The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-04-29


to say, but the fact is that within one
hour l was dozen times more lost
than Mr.. Truesdell. This possibility
had not occurred to me. had sup
posed that with the woods full of men
should only have to lift up my voice to
bring immediate assistance. So. when
perceived that was advancing along
the circumference of circle, and had
climbed the same rail fence four times,
i decided that it would be wise to veil
once or twice by way of experiment.
1t was disastrous failure. ! got
scared Mt the vastness of the silence
around me, and, starting up, plunged
ahead through the Shiny underbr1,sh
Twenty minutes later j was sitting on
small but very cold stone, which
remembered having passed several
times before. was chilled so thor
oughly that the separate pieces of my
spinal column knocked together with
a sound like q boy learning to play the
bones" There was no doubt that !
was lost, and, in the new light which
that days events had thrown upon
searching parties, had no hope that
should ever be found. ] recalled the
disgraccful things which had been said
about Mr. Truesdell, and reflected with
pride that my character was beyond
reproach. pictured the deep and
poignant sorrow of my many friends and
admirers. 1t was too much. could
not bear the thought of their grief.
arose, and clearing my throat with a
little ''red-eye," yelled again
This time it was not in vain; a voice
quite near answered me. 1t came from
beyond clump of trees and lost not
a second in plunging through. On the
other side n tall man stood in a fairly
well-beatcn path. / fell on my knees
and thanked him as my preserver. I
told him that he had laid an eternal
debt of gratitude upon me. / assured
him that all my debts were practically
eternal, and that / would save his for
the very last. Also, I said that graft
tude was due him from the entire coun-
try, which would have mourned my
loss. He assured me that the matter
was of no consequence whatever; and
then he asked what was doing ont in
the woods. My spirits had revived so
much ut the sight of rescue that was
able to give him a vivacious account of
the disappearance of Rev. Mr.. Trucs-
dell
''Of course" said I, "the man hns
skipped. ! saw that at glance. He
is evidently bad egg, from all that
can find ont from those who know
him."
Il grievc to hear it," replied the
stranger. What have you learned
about him."
thcreupon related all the disagree
able things which had been whispered
around the shores of Hot Hole pond.
He appeared to be deeply moved; so
deeply, indeed, that asked if he had
known the missing man particularly
well.
"Quite we'll, young man." said he. ''I
am Mr.. Truesdell!'
! nearly fell dead in the wet grass.
II have been to Jonesvillc," he con-
tinued, land sent word to my family
of my intention to remain over night.
1t seems that they did not receive it,
but they must by this time have been
relieved by telegram I sent from
Jonesville. am just returning from
the station at Waycross."
The remainder of our interview con-
sisted of feeble attempts at apology
from me, and as they did not appear to
impress Mr.. Truesdell they probably
would not interest the reader.
An hour later 1 hired horse and
wagon and set out for roadhouse at
the north end of the woods, where /
was told that most of the searchers
would assemble. found about thirty
men there, including Carter, and lost
no time in telling them the news.
said: "Rejoicc with me, for our worthy
friend has returned"
They did not rejoice. never saw so
disguised a set of men in my life. They
appeared to regard Mr.. Truesdell's con
duct in remaining alive as a base in
jury and an attempt to cast ridicule
upon Somcsville.
$50 he's been warm and comfortable
while we've been tramping our legs
off," said one.
Perhaps he thinks it's funny to
make me pull the bottom out of Hot
Hole pond on day like this" put in
the fisherman. l showed them con-
clusively that Mr.. Truesdell was in no
way to blame; but they shook their
heads. and the sentiment of the
party was expressed by a gray-haired
farmer from Somesville Center. "If
Trucsdell thinks this is the way to
make himself poplar in our town. he's
more darncd badly mistaken than any
man since the Teller who told Noah il
wasn't goin to rain"
IIOwARD EJEJ DJNo