Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-07-30

in the kitchen after JEFF made this an
nouncement. Bud put his gun together
and loaded it carefully, sitting quietly
afterward with the weapon across his
knees; and Jed came out of his dark
corner to feel mechanically on the high
mantel shelf for his pipe. The night
had closed in with storm signals flying
in the western sky, and the rising wind
began to sigh dismally through the
trees, sending occasional pufrs eddying
down the chimney to scatter little
clouds of light ashes from the expiring
cmbers on the hearth. The measured
sob of the great engine at the furnace
rose and fell on the breeze, mingling its
tones with the hoarser mutterings of
the approaching storm. At the head
of the cove there is a deep cleft in the
perpendicular wall of rock, known to
the dwellers in Harmony Valley as
"The Chimney" With the breath of
the tempest, the fissure becomes the di-
apason of natures great organ, and al
ready its deep reedy voice could be
heard, filling the cove with sound like
the rushing of the waves on a sandy
beach, or like the distance-softencd
roar of mighty cataract. From his
watch tower in the blasted oak behind
the barn, n great owl added his mourn
ful call to the weird noises of the night,
while all the shriler and cheerfullcr
voices of nature were hushed and silent
in the presence of the storm-king. jeff
Bynum continued his monotonous walk
up and down the narrow limits of the
kitchen, stopping at each turn to peer
out of the windows into the thickening
gloom.
Bud was the first to speak. "What-all
does We low to do bout hit, jeff" he
inquired.
The elder brother dropped into 4
chair and thrust his hands deep into his
pockets. II low I don't jest rightly
know, Buddy-I don't, for fact; thar
cayn't be no mistake; l amt nowise
likely to forget that thar face; hits
been q harnt to me more'n one night
sence l seed hit; hit has, for shore"
Jed got up and threw another stick
Of wood on the fire. aye reckon ye're
plum shore, Jeff?" he asked. "'Pcars
like this yere feller's been mindin' his
own business tol'able clost sence he
come to the settlement"
mo, Jed, he hain't; that's what's
a-rattlin' me. He was a-pryin' round
this yere very cove only day before yis
tiddy; seed him; an j Jule she took him
up the mounting and p'inted him the
way back from the McNabb."
"Jule!"
"Yes, julie. low she didn't know
who r what he was. She done left him
standin afore the mouth of the tunnel.
An that amt the mos curiousest part
o. hit; he scrambled into the hole over
the broken rocks, an jest about min
ute afterwards he come a-pilin' out O
thar like he seed a harnt, an the last
seed O. him he was a-makin' the longest
kind O. tracks to'rdst the valley
What d We reckon he seed in thar"
"Tll ncv' tell yc; but that hain't the
questions; hit looks mighty like he's a
sneakin' round yerc to fin out some
tnIn DOVl Nt-lll, an 1 ItAho-l
got to be somethin' done"
Bud glanced around into the gather
ing shadows in the room, and asked:
"Whar's Julc?"
81 dunno" replied JEFF; "gone to
bald, reckon
Bud stood his rifle in the chimney
corner and went out, coming back in
a moment to say: 81 reckon she has;
leastways, thar no light
Another interval of oppressive 81
lence followed Buds assurance. The
three men sat around the hearth, each
knowing the others thought, and each
hoping that one of the others would
put the pitiless suggestion into words.
While they waited the first great drops
of rain pattered on the roof. and the
soughing of the wind through the tree
tops and the louder growing of the
thunder, drowned the roar OF 1.-The
Chimney" The dusky interior of the
kitchen grew more shadowy as the
handful of fire on the hearth died down,
and the darkness was intensified by an
occasional flash of lightning contrast
ing it's glare with the twilight of the
room. The red glow from the Goals fell
upon the faces of the three brothers
grouped abont the fireplace and sitting
in silent judgment upon man whose
only otfense was his resemblance to
some other man. Each of the three felt
that there was a terrible margin of
doubt, and yet each knew that it was
only doubt and not certainty. If their
prisoner and the single witness of Jetf's
crime were identical, there could be no
safety for at least one of them while
the man lived; if Motif jeff were mis-
taken, after all - the alternative was
sufficiently dreadful to make them he's
itate to give it shape in speech.
The suggestion came finally from the
one who was most deeply concerned.
Jeff rose slowly and took down his rifle
from it's pegs over the mantel. Il reck-
on hits got to he done, boys" he said,
huskily. II hate hit mighty bad, but 1
cayn't affo'd to take no chances"
Bud joined him at once, but Jed hes
itated. "You don't have to come, jed"
said the elder brother; 'two of us is
enough, an know ye amt afeard."
I'm goin' long with you-all, only
I hope yere pow'ful shore, jeff; seem
like hits mighty tough to 60 an shoot
him like he's rat in a hole, less ye're
p'int-blank certain ye got to do hit
They went out noiselessly, SO as not
to awaken julie, and jeff led the way to
the trail up which the woman had pi-
loted Ringbrand two days before, The
wind had risen to gale, and it was
wringing and twisting the trees above
their heads; but the rain delayed and
the storm seemed to be blowing over.
When they reached the base of the