The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-03-23

was industrious IN this line; picked up
point here, heard something there. saw
something somewhere else, and she never
forgot point that could be construed TO
anyone's disadvantage. She was artful, cum
ming, experienced, shrowd. and without
a sentiment oil pity or remorse, and so,
sSilfully blending truth, supposition, ex-
agReration and downright falsehood, she
had PLAUSIBLE story about any one she
chose TO select as n victim. Happy and
almost unheard of is the village or country
settlement that has no Widow Budget
Aunty Davies had her house full Of
boarders this summer. She could only
accommodate twelve OF the kind who
came there; for all were elderly or quiet
people who wanted plenty of room and
who came for rest and To enjoy the pure
fresh air and the quiet OF the village.
As summer boarders average, their
wants were simple. A drive or walk, or
n game OF whist or croquet, nap after
dinner; a clean, quiet house, q neat table
for summer bOarders-but these sum
mers were busy times for aunty and
Nancy and Stubby. Part of the time they
had extra help, but Mrs. Davies was one
OF those effective managers and careful
workers who accomplish 20 much with so
little fuss, and Nancy was strong and will
ing, and under the guiding hand OF aunty
would accomplish wonders in the way of
work.
The babe was a great favorite with the
boarders. Her perculiar history made
her an object Of interest and she was
bright and cute, easily pleased and fear
lees.
She would play alone. contentedly, or
90 riding or walking with anyone any
where. unless she disliked the person
then she wanted nothing 10 do with them.
Luckily her dislikes were few. So the
boaTders took her up, and she was very
little trouble to the household. She gave
one cause for uneasiness; che was too
venturesome. Her favorite walk was on
top OF the fence, and she would climb any
thing that was ciimbable. When a car
penter came one day To repair the roof,
he had been at work but few minutes
when he saw her deep black ewes peering
at him over the top OF the ladder. How
her little legs could have reached from
round to round up the great ladder was
a mystery that raised much discussion
among the boarders.
About two miles northwest OF the viii
lage was a deep ravine of mile or so in
AtARNllS " Nun NNhh AiAt manu- VI
"C0unterfaiter's Cult" or Filters Gulf"
as long custom had contracted it into.
The tradition was that in tho early settle.
ment of the country u gang OF counter
feiters had made some point in
the gulf q rendezvous, and had been
traced there by government officers, the
tools, dies and themselves captured, and
the business broken up. One place, where
for several rods the bluns on each side
approached within little over twenty
feet of each other, was called Filter
Leap" it being said that one of the coun-
terfeiters tried 10 make his escape from
the officers by leaping across this space,
but fell short, and was dashed to death on
the rocks, forty feet below. The story
fitted this wild spot, and ali the boys be-
lieved it, but il was not well authenticated.
The only thing certain was that there had
once been a counterfeiting gang in this
part of the country. and, as Arthur ar
gued, 'counterieilers are artists and gen
tlemen OF taste, andif they didn't meet IN
this romantic spot, show me where they
did meet" This was considered unan-
swerable.
One day in the fail Arthur and Stubby
were hnntingsquirrels. They had tramped
all the afternoon, and hal shot nothing.
AAiNh WIN bAlNAi ACAH Whiht tAACl 0bOpDCh
to rest near the edge of Filters Leap.
Il wonder why it always smells of
smoke here" said Arthur. There can't
be any fire down there" said he, walking
TO the edge of the ravine and looking
down into the dark depths OF tangled un-
derbrush. rosting logs and stumps and de-
bris below.
Stubby made no answer. Arthur and
others had expressed the same wonder
dozens OF times before. He could smell it
too, but how could he tell what the reason
was?
at does't smell like wood burning"
Arthur continued but mora like lamp
does when its turned too high and smokes
the chimney-s-h-h. don't move. Stub ="
and the boy raised his gun to his shoulder.
Bang! and squirrel with his beautiful
gray tail looking three times az large as
il does after death came falling down from
a tree-top, but he wasn't killed, for he
made clutch at the lowest branch of the
great tree and ran nimbly out on a long
branch that stretched over the chasm.
Bang! once more, and he fell stone head
almost half way across the leap.
Now, how you goin' to gittim?' asked
Stubby, for Filters Leap had never been
entered in the knowledge of any one Iiv-
ing and was considered almost impass-
able.
"Well, Pm going 10 get that squirrel if 1
can find him." said Arthur "l'il break
my neck if l try to 90 down here, that 8
certain. You stay here, Stub, and keep
your eye on the place where he fell, aud
I'll 90 where l can get down the bank
and work up from below. You can
tell when Pm going right by sesing the
| brush and bushes shake"
Slowly and with great labor the boy
worked carefully mp the tangled place.
"Now you're far enough p'shOuted Stubby
"come right straight up towards me!'
1t was hard work. The side OF the ra-
vine was almost straight, and there was a
| dense network of blackberry bushes, and
| brambles, and nettles TO be pushed aside
| or tramped upon or cut away with his
| knife, and the ground was covered with
| loose stones and rotten roots that gave way
at the touch.
You're almost there" shouted Stubby
Arthur reached up and put his arm
around the stump OF a small tree, but its
roots were brittle with dry rot aud it gave
way with a snap, and the boy fell back.
ward with crash.
Are YOU hurt" shouted StubbY.
"Naw-only the cOnfounded bushes
have scratched me and tore my clothes
about off.
80 Stubby. come here, come herep he
| cried minute afterward.