Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1891-10-21
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n Story sfwestepQ Life
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CHAPTER yII.-Cosrrsurp.


= CHAPTER VlI.-CosIrSuEp.
They hurried on as fast as they could.
md before the night came on they had
Havcrscd several miles of the way
They were hurrying on thus, when just
the twilight began to fall they heard
Pie fall of horses feet behind them.
md soon thereafter a man on horse back
game gathering up. They thought he
was going To pass without speaking,
but when he had got in front of them
he checked his horse, and turning in the
saddle so as to face them. lifted his hat,
laying:
Excuse me, but could you inform me
Thether l am on the road leading to
Paradise Parlx?"
You are replied Paul.
'rhanlSs, can you give me the dis
tance?''
A matter of dozen miles, 1 pre-
sumo
The stranger asked no more ques-
tions, and, evidently having gained all
the Interruption he desired. Paul ex-
pected him to ride on. But he did not.
He went along slowly for several yards,
retaining the same position in the
saddle and keeping his eyes fixed on the
couple. Louise had not dared to look
at him after the first glance she gave
him when he came up. for somehow she
felt that his eyes were fixed on her.
and she felt, AN undefnable dread of
him. and longed to be rid of his pres
ence. After awhile the stranger broke
the silence, saying:
~ dozen miles. That is long ride,
and this is going to be n bad night. too.
1t will be terribly dark, and l think it
will rain. don't your"
1T may possibly" Paul replied. Are
You a stranger in this section?"
Yes, entirely so. l am just out from
the east and came up from the railroad
to-day. You live near. suppose?"
Yes, quite near"
Then they went on silently again. and
Louise kept wishing that the stranger
would ride away and leave them. His
presence and his voice bored her and
made her nervous. Paul felt that his
company could very well be spared and
he would rather have him 90, but he
had no particular objection to his pres
ence. He experienced none of that
aversion for him that Louise felt.
Are you acquainted" asked the
stranger, again breaking the pause,
with Solomon Scraggs over ut Para
disc Parl<?"
II am" said Paul, land suppose
most anyone in this section can tell YOU
the same. The most of them know him
quite well, and they would perhaps be
great deal happier if they knew him
less"
80? Then he is not popular?"
mo, nor would any other man be I'M
der the circumstances"
What is that, may ask?"
"Why, loaning money to the settlers at
thieving rates of interest. He Just robs
every man who borrows from him"
''You don't say? why he must have an
iron heart, to take advantage of people
that way. Catches them in n close place,
1 suppose, and then bears down on them
to the last notch?"
That's il, exactly" said Paul
''Then he is merciless miscreant,"
the other replied. "A heartless wretch,
and / sympathize with those who are so
unfortunate as to fall into his power.
Indeed do. Well, l must ride on, for
my journey is a long one yet"
With that he put the spurs to his horse
and galloped away. Louise listened
Until ne was out OF nearing, tnen gave
sigh of relief Paul heard her and
looked around inquiringly
"Tm glad he's gone" she said.
"Why?" asked Paul
Because i don't like him"
He appears to be a gentleman" Paul
urged, ''and I'm sure he treated us very
respectfully. / like the way he talked
about old Scraggs, too"
"0h, he talked well enough, but I
don't believe he meant IL. / didn't like
his looks from the first"
"Wen didn't notice anything par
ticular In his looks. He is young and
very good looking. What was there
about him that you didn't like, Louise?'
Il don't know. just know that
don't like him, and / was glad when he
left us. 1 had sort of dread and fear
of him. But he's gone now, so let's not
talk about him any more"
Bouise's fancy struck Paul as rather
ridiculous, for he was very matter of
fact in his ideas. and he never counted
anything on first impressions. He
put every man down for what he
claimed to be until he knew him well