Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-08-04
THE SHADOW.

overhung at one point by high cliff
known as The Smuggler's Shadow, con-
cerning the origin of which name is
given the following singular story:
"What did you make O. them, Burky'
"They are s'picuous looking crowd,
and 1 set them down as United States
officers"
"Jes' my Judgment; and reckon the
boys had better be put on the lookout"
Correct. Tell them to meet down to
Lingo's and I'll be long later. l jes'
wanter see if everything is all right at
the Horse Shoe"
Hadn't you better take one O the boys
long with you? You
Bah! do you think Burk Brandon
has lost the mettle of this good right
arm? No; I'll go to the Horse Shoe
alone, an I'll come back, too, in spite of
'em hounds of the law"
He was tall, burly framed man,
with coarse features and grizzly locks,
his ungainly form clad in gray suit Of
coarse material.
His companion, though smaller in
stature, was evidently man of his own
stamp.
They were known as farmers by the
few settlers Of that thinly populated
country, though had the truth been
known they, with half dozen others,
followed the more hazardous and un-
lawful vocation of smuggling.
The appearance of several strange
men in that vicinity had naturally
enough aroused their fears. 1t had been
less than year since some officers had
suddenly appeared searching for the
smugglers supposed to be lurking in
that locality. Though they had sue
ceeded in throwing the officials off their
track then it would be more difficult to
do it again.
Anxious each to go his way, the pre-
cious twain separated, the younger has
tening to warn their associates of the
impending danger, while the other bent
their contraband goods.
80 the hounds think to smell me
outv muttered the smuggler chief as he
followed his way. "Well, mebbe they
will, but more'n likely they'll find that
old Burk Brandon has a keener scent
than they!" and he smiled grimly, while
latent fire shone in his small gray
eyes.
1t was already nightfall when he
reached by boat that part of the lakes
shore overlooked by granite cliffs of
considerable height, but the moon hal
risen, so the smuggler was enabled to
pursue his course without difficulty.
Winding his way amid the powders
that hemmed in his path, and then wad-
ing through shallow pool of water, he
finally came upon spot where the cliff
overhanging the water in a semicircle
formed a small cove which could not be
seen until fairly reached.
A narrow shelf about midway ON the
side of the precipitous ascent offered a
foothold, and along this Brandon un-
hesitatingly threaded his course.
When reaching the toe of this shoe
shaped retreat he gained an opening in
the rocky wall where the curious path
way ended.
Entering within the dark recess he
lighted a lantern and began to examine
the place, which was in truth nearly
filled with such articles as he and his
confederates had concealed there, hop
ing to dispose of them at their leisure.
"Poor foolsr' he muttered, ito think
that 1 shall run the risk of staying in
these parts longer. Enough of these
valuables to make me Independent and
am off this very night! Ha! hal some
of this old wine will clear my head for
the work before me-"
Speaking thus to himself, with an oc-
casional potation of the liquor, he passed
perhaps half an hour in collecting the
treasures he wished to take away with
him. Then, with farewell look at the
balance of their plunder, he turned to
retrace his course.
Reaching the mouth Of the cavern he
found that the moon had risen above
the line of the cliff so that its mellow
light fell full upon Horseshoe cove,
lighting the place to almost midday
brilliancy.
Distinguishing the light, he was about
to step out on the rocky pathway when
he started back with a low cry.
Upon the opposite wall of the cliff he
had discovered the shadowy outlines of
man with one hand uplifted and
pointed toward him.
At first lie thought the wine he had
drunk had bewildered his brain and
that the image was but hallucination
He rubbed his eyes and looked again
to find it still there, and after few
minutes he was forced to believe his
sight.
''Hai see!" he chuckled, "'tis some
one on the cliff and his shadow falls on
the rock there. Perhaps tits one of the
officers lookin for mel But his shadow
has betrayed him. I'll wait till he is
gone before l venture out"
On account of a projecting rock he
could not see the pathway from his cov-
ert, and he dared not leave the cave lest
he should be discovered and fired upon
by his foes. Had he been armed with
sther than knife he would have felt