The record-union., 1894-01-13

face pressed close to a narrow mound of
earth, and her thin arms clasped tightly
around the little weed stained stone at its
head.
A few bounds, like those of some pom
derous animal, brought Zeb beside her.
lie peered sharply in her face, placed his
ear upon her breast, and then beloved
out: "Everlastin' hammers and tongsl
w at never be's th' matter Wi Grandma
'Ullr'
He lifted her in his arms and carried
her into camp as lightly as though she
mad been an infant; with few quick words
IN Romany to his companions he left her
tenderly nursed by the women in Chief
Stanley's tent, and hurrying away in
lew minutes had returned with Mary
Hull, who, ghostly white, but with some
thing OF the calm OF her mothers early
days in her quiet eyes, set straight about
reviying the broken old life, while Jane
and Josh trembling in feeble helpless
ness and terror, soon crouched and
moaned beside the hopeless pair.
Then these strange gypsy folk, marvel
GUS in their cunning as in their bOundless
compassion, drew from Mary and Josh
the whole sad tale: OF the soldier lad who
had suddenly stopped writing to his
mother and had never returned, though
the ever and never despairing mother
heart refused to believe him dead; of
debt growing TO obligation, and it in turn
to encumbrance, which had swallowed
even the lite-time savings of loyal Jane
and Josh, leaving them weakly staring
at the poorhouse door as at an open
grave, and which was to take Maple Hill
farm forever from Grandma Hull this
very day, and, finally, OF the one reent-
less hand that had swept hope and peace
from this wrecked victim of her own
good deeds and ripened the ruin OF de-
fenceless home, when poor old Josh, in an
| agony OF helplessness. piped out:
Its all the doin's-cuss him!-of old
Silas-"
"Slaterl"
The whole camp Missed the name with
lowering brow that told of gypsy dread
and hate.
As if the Old One is ever ready at call,
at this moment smart open buggy in
winch sat Two nen-One weakened old
man, with a frowsy white head dropped
almost out of sight between thin, peaked
shoulders; the other a hard-iaced, oiti-
clous fellow of, perhaps, 10, the village
constable-Was driven from the highway
into the edge of the camp. The younger
man bawled out blusteringly:
Squire Slater here, owns this ranch
arter noon to-day. You tellers kin hev
jess twenty-four hours to mosey outer
this! Dye hear?'
"Pll Jail ev'ry one if they don't. Tell
'em that. jeff. Tell 'em. too" shrieked
the old wretch with savage gesture of
his shrivelled hand towards Maple Hill
farmhouse, that old fool goes, too.
She's run her rope. Can't git another
dollar, can she, jeff"
Not a darned red cent. You fellers
better hustle noWI And with this the
precious pair drove rapidly away to-
wards Milltown, the county seat, twelv g
miles distant.
There were quick movements about the
camp, but not Of preparation for hasty
Hight. Low and rapid consultations by
leaders were held. In one group the
clinking of gold could be softly heard.
The name OF certain Milltown lawyer
was more than once spoken under their
breathS. Three of the best horses were
saddled, and shortly three huge gvpsies,
Chief Stanley, Elias Wharton, whose
vile seemed TO be earnestly urging him
on and kindly Zeb Boswell, were upon
their backs, skimming like swallows
along the pleasant highway in the direc-
tien the Squire and constable had taken.
They soon overlook the conveyance, and,
as they passed it, Chief Stanley said, al
most apologetlcally TO the Squire and his
companions:
Illus be jess rdin' up to Milltown
fur summat as we needs afore breakin'
camp"
All right, Clip" returned Jeff surlily.
"Mosey long. Quicker ye git back am
git out the better" and with a respectful
creased their speed and had soon placed
miles between themselves and the Maple
Valley representatives of the law.
The sun had scarcely turned the shad-
ows of the great maple trees from west to
east across the perturbed camp, when