Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1890-11-27
THE
LITTLE WAIP.
A Story Of Absorbing interest,"
Nv eEnAAnn-uERaERr-
OlI Tx I LIt AN.
A DAsTARDLY DEED.

TO those of two or three hours previous
ly; the rough, lonely by-path, over
Swallowed by the night, the gloom of
the woodland through which her road
lay, not to mention the fact that she
was lone and unprotected female, in
a suburb Of the city infested by tramps,
would have inundated my lady Cora,
and brought her to her senses, before
she had progressed two rods from her
domain.
If any one entertained such an idea,
it is evident that they had no concep-
ton of the indomitable pluck of my
lady Cora. Had the intense grit been
applied for good, she would have been
. great woman whom the world would
have had reason to bless; as it was, she
was bad, and her influence was for the
worst.
With never thought of fear or
single nervous qualm, she drew her
dark cloak about her, and hurried along,
keeping close to the low bushes that
fringed the path.
About midway of her course, her
quick ear detected the sound of foot
steps approaching from the opposite
direction, and not wishing to be seen,
she stepped aside into the shrubbery,
and effectually concealed herself be-
hind clump of alders
She had to wait some time, for the
advancing footsteps were slow and lag
cling. At last, when she parted the
leaves of her ambush and peered
through, she discerned the dim, bent
figure of man stumbling along the
middle of the road and heard deep
toned voice mumbling inarticulate
words.
Some drunken countryman," she
told herself.
Little did she dream that the stray
gler, who had passed on into the
shadows Of the night, was her father,
old Jean Leonard, wandering in his
half-crazed way toward the place she
had left.
Wholly ignorant of this significant
fact, she regained the path, and made
up for lost time by increasing the ra-
pidity Of her steps. She progressed
without further interruption, until
broad belts of lamp light intersected
her way, and upon glancing up to in
vestigate the cause, she found herself
nearing a small wayside inn, of decided
| ly forbidding appearance.
If she could have avoided crossing
the belts of light, she would gladly
have done SO; but it was out of the
| question, owing to the dense woodland
that at this point bordered both sides
OF the road. Therefore, keeping as far
as possible from the den, from whose
open doors and windows loud voices
and snatches of song escaped to the
vulgar twang of banjo badly played,
she fastened on, until, with q start.
she became conscious that she was fol-
lowed.
A swift glance over her shoulder as
sured her that such was the case. A
big, broad-shouldered ruffian had seen
her fit past the inn, and was stumbling
along in her wake.
Naturally her first impulse was to
take to her heels and fly.
Upon second thoughts, however, she
recognized the utter absurdity of such
a proceeding. If she fed, the rascal
in all probability would outrun her,
and even ii she succeeded in eluding
him, whittier should she go for shelter
and protection, stranger as she was to
the district?
Besides, if she were to demand az.
sistance at any of the farm houses she
would be obliged to disclose her iden.
tity, and defeat for time, perhaps,
the all important project she had in
hand. Under the circumstances, she
suddenly determined to dare the in
evitable and face the music.
! Consequently she turned about in
the path, halted, and waited for her
pursuer to catch up with her, which
the fellow lost no time in doing.
When he paused close before her, Cora
demanded in q daredevil tone, which
for moment staggered the man!
"Look here! Are you following
me?"
II was travelling along the sans
road, was the reply, delivered with
slight tremor of hesitation; there
amt no law against it, / s'pose?"
"You were following mel"
what if I WASP"
What do you want?'
Money"
hai uAcIe Deeu lSut enough where
they stood the rufian might have seen
her dark eyes scintillate beneath the
protecting veil as sudden, desperate
plan was suggested to her mind by that
single but significant word money.
Money!" she echoed daringly; "you
want money? Do you suppose to rob
N the highway to get it?'
I'm bound to get it somehow, came
ne sullen response; IF you've got any
bout you, fork over and I'll let you
Q, for you're the pluckiest piece of
alico I've seen for many day"
II have just twenty dollars in this
urse, the woman said, tapping the
visible receptacle between her hands
she spoke, "and / have eighty else
here, which will make q hundred for
'u il You will agree to do Job for
e."
The fellow gave vent to low,
nused laugh.
You're an artful one, you arel" he
claimed; "you want to give me the
enty now, and when / come for the
yhty you'll have me nabbed for a
cker oh, no, my dear! l amt no