Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-03-02
CHAPTER XVII.
SPECIAL PROVIDENCE.

Here None of that!"
With one foot out of the bed, Cole
Winters paused and looked curiously at
the speaker.
He WIS o man of small stature, his
height being apparently something less
than five feet. But what he lacked of
the full proportions" of mln in that
regard was amply compensated for in
the breadth and thickness of his
body. His arms, too, were large and
muscular, his enormous knotted hands
extending fully half way down his legs,
which were the only portion OF his body
that appeared dwarfed.
This circumstance, however, gave him
a grotesque, almost ludicrous appearance,
which brought n smile to the pale lips of
our hero. But an instant later an awful
food of dark and bitter memories surged
in upon him and fairly swept it from his
face.
In the midst of question Cole paused
and looked searchingly ground.
He found himself in large room which
seemed 10 contain no furniture except
chair, stove, an old lounge, rickety
table upon which stood number of bot
ties, and the bed, where Cole half sat,
half reclined.
The floor was unexpected and the light
half excluded from the one window by an
old blanket which was tackled across its
lower portion.
Amt much acquainted hereabouts?"
oueried the man, whose age seemed to be
so wears at least, as he seated himself on
the chair and assumed q hideous look,
which Cole subsequently determined was
intended for a smile.
Il should say notl" responded the as
tonished and bewildered young man.
Probably you don't know me?"
For the apparent purpose OF aiding our
hero in identifying him, the man stood
up to the extent that his diminutive legs
permitted, a-d turned his huge face full
upon his observer.
Reckon you can call me down now, "
said he.
"I must admit that cannot.
Propose to repudiate me, do you?"
The short man snapped this out, and
flung himself back upon the chair.
Certainly not, returned the now thor
oughly mystified young man. The fact
is that don't
"That's a fact. That's one Oh you,
JerrY Moore You were leeJle TOO
small to remember me, guess"
Where Colo had wondered before, he
marveled now. Once more he looked at
the melger appointments of the room,
and returned his gaze to the face of the
man who half way announced his name to
be Jerry Moore.
II don't understand. You'll have to
explain, replied he, making an effort to
rise to his feet.
None of that! You lie down."
In q mlnner tiger-like, both as TO
ouickness and ferocity, the man sprang
forward and forced Cole back upon the
bed.
"rm in the hands of lunatic,
thought the latter. who, partly as a mat
ter of policy, but principally from a feel
ing OF weakness, quietly maintained the
position into which he had fallen.
For a moment only the evil light shone
in the mans largo and expressive eyes.
This subsidized as suddenly as 1t I'd
famed up, and be quietly resumed his
seat.
Lie still ana I'll tell you all about it.
I'm your Uncle Jerry.
nor" replied our hero. thinking to
humor his self-announced relative.
"You can gamble on it and win. But
they don't know it..
MOI" said Cole again.
L should say not Do you suppose
that they are fools enough to think that
old Jerry Moore would make way with his
own flesh and blood. Theyethink I'm
bad. and I'm leetle grain worse n they
think. lut wouldn't do that.
This was becoming interesting. Cole
Winters felt that the mystery surround