Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1896-07-25

"Thar's them that modg ht hurt you
all, if they found you yere. You're the
man that's stoppin' at Tom Ludlow's,
amt YEP"
"Yes,"
81 knowed hit, the minute I sot eyes
ON ye-" she hesitated, and seemed to
be weighing her words. ST amt got no
call to be helpin' you all, but don't be-
lieve ye're in with the rest of 'em; We
don't look like hit. But that thar won't
help you none, lsss'n We stay at home
an min yer own business. / low We
done heard the story bout the dog t
got hisself killed cause he didn't have
| no better sense than to run with the
wolves?"
"Yes, I've heard it,
"Well, l hain't got nothin' more to
say, 'ceptin' that hits gettin' late an
ye'd better be trampin'. Jest wait a
minute"
She disappeared in the house and
came out again in a moment with a
sunbonnet drawn over her head.
'Thar's short cut over the shoulder o.
the mounting, an l low ye'd better
take hit; yell be a heap less hker to
meet up with the folks that d ask We a
sight more questions n what 1 have.
Come on"
She entered the forest at the rear of
the house, and Ringbrand followed her
In silence. Half way up the mountain
they came to an indistinct trail which
led them by many devious windings to
| the base of the cliffs, and, skirting these,
| Ringbrand found himself, for the Sec
ond time that day, standing on the
| small plateau at the mouth of the Nc
| Nabb tunnel.
That's yer way" said julie, indicat-
| ing the road leading to the valley. jest
keep straight on till We get down the
mounting; we cayn't miss hit, nohow."
Ringbrand lifted his hat again: I'm
sure l thank you very much; it's good
of you to take so much trouble on my
account"
"Nev' mind bout that; but you all
take my advice an don't come prowlin'
round this yere cove no more. Yer
| p'liteness moughtn't get we out ag'in,
next time"
She turned abruptly and left him to
make his way back to Tregarthen, and
neither of them saw the parting of the
bushes at the top of the cliff through
which pair of malevolent eyes
watched their movements. Before
starting on his homeward walk, sud-
den impulse prompted Ringbrand to
climb once more into the abandoned
coal working. The place was darker
now that the sun had gone behind the
mountain, and it was some time before
he could see well enough to make out
the dim outlines of the interior; when
he was able to do so, he saw that the
lighted a match, and, on finding the
/ place, discovered that the aperture had
been plugged from above with a frag-
ment of stone which fitted accurately
enough to make IL appear to be only one
of the rough inequalities of the tunnel
roof. When he realized that this had
been done since his visit of a few hours
nefore-that those who did it might
even now be in the upper gallery, OF
hidden in the dusky shadows near al
!, hand-a very panic of terror seized him
~
foreAhe could struggle out into the oper
air again. Once outside of the tunnel
he fed down the rough mountain road
never looking behind him or stopping
to take breath until he was halfway
; to the valley; then the stimulus of feal
suddenly left him, and he sat down
upon fallen tree, covering his face
). with his hands, and wishing, in his
shame and humiliation, that he hao
,, never been born. He stayed there unit
the lengthening shadows warned him
that evening was approaching, ant
then, pulling himself together, he rose
and went slowly back to Tregarthen
It was nearly dark when he reached thu
village, and he found Mrs. Ludlow sit
ting on the veranda.
Pm proud of you, Mr.. Ringbrand,
she said, as he came up the steps; "yo'
don't deserve to be helped. Ipersuadet
Hester to stay to tea and had it all ar
ranged that you were to see her safel,
home; and you had to go and spoil i
all by staying away! Where in tn
world have you been?"
81 am very sorry to have failed you
l took long walk and went farthe
than intended to. l hope Miss Lati
rer did not have to go back alone ?
Ringbrands voice was grave, and hi
tone was submissively Sapologetic
NO; Tom went up with her" reptile
Mrs. Ludlow, going before him into tn
dining-room and lighting the lamp
I'm afraid you won't get much for SUP
per-" she added, sitting down to pou
his tea.
more than l need-or deserve"
said, making brave effort to simulat
an appetite for the belated meal.
Mrs. Ludlow, sitting opposite, nc
ticed that he ate next to nothing; an
she saw that something was troublin
him. They were old friends, and ha
been well acquainted in the days whe
Ringbrand was struggling apprentie
in the literary workshop and Ludlow
small-salaried clerk in an engineerin
I Office What is it, Hugh?' she aske'
a with kindly sympathy; sis it anythin