The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-20

strange fancy of tho child peopled with
: witches and demons. She called shriily.
kitty, Kitty, Kitty and over tho snow
arching her yellow back came the cat from
a m%arauding excursion, while the dog. a big
Newfoundland, returned from the woods
where he had been having n vain search for
his master and mistress, whose absence he
/ could not fathom.
Far in the woods sounded a faint rasping
noise, it came from tho opposite direction
of Lambert's road, besides his sleigh had
bells. The dog stood beside Lobelia and
listened, too. suddenly into the patch of
moonlight where trees had been cleared
appeared two monstrous beasts with queer
long ears like horns, and behind in a Curl
( Gus box sleigh an old man with a frosty
beard and a round, jolly face. Lobelia put
her hand to her wildly beating heart. Had
one of her own creations sprung into life.
and she all alone, father and mother away?
She caught the dog by the scuff Of the
/ neck, for he would have gone forth to
battle, and waited bravely as the sleigh
drew noar.
1t was also a night Of surprise to Jack
McKown, the new arrival. While apparently
plying the honest trade of a tin psddler he
had in reality been smuggling over the
Canada line for years, counting his patrons
all over Maine. Ladies. it is we'll known.
are not averse to obtaining rich furs, laces
and silks at cheaper prices even if by SO
doing they are defrauding the government.
Jack was getting old, however, the business
was risky. SO this was his last trip. He had
promised that to his wife in Dover for he
we'll knew his occupation had been a con-
slant pain to her faithful heart all these
years. Under the innocent tins in his
sleigh was a false bottom and this was we'll
packed with costly things. Sc rich a freight
including dia~monds-that Jack trembled
at the inn across the linz where he had
stopped many years, and would have hung
around the barn where his mules were fed,
but feared exciting suspicion. The dining
room was full of men, mostly loggers, when
he went into his supper and he noted the
landlord was oddly cool and silent. The
landlords son, an ungainly youth waited
upon him and whispered as he passed a
plate.
ave put up q lunch, hurry away. Rev
N enuos been here-oflicers. Mules is har-
messed"
Jack feiened a choking fit and left the
table; outside in the dusk tho mules were
waiting; the ungainlv youth followed.
"There's n cutoff by French Cones,
three miles down, turn to the left. shovel
over your tracks, officers was hero this
afternoon"
| awkward bob, and Jack drove of in a mist
/ Of snow. He thought earnestly AS he went.
for ho had u generous heart. A mile off
| tho road lived old Mother Pnshard, called
a witch in that country. Jack each year
| brought her II store of brandy from over
| the line. lie got no pny, but she had cared
| for him ono time he was sick on his way,
| and no never forgot her. Time was short
| tonight, his road dangerous, but he would
| never pass tina way again. He turned the
| mules suddenly toward her hut. Curiously
| enough that generous action saved him. a
half mile further on the road he was going
would have brought him in the midst of
seven armsa waiting men, who wers ex-
peotinR him.
There was II light in tho window OF her
hat. aud for her hearing was wonderfully
acute, she swiftly raised the curtain before
he was near her door and ran out in the
moonlight. A weird enough figure in her
cape and hood, her black cat racing behind
her. She handed him u piece of printed
paper, ~
"Rowara of $500 for ye, Jack" she cried,
shrilly; "they flung 'em In every door-yard.
I count they're waitin' at Woods turn i
tho road. The man ut tho inn sold ye Ii he
sent ye on. ! was over there a week agone
and saw evil in his face" q
"By doin' a kindness | saved myaelf,"
said Jack, half sadly. Here's your brandy.
u half dozen, The last, old lady, for I'll
come no more. Keep 1T all, ! say. and warm
your old bones with 1t, and TN send You a
inc some day to lot You know | hnin't for
got. But that reward would have kept You
all your days"
ii don't traffic in flesh and blood, Jack
MoKown. / wouldn't sell y man dear az a
son to me. Good-by, and God bless ye."'
Dare i 20 by French Gene'si was that
q triok?n