Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-03-28

ter, SO not even the absence of smoke
about the shattered chimney was proof
positive of tho man s presence elsewhere.
1t was il his cottage that Lingo Dan
by this lriquet was the taller of the
two tramps who had been lately depos-
itcd in the brighton cut by an inhospi
table brakeman, known in such circles
as knew hi., at all intimately his
partner lily were housed about
week after their advent in that part of
the country. By marvellous, instinc-
tive faculty of penetration of stilling
his own cr iosity, Lingo Dan had fully
possessed liriself of all tie facrs in con-
rectiol wifi. that shanty before he en-
tered it,
Covered ~ the drifting OF tho snow,
the pIcscncc, these two was absolutely
Unknown !, a soul. In the driving
storm i,;;;s allowed their an ival like
wall of onie:l ali their tracts through the
snow had been obliterated.
Looking out of the eastern window of
the Middals shanty Lingo Dan gave
sigh of admiration. The sun was max
ing million diamcnds dance about the
crust of snow that stretched away over
the fields and on the higwhay. 1t was
like rollicking cowboy shooting until
his victims dance for dear life Clear
as crystal tho air was intensely sensitive
to tone. faroff ringing of sleighbells
sounded with distinctness that belied
distance. Out of the blue of the sky the
glitter of the sun and the fierce purity
of the snow there arose splendid daz-
element that blinded unaccustomed
eyes.
''It would he pathetic" unused Lingo
Dan aloud after passing his hand over
his eyes to shut out the glare that began
to hurt him, ''if we should find our op-
portunity on such a day. Look, Billy,
what day it is! HIM, had not
thought this country capable of SO mag
nificent an effect. And yet, do you
know, l think it is going to snow again
before night?''
Billy offered no reply. He was en-
gagged in cleaning out rife, and at in
tervals he contorted his face into
squint so that he might gauge the nicely
of the barrels internal polish.
''When l come to consider the mat
ter" Lingo Dan went ON, | begin to
regret my harsh words amen that brake
man. He was, as I now see it, an in
strument of benign Providence. Provi-
dence is indeed singularly benign. What
could be handler to our purpose than
this cottage and its associations? Occu-
pied by harmless hermit, it takes on
all the innocuousness possible. Benign
Providence! This man Mjddals is alb
sent, leaving us his shanty and his
shooting irons. Benign Providence! l
feel it in my veins, now tingling with
the excitation so beautiful day has
put me in, that there will presently
come some one whose necessity is not
so great as ours In the interests of lib
erty and equality we must relieve his
person of its v.lluables ere we release
him. | trust ho will not resist. | sim
cerely trust so. But if he tloes'- He
looked at Billy's employment. is it
clean?'
Slick as grease" was Billy's an
swer.
Benign Providence!'
It was as if in response to Lingo Dams
devout utteranco that the eastern hilltop
became at this moment slightly clouded
with a fine povdery mist. Then the
forms Of two persons on horseback ap-
peared upon the slope. 1t twas evident
that their ascent of the farther side had
been accomplished at canter. Even
at that distance, so clear was the day,
L1 h. 4 l. To-
be seen rising about them like halo.
At the first sight of them Lingo Dan,
smiling unctuouslS said, "Ah, Billy,
our prey approaches.
"Oner''
mo, there are two of them. They
are riding. One is man; the other, a
woman. They are young. Judging by
each exhibits in the other, ] should say
they were lovers.
mo good; they ain't!' Billy gave
the rifle last vicious wipe and laid it
upon shelf.
"Haste, my boy, is a dangerous in
diligence. beg to differ. think we
are in particularly good luck. Such
as have been able to take has taught me
that in certain walks of life a young
man never permits himself the company
of young lady without being sure that
he has money in his pocket. Yonder
young man is of that walk in life.
There are, you see, SO many possibili-
ties such contingencies, that to provide
ones self with money before providing
ones self with a companion is merely to
prove ones appreciation of the world
we live in. This applies to Il ride of an
hour as we'll as to marriage for life"
Billy was apparently us 4 to such
lengthy philosophers, for he replied as
if unconscious of the others wordy eff
forts, Say, how about getting away!'
"Easy-ridicuously easy. After OBJ
tanning the reward of our exertions we
drift gently down the slope to the rail
way, and presently boarding freight
turn cur faces to the golden west.
have observed ledge Of rock from
which we can easily propel ourselves
onto the moving cars while the train is
t0iling up the steep grade OF the cut.
We will not be found, if we ever are,
until many miles have been traversed.
An alibi will be complete"
But our tracks from here to the
cut?''
BILLY, you are singularly slow. Do
you see that cloud on the horizon? Be-
fore night it will snow. Our footmarks
will be utterly wiped out. -
Billy considered a moment. Then he
said t1iumphantIy: But the impress
sions will harden this surface. They'll
get onto us if ever they swee, away the
new fall of snow"
Lingo Dan shrugged his shoulders.
whence the inspiration of that remark
l know not. | think you must have
been reading Conan Doyle. Well, you
can bo quite sure that there arc no Sher-
lock Holmeses in this part of the coun-
try. Dear lne!'
At this last exclamation Billy looked
curious. What's up?" he asked.
For an instant or two Lingo Dan
made no reply. He was looking intently
! at the highway on which the two riders
were approaching. In point of fact, the
occurrence that attracted his attention
was singular enough. AS they rode slow
H. /.