Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-08

''Sunburned. like the man up the noun
tain?"
Yes. but just as other men are sun
burned. I'm brown myself, you know.
Look at mer
Elsie shuddered slightly.
Don't say YOU are like either of them
she said. Go on
We'll, this man had full beard streaked
with gray: don't believe 1 noticed any
thing else
Had you never seen him before?"
Never
Elsie was silent a moment before she
said:
Il thought all manner Of strange things
1t seemed as If this man had come to take
me away from you Just as soon as
saw that there was trouble of some kind l
wsnted to run to you. but mother held me.
There was danger for me, Will, or she
wouldn't have held me so.''
II was sweet to VIII, this confession that
Elsie already turned instinctively to him
lor protection. How he vowed with mighty
emphasis that she should never find him
lacking In time Of need, and how he wish
ed that this unknown trouble would SO
shape itself that he could be called upon
passed his lips while Gran'pa Kirk slept
on, and when the clicking of the latch
foretold the return of Mr.. and Mrs War
rem from the kitchen, Elsie suddenly dis
SO was win, and yet only two chairs-and
she hastily withdrew to the window, leav-
ing VIII to rise awkwardly by himself
Wlu, began Mr. Warren. while his wife
set lamp on the table, I'VE don't need
to say, L spose. that this matter ought not
to be spoken of in the village?"
No, sir" replied VIII, Il wont say a
word.''
LAS for what 1 did, YOU must remember
that l have been soldier, lad and the
old habit of dealing shortly with an enemy
came upon me when-when 1 thought there
was danger. 1 shouldn't have touched
a he riff
thought quick enough"
ut was natural enough, Nick" said the
younger man: .! only thought of the
no idea of what it was"
1T would sound very funny, wouldn't it,
IL should say there wasn't any danger at
all? Well, that's about it: Martha and
were startled, that's all. You SEE
We hadn't seen this gentleman for many
years" interposed Mrs. Warren, quietly, as
her husband hesitated. I'VE didn't know
what 1t might mean, but we both see that
We should have received him differently
Both of you, please do not ask us about it
till we ourselves know more. We'd like TO
have you help us, WILL
Yes m" exclaimed Will, eagerly
Il want to see that man again." said Mr.
Warren. Like as not he'll come back. so
l don't want to leave the house lust vet
Won't you inquire around among the neigh
bcrs and see If anything has been seen Of
him?''
Sure responded VIII, reaching for his
hat. I'll find him easily enough
Tell him we beg that he will come
back" said Mrs Warren.
Isn't there any danger?' asked Will
anXously.
|, None whatever" replied her father en-
phaticaiiy. DO YOU suppose an old soldier
would send another man on his errand if
there was any danger in it?
This answer was conclusive even to Elsie
and VIII set forth without delay.
1t was, indeed, an easy matter to get
ha Of
seen him walking along the road late that
afternoon, and pretty much all the male
population of Granite, not counting those
with whom We are acquainted, said so
when win inquired at Sam Springer's gen.
eral store. Better than that, Sam himself
was next>to certain that he knew where
the man had gone, though not a soul knew
who he was or had even seen him. VIII
lodged their questions with honest success
for he knew little more than they did, and
learned from Sam Springer that the strang-
er had tried to hire from him a deserted
2bin part way I'D Baker mountain for a
few days shelter:
He said he was used to the forests, and
didn't tackle kindly to houses" said Sam
and L asked him if he was a city chap
come up for fishing or shooting He said
he wasn't, and l told him to take the
cabin and welcome. l didn't want no money
from man like ourselves. And he went
up there. You'll find him there now, |
guess"
1t was perhaps, half an hour after Will
had returned to Mr.. Warrens with this in
formation, for Elsie's home lay on the way
to Baker mountain, that Granite was ey-
cited by the arrival of a dusty stranger
drawn by a dusty horse. The stranger
allgnted at Sans store, and, after arrans-
ing for accommoda ton of himself and horse
-for the night at neishboring house. asked
much the same question that VIII had
asked.
my rame's Golding-Ben Golding." he
said frankly, land l want to find that man
No matter why. Somebody show me the
way"
Two of the villagers volunteered to po
with him, but he was in no such hurry tina +
he could not stop for supper, and SO another
half hour passed before he started on his
search.
Meantime Mr.. Warren, knowing exactly
where Sam Springer's cabin was, had left
the house and gone up the mountain alone
1t was not the same road down which the
lovers had come. although it branched
from the highway not far from Mr.. War
ren's house. Will had offered to go with
him, but Mrs. Warren had quietly said that
ii was better that her husband should go
alone
There is no more danger for him than
for you" she added, and SO VIII remained
to the great content of Elsie, and, / doubt
not, of himself.
1t had not been more than twenty min
utes before Mr.. Warren dashed up the
path between the hollyhocks and sun
flowers and burst eXcitedly into the sitting
room. His face was more CHASTITY pale and
drawn than when he had driven the visi-
tor forth with his rife. For moment he