Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1893-02-02


ragged assures aud scanned with jutting
lodges. The smoke from his pipe curled
upward through the hOughs of the live
oak beneath which he sat; there was a
subtle brightness and lightness in the at
mOsphere that gave promise of sun
shiny afternoon.
Grizzly Jim was large and gaunt. I'm
der his beetling eyebrows his eyes seemed
to shoulder with a forbidding fire.
Whether he had Won the grim sobriquet
by virtue of his proves in some long
forgotten encounter with the four footed
king of the Sierras, or whether it had
been bestowed upon him because of his
uncOuth appearance and churlish manner
no one in the settlement below could say.
The little cabin on the mountain side and
its lonely dweller antedated their earliest
memory.
There was blithe snatch of song in
the distance, echoed by the steep crags
around; a CHATTER of hoofs along the
rocky trail; smart little mustang dashed
across the clearing and his rider sprang
to the ground, while Grizzly Jim dropped
his pipe in sullen amazement.
'sGood morning, sir" said his visitor,
with friendly smile.
The old miner stared at slip of girl,
cambrc dress, the blouse waist of which
was revealed in a bewildering profusion
of fresh tucks and frills, while piquant
little face looked up at him unabashed,
under tangle of soft brown hair and a
b witching sailor hat. He unfolded his
long legs and rose awkardly, lifting his
torn felt hat with savage courtesy.
1tYou'll excuse me eff l amt up to my
best society manners. I'm not used to
receiving calls from nobody, let alone
young ladies'
ssMy call is not from choice, but from
necessity" returned the young lady with
dignity. ''I'm h re on business. Pm
the Census Marshal for this district
''The dickens you are!" retorted the
miner, but he mentioned a gentleman Of
less repute in polite society and whose
name is better known to Scripture than
to literature. "And what do you reckon
you'll get out of me?"
There was something iE his speech cor
rupted as it was by the vernacular of the
mountains, that suggested the southt
The girls quick ear recognized the IA
miliar note. She was to some extern.
fortified against his gruffness, for she
had heard of him as the terror of census
enumerators, the despair of tax assess
ors; the one man in all the mountain
district who desired no local improve
ments, no advance of civilization, no con-
tact with the world or his fellow men,
and who had for more than forty years
remained mystery to all the COM
munity.
"You have already told me where you
are FROM" she joined pleasantly. "You
are southern man, but l expect you
also to tell me your name and occupa-
ton, where you were born, and whether
you are married or single, and all the
other troublesome little details that the
national government insists upon learn
ing from each loyal citizen"
She took book from pocket in her
saddle flap and advanced upon him, pen
Gil in hand, while she was speaking, but
her heart quaked at her own boldness.
Something in her blithe young face ar
rested the mans surly refusal. He tried
different tactics.
stake a seat. You must be very
tired. It's a rough ride up the trail"
He offered her his only chair, seat
ing himself on a stump. The girl &C
cepted the courtesy, but started as her
hand came in contact with breech load
ing rifle that leaned against the chair.
With queer CLINT in his eye that was
hOO uulihC q dotlC SlCdu VI huLubI3
Grizzly Jim took the Winchester and os-
tentatiously withdrew the charges, then
pulled an ugly looking knife from his
belt and laid rifle and knife on the rude
table that stood between them. as the
savage tremendously lays down his
arms before entering upon parley with
his foe. But there was a limit to his
hospitality, and he was not slow to an
nounce it.
GIL be hanged eff I'll give away my
private affairs to every man, woman or
child that asks. What's it to you, any
way?"
"Its exactly twenty-five CENTS" re-
turned the girl frankly. "That is what
they allow III the thiDly settled mountain
district. You wouldn't be worth so much
if you were down in the valley. Besides
you see, l teach the school in the village,
and the state allowance-pretty much my
whole salary-depends upon the number
of children we can muster in the dis
trict."
"There's no children here, as you can
see," returned her host with grim cheer
and the air Of one who has found an
easy solution for a vexed problem. Sand
as for the two bits'-he thrust his hand
into his trousers pocket and jingled some
coins there while he eyed her tenta-
lively.
i.s'No, ! think you't1ltter not" said