Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-04-09
There was a a.. subtle sting in the last

There was subtle sting in the last
words, and Phillips detected it.
The following moment the country youth
sprang out into the current and was whisk.
ed out of sight In an instant. Phillips fol.
lowed. For little while tho merchant
found himself III flood of boiling waters,
and then he emerged therefrom in dark
place. and upon wet and slippery ground.
"What did ] tell you?" said voice
which he recognized as young Zsbedee's,
and then be felt grip on his arm.
Zske 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.
"What did tell you ?" suddenly cried
Zeke, looking up. "Look at this !''
Phillips stopped and uttered sharp cry
The light of the matches shone upon the
print or shoe.
"You're capital detective p cried the
N srchant "Why, you've found Patty ~
Zeke grew white.
'I've found nothing else but that" he
said, pointing to the footprints, and then
be sprang erect and clutched Phillips's
shoulder.
''By the eternal heaven l want to know
a thing or two," he went on, talking hoarse-
ly, like man who has lost control of his
better Judgment "You came down hyer to
do one. if not two things. You came down
to eat Patty's Thanksgiving mince pies, an
He seemed to choke.
''Aud what else, z ske ?'' asked Phillips,
assembling his fear-he had fear-of the
young giant before him.
s'An'-an' TO make love to her !" blurted
Zeke. You know you did ! They say you
are after Mollie. Old Pemberton wants
you to take the gal what knows the hisalu-
tin names of the flowers; but knows whar
your eyes ar. Don't l know what Patty
said to me once?"
"What was that ?''
'sThat you were one o. her best friends.
an she said it in such way, confound her!
that caught at the true meaning. She
baked them pies for you, Mr.. Phillips. l
watched her through the kitchen winder,
all because you we're coming down here.
Now, Patty is somewhere in this place, an
by Jerusalem you shan't look over her
Thanksgiven' pies inso her eyes unless"
Zeke's peroration was harshly invaded
by the sudden appearance of ghostly fig
ure from the gloom, aud at the touch of
hand he staggered back with wild cry:
"Patty, by Jupiter -
Yes, before the astonIshed men stood
Gold Pemberton' GIRL" her clothes almost
in tatters, but still the same Patty of the
deep, chestnut brown eyes.
\ n
Half an hour later Patty found herself
walking home between Zeke and Phillips
She had told the story of her adventures !;
how she had fallen into the creek back to
consciousness in the depths of the cavern,
from which she would never have escaped
but for Zeke's thoughtfulness and when
she had concluded she looked first at the
brawny young yokel, and then at the trim
mer figure of the Thanksgiving guest.
81 baked the pies for Mr.. Phillips, for 1
knew he was coming" said she, ''but I
thought Of Zske at the time, and wonder
ed if he'd come, too, if I'd ask HIM.
Zeke blushed to his temples.
AS the Thanksgiving mystery had been
solved in such happy manner, the dinner
which followed was the most enjoyable one
ever discussed under Enos Pemberton's
roof.
It was observed that Zeke blushed again
when Patty passed the mince pies and when
Mr.. Pembsrton said, sMcre turkey, Zske?"
he stammered and looked at Mr. Phillips.
1t turned out that the young merchants
real quest was Miss Mollie, and before the
Thanksgiving dinner.had digested, the day
for double wedding had been set. and
when itcame off one of the brides wss sold
Pemberton's girl."-T c. Har6auqh IN
the Pattsburg Commercial Gazette.