The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-01-16

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'Hullo, stranger! might you be look
ing for somebody?"
The man who had been addressed
a good-looking young fellow, wearing
costly overcoat, and bearing in his
hand travelling bag-turned as the
words were spoken and saw behind
him a heavily built, elderly man of the
farmer sort, who carried in his hand a
long whip. and wore a broad-brimmed
felt hat well pulled over his eyebrows.
"Am | looking for somebody's he
repeated. ''Ies sir. I'm looking for
MIR. Mark Mellish. He was to meet
me here and take me down to his place
I've been walking that station platform
for q full hour, and as the sun is going
down and | have no idea where l am.
and =
Here he paused evidently thinking
it best not to utter the remainder of
his sentence.
',Me!Iish had good reasons for want
inc TO meet me- he added. I'm be-
ginning to think that he never got nv
telegram. Have you hotel or tavern
hereabout?"
Nothing but the boarding house at
the mines, said the farmer: land when
You've got there you are at Mellish's.
But if you're Mr.. Nelson Noble, then
Il am, " interposed the young man.
Then, proceeded the farmer, I've
come TO fetch you, and you havn't any
need of n hoteln
Good" cried young Noble, this
great, grand, stony country of yours,
with its bald hills and nothing growing,
gives man from Connecticut a feeling
OF having got into the giants country
as ck-of-the-Beanstalk did. Your
depot-master trotted home awhile ago,
saying that there were no more trains
until tomorrow, and it is going to be
a deucedly gloomy night. The idea of
spending 1t here was Unpleasant-in
fact l was getting nervous over it when
you spoke TO me-
And yet you couldn't be among
honcster people," said the farmer:
"'tisn't like your big cities, where there
is robbers, and bunko men, and pick
pockets, as Eve heard tell, and traps
set for you eyerywheres. You'd find
every man brother here"
Very likely" replied Noble, with a
laugh; however I'm glad you came
for me, Mr-n
Smith, you can call me- said the
old man, 'and we might as well be off;
my wagon is in the holler there The
horse IS acting queer. and l wouldn't
give him the pr I uphill. Any bag
gage. Mr.. Noble.'
Only this" answered Noble, with a
swing OF the travelling bag, I'm only
going to stay overnight" and he fol-
lowed Mr.. Smith over the rocky road
and down a steep slope until they
reached the spot where covered
wagon, drawn by a bony old white
horse, stood waiting.
You sit inside out of the draunht."
said Smith ''seein' you've got chilled
at the depot The wind is kinder keen"
Thank you" Noble answered, and
shortly finding the old man indisposed
to talk, he fell asleep under the dingy
canopy, and slept until the sudden
stopping OF the wagon and loud shouts
from the driver aroused him.
Whats the matter?" he cried,
thrusting his head through a rift in the
awning, and from the shadows beyond
for night had fallen while he slept
Smiths rough voice replied:
Darn it all, the horse has done it at
last. He's dead as a door-nail, and you
can't get to the mines tonight, stranger,
nOhow You can fix it"
Let me look at the ANIMAL said
Noble. Perhaps he's not dead"
Il know more about horses than you
do, said Smith, If you'll excuse my
saying it. I'll have to ask you to stop
at my place tonight. I'll borrow a
team tomorrow and take you up to
Mellish's"
You are very good" said Noble.
Personally. I'm not in haste, but Mr..
MelliSh had good reasons for wishing
to see me tonight; he should have sent
a better horse for me-"
'Oh, that's my horse" said the
farmer, laughing. He gave me the job
to fetch you. Guess be had reasons for
not sending folks from his place. Well,
losses are to be expected, | suppose.
This way. stranger: I'll take hold of
YOU. | know the way in the dark"
And shortly Noble found himself
emerging from the darkness of the
StarleSs night into little area of yell
ApN BiZIl itsti 1tlt lIOiu
swinging before the porch of shabby
looking hoase.
As Smith, with the freedom of the
owner OF the place, flung open the door,
Noble caught sight of the figure of
girl of seventeen. who sat crouched up
on the hearth before blazing fire.
The girl was a handsome creature;
and rs she sprung lightly and alertly to
her feet, Noble saw that she owed moth
ing 10 the assistance of dress: Her
hair was eat short like boys; her
dress was a faded calico, made with
out regard to the fashion: and her
shoes we're the rougheSt specimens CT
the cobbler's art.
She stood in the blaze of the freight
and looked at them with great dark
eyes that reminded Noble of those OF
stag at bay.
'Broagnt home company. MILDLY"
said the man, with an air of ioliitv.
Set supper as soon as We can, for
we've starved. Mighty plain doin's
you'll find here. stranger; but you'll
have TO stand il"
Then he marched out Of .he room.
Noble sat down upon a splint-bot-
toned chair near the fire. and looked
n the girl. She stood staring at him
Evidently the advent of a stranger had