Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-20
CHAPTER X.

each other
CHAPTER Y.
THE COLONEL PLAYS BLooD-RED CARDS.
On the hillside up which the excursionists
laboriously mounted, and from the edge OF
the lake not more than 500 feet, although it
seemed mile as measured by their devious
steps, a iutting rock hid from their approach
q rude shed of sticks and boughs. 1t had
been carelessly thrown together by tempo
rary campers against the crag that suddenly
barred the ascent. Beyond was downward
slope, beginning with wildwood ana merg-
inC distantly into cultivated farmland.
This view was made panoramic by precl-
pice, which placed the observer on COM
manding overlook. But the two vagabonds
who held the spot at this time had not gone
there to see either the inland landscape, out
of which they had just stolen little corn
and potatoes, or the very nicely wild Lake
George in the clean water of which their
immersion for mere instant would have
caused an unwonted muddiness. They were
ragged. filthy fellows, and with soggy feet
they had tramped to this seclusion to laze
away the afternoon, ard to roast and eat
their insignificant pillage of honest hus-
bsndry One was kindling fire. He was
a sneaking, shambling, nerveless wretch,
and il was abiectly, in plaintive and apol-
ogetic tone, that be said:
''Canch'ee comeouter tha' shed an dosome
housewuk, Jim?"
Life in the open air had not made free
and fluent speaker of him. Not only was
his voice husky from chronic bronchitis, but
his vocal organ, possibly from the frequent
expansions of damp weather and the con-
traction of drouth, worked with catches and
starts that made him emit two or three
words at a mouthful. Therefore he had
language of his own, not understandable by
anybody unacquainted with its system of er-
ratio pauses. The other. whom he addressed
as Jim. and who was lying on his back under
the shelter. seemed to believe that man who
had such kind of speech could not compre-
hend himself without the help of translator.
Cant come out of that shed and do some
housework?" he said, putting his companions
question into respectable Engllsh. well, L
can, Tom. but / won't. Let me alone. I'll get
dinner-my share of it-when you've cooked
Jim slowly stood MP. yawned, stretched. and
stepped out from the shed. He was burly
rascal, with hair and whiskers uncut and I'M
conibed fer months and his clothes the
shredded remnants of numerous suits. Evil
dences of three original coats were visible,
while two pairs of trousers had each con-
tributed a leg, his hat brim encircled cap,
and his toes stuck out from minated shoes.
But his dilapidauon was slightly in its way,
and if be could have been transferred from
uncleanly life to inodorous canvass, he would
have made picturesque figure of swagsser-
ing bushwhacker of ill-fortune.
Didn't 1 sneakthercorn and totether-
potaters, Jim?' Tom continued.
Didn't you sneak the corn and tote the
potatoes?" Jim interpreted. You did. And
now you'll light nre, cook the forage, and
wake me when dinners eady."
Having asserted his dominance, and indicated
a disposition to enforce it if necessary, Jim let
himself down to redundancy again, joint by
JOINT, like machine that had become rusty
and stiff with exposure to bad weather. Tom
made a small heap Of dry leaves, twigs and
sticks, and carefully prepared to strike the
only match that he possessed The meal de-
pended on the success of this operation. His
careful deliberation, his slow judgment as to
which way the almost imperceptible zephyr
came from, his close scrutiny of the match
itself and his protective crouching attitude as
he made ready to draw the silver of ignition
across selected dry stone so thoroughly oc-
capied him that he did not see the arrival of
Winston Dallas and Victor Leroyd, with May
Morris between them.
We're ever SO far above the lake." May
said, looking back. ''Our boat looks like toy.
Isn't it pretty?"
We've left the rest of them behind with our
eiCht-minute gaIt," /" said Winston.
"And tired YOUR said Victor, addressing
the painting girl, and ignoring her other COM
panion.
Thanks to your arms, have been carried
about as much as I've walked. l was like
trotter with running mates. Ohr'
The exclamation was caused by first sight
of Tom. AT the same instant Arba Van Rens-
selaer came around the corner of the rock.
She had beaten Knickerbocker Knox in the
uphill race.
20, this is the spot for our luncheon" she ex-
claimed, with her remaining breath.
"Thi spots spottedma'am am" and Tom
showed them, by turning his face their way,
that he was not collapsed scarecrow in
ragged heap.
But his language did not explain ITSELF Jim
emerged from the shed, stood in an attitude of
Tnsolent assurance, and interpreted: "He says
this spot is spotted, ma'an. He and l arc in
To that winston airily replied: '.But you'll
get out won't you ?-just to clear the scene and
the atmosphere. old chaps"
ssOf course we won't dear bow and Jim's
close imitation of the dandys accent proved
that he had known other folks than vagobonds.
Don't be insolent." Victor broke out.
Then don't you intrude on gentlemen in
their sylvan retirement" and Jim was equally
successful in copying the manner of an angry
gentleman.
with, Let me get you over this small diff
Guilty." and then, taking out a wallet addressed
herself to the outcast: Now. gentlemen,
which do you prefer-a dollar apiece and go,
OF nothing and stay?'
you're awfully picturesque and all that"
Miss Van Rensselaer, interposed, "but we're
not out for amateur photography. We expect
60 eat here and we prefer to impair our appe-
tites with food only" She took a note from
her purse, and waving aside Victor, who made
prOJeSJlng gesture, aQueQ: NO, no: TINS is
ladies charity exclusively-a kind of mission
to the heathen."
Each young lady extends dollar toward one
Of the ragamuff1ns.
"Tom." SAID Jim. ''shall we retire for consul
tstion over this philanthropic proposition?'
'Nobetter colarit," said Tom.
Jim was embellishinc, if not accurate, in his
Interpretation: "My friend advises that we ac-
cept your offer of terms for our withdrawal.
We accept your money"
Each young lady held her banAnote by its ex-
treme corner, and then let go before the grimy
hand had hardly clutched it, as though the
paper might convey pestilence if it formed for
a moment a connection between foul and clean
fingers. As Jim bowed n "Good-day" to May,
his furtive eyes did not miss the roll of bills
that was exposed in her unclosed wallet.
You are good diplomats, ladies" said Victor.
"They have averted war;" interposed Jim;
I'VE retreat peaceably."
Tom had loaded himself with the corn and
potatoes, and now he followed Jim out of
sight.
Next the remainder of the party reached
the place, bearing the provision basket, which
the maidservant. Betsy, began TO empty While
she spread a white cloth on nat, low boulder.
and set out thereon a variety of eatable and
drinkahle things, the others roamed about.
Some climbed further up the rocks to pick
blackberries for a really local feature of the
meal. and others went after wild flowers TO
decorate it. Thus there was a separation into
couples and trios for a few minutes. and the
May. The found Betsy deplorine the absence
Of water.
"And I'm sure, sir" she said, ''the ladies and
gentlemen wouldn't like to drink clsret al
together-w1th the day 90 hot-and all Of them
90 Thirsty"