The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-04-05

summit of the arid slope leading down
to the rails. For good many years
this shanty had been the home, if ono
may use tho word so lightly, of GER
tain Doc Medals, concerning whom but
little seemed to BIO known, save that he
was "baching it," Just what presump-
ton of ownership or interest in tho
shanty or its surroundings went with
Medals system of occupation there
teemed to be no one willing to testify.
This Doc Middals was n qncer fellow,
who rarely spent more than Il month or
two ut time in tho shanty, and his 60
ings and comings were so cratic, his
place SO remote from the view of other
habitations that tho question of his
presence or absence was always an open
one. The farmers who passed on the
highway had long since given up specu-
lating on the subject. Medals frequent
ly denied himself Il fire even in mldwin-
ter, SO not even tho absence of smoke
about tho shattered chimney was proof
positive of the man. presence elsewhere.
1t was in this cottage that Lingo Dan
by this sobriquet was tho taller of the
two tramps, who had been lately depos-
tied in the Brighton cut by an inhospi-
table brakeman, known in such circles
as knew him at all intimately and his
partner Billy were housed about a
week after their advent in that part of
tho country. BY marvellous, instinc
two faculty of penetration of sitting
his own curiosity, Lingo Dan had fully
possessed himself of all the facts in CON
nection with that shanty before he en-
tered it,
Covered by tho drifting of tho snow,
the presence of these two was absolutely
unknown to soul. In the driving
storm that followed their arrival like a
wall of omen all their tracks through tho
snow had been oblitcrated.
Looking out of the eastern window of
the Medals shanty Lingo Dan gave a
sigh of admiration. The sun was max
ing million diamonds dance about the
crust OF snow that stretched away over
tho fields and on the higwhay. 1t was
like rOllicking cowboy shooting until
his victims dance for dear life. Clear
as crystal the air was intensely sensitive
to tone. faroif ringing of sleghbclls
sounded with distinctncss that bclied
distance. Out of tho blue of the sky the
glitter of tho sun and the fierce puritv
of tho SHOW there arose splendid daZ-
element that blinded unaccustomcd
eyes.
1t 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 Il day Look, Billy.
what day it is! I'm, | had not
thought this country capable of so mag
nlflcent an effect. And vet. do YOU
know, think it is going to snow again
before night?''
Billy offered no reply. Ho was en-
gagged i'll cleaning out rifle, and at in
tervals he contorted his face into n
squint so that no might gauge the nicely
of the barrels internal polish.
When l como to consider tho mat
ter, y Lingo Dan went on, Il begin to
regret my harsh words anent that brake
man. He was, as l now SEQ it, an in
strumcnt of IA benign Providence. Provi-
denco is indeed singularly benign. What
could bc handler to our purpose than
this cottage and its associations? Occu-
pied by harmless hermit, it takes on
all the lnnocuousncss possible. Benign
Providence! This man Medals is alb
sent, leaving us his shanty and his
shooting irons. Benign Providence!
feel 1t in my veins, now tingling with
tho eXcitation SO beautiful day has
put me i'll, that there will presently
come some one whose necessity is not
SO great rs ours. In the interests of lib
erty and equality wo must relieve his
person of its valuablcs ere we release
him. trust no will not resist. | sin
cercly trust So But if he does He
looked at Billy's employment. SIS it
clean:"
Slick rs grease" was Billy's an
swer.
Benign Providence"
1t was as ii i'll response to Lingo Dan s
devout nttcrance that the eastern hilton
became ut this moment slightly cloudcd
with fino powdery mist Then the
forms Of two persons OH horseback an
peared upon the slope. 1t was evident
That their ascent of tie farther side had
been accomplished ut canter. Even
at that distance, so clear was the day.
the breath from he horses nostrils could
bo seen rising about them like halo.
At tho first sight of them Lingo Dan.
smiling unctuously said, "Ah, Billy.
our prey approaches.
"Onc!'
No, there are two of them They
are riding. One is Il man; the other, a
woman. They arc young. Judging 10y
their present lettering and the interest
each exhibits in the other, should say
they were lovers
No good; they ANTI" Billy gave
c..-.H L.. -: =. =.