Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-09-20

out the other, who was opening ana
shutting the various cupboards and
drawers about the apartment, greedily
cycling their contents.
Halo, here's some silver spoons.
"Stow EN- away and let's be NOV
ing" said Bill "Confound this bag
it iingles like string o sleigh bells -
We'll, come, then, said the other,
discontentedly. 81 opine five hun
dred ain't bad day work but some
how, l thought, from the looks Of the
crib, there might be old silver or some
such grabbings.
And they lounged out, side by side,
with cool deliberation that was al
most appalling to the trembling girl
who lurked in the shadow Of the jag
ged brick work.
But Kitty Clitford's mind had been
at work while she stood there her
resolution was taken.
Hurriedly tying a shawl around her
head and shoulders, she sprang out OF
the house, by the back way, and has
tened through a lonely piece OF woods
which formed short cut to the road
they must presently emerge upon.
"They would be hidden away some
where long before I could sumom
help" thoughtKitty. "No-whateyer
is done I must do myself. "
On either side the road was shut in
by stunted cedar bushes, mingled with
the closer growth of the cleaning sill
ver-birch, and Kitty knew she could
keep in sight of them unseen.
IF they should see me! If they
should suspect my errand," thought
poor Kitty, with thrills of cold terror.
ooh, it would be hard to be muir
dered in these solitary woods; to have
nv master think I stole the gold, and
Mr.. Silas-"
While the thoughts passed through
her mind, the ring of coming footsteps
echoed on the hard, frozen ground.
Kitty's conjecture had proved correct
they had taken the Hill Road.
Onward, steadily onward, they
pushed, Kitty contriving to keep near
Iy parallel with them, though she had
to fight her way through matted vines
and thorny bushes. Fortunately the
wind had risen, and its mournful, rust
ling sound through the tree-tops hld
the noise she unayoidably made, else
her detection would have been little
short of inevitable.
But with every precaution the peril
was great. As she stepped uncon-
sciouslv upon the fallen branch Of a
decayed tree, it snapped beneath her
tread with sharp, splinterin8 sound
The two men paused to listen, seemed
to consult together an instant, and
then turned quickly toward the very
copse in which she was hiding.
Poor Kitty, She sank nolselessly
down like a wounded bird, crouchlng
away in mortal terror. But, although
their footsteps almost touched the
Auttering ends of her brown shawl,
the gathering dusk stood her friend
and they passed by, unconscious OF
her presence.
1t was several minutes before Kitty
dared to rise once more to her feet
and then they were half way up a
hillside, dotted with blackened
stumps, where a charcoal burner
shanty, long unused, and in a rulnous
condition, stood, with its one unglazed
window seeming to survey the valley
like an eye.
Kitty saw them disappear into this
hut-she saw them emerge once more
descending the uneven slope with long
running strides, and striking once
more into the road.
And when they passed the con
cealed watcher, the muffied, jinglin9
sound that had heretofore accompanied
their footsteps was gone.
You re fool, Bill" sullenly ex
claimed one, as they stopped to resi-
on the edge of the road, and the taller
stopped to drink from a clear little
stream, using the hollow Of his hane
as an impromptu goblet.
"No, ! amt a fool, said Bill, dash
ing the bright drops away from hi
mustache; "but don't see no use il