friends.
n she said it in such a way-confonnd
1 caught at the true meaning.
'he baked them pies for you, Mr.. Phillips,
watched her through the kitchen winder.
nd l saw her skullop them with her
humb-al because you were coming
own. Now, Patty is somewhere in this
lace, an, by Jerusalemi you sha'n't look
yer her Thanksgivin' pies into her eyes un-
sss-" /
Zeke perorstion was harshly invaded
gure from the gloom, and, at the touch !
+ hand he staggered back with a wild /
ry: 8
Patty, by Jupiter"
Yes, before the astonished men stood =
Old PembertOn's girl" +" her clothes almost :
! tatters, but still the same Patty of the
eep, chestnut brown eyesl
.