Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-03-11


to be trusted, and the man on the stile
stood in sore need Of friend.
He was by her side in few swift
strides. She could see his broad chest
heave with the breath that came in
pants.
You are alOne?" he asked
She trembled at the eager excite
ment OF his voice and manner but her
fright did not appear in the drawled
answer:
WAL. what il I be-"
Hide me and keep my secret"
what for shall I hide your" Who
be You and what you bepp to? Noon
shinin' -
He cast about him excitedly with
eyes that looked like a hunted animals.
If YOU don't want TO have murder or
your soul, hide ne | got into trouble
down Davis Dell. A man was killed,
Circumstances pointed to me. A posse
is looking for me. I've been running
and hiding for two days I'm about
spent. If they get me III hang. For
heavens sake. girl, hide me quick"
quick was word seldom heard in
that locality, more seldom acted upon.
She released the corners of her apron
and let the shelled corn stream into a
woodn bowl at her feet. She never
once took her eyes of the travelled
stained garb and the haggard face of
the man before her. She carefully
brushed the loose bran from her work
roughered hands before speaking
again
"AnH no Won hIno1ot,iIf,-
Il am not"
you don't look like Lumley Pass
folks. You be from town somewhere, l
reckon. How can l tell whether you
be lyin' to me or nOt?"
Il swear before heaven I am limo
cent"
She darted away from him, but was
back before he had time 10 conjecture.
She held a tattered, backless book in
her hand.
This were mammy's Bible. Can you
swear on that?'
The stranger laid his right hand sol
EMMY on the book:
"By Your mothers Bible.
Come long. then. Pop and the boys
will be home soon
She wrapped the book in her apron.
She turned swiftly and led the way to
an Old stable. many degrees more dilap-
itated than the dwelling-house-which
is condemning il totally. Slipping
through a crevice by preference TO wres-
Ting with the huge, manageable
doors, she pointed upward 10 a lott rag
gedly filled with hay. The man was
close behind her.
climb up and burrOw under the hay.
Quick hear mighty rampin' OF
hoofs. But don't YOU be scared, I'll
manage them. You can trust me,
Ii took the fugitive but a second to
vault upon the ramshackle feed trough
and from that into the hay lott She
standing on the edge of the trough,
scattered hay over him literally She
was singing Justify, somewhat dlscord-
antly. entirely by home made meJhoos'
while she was about II.
The tramping of feet had succeeded
10 that OF hOOfs. Filling her arms with
hay. still signing at the TOP of her voice.
( Sue left the barn just in time TO confront
her father. brothers and a half dozen
of other mountaineers. She leaned
against the barn door and stared at
them
In the name OF wonder, folks, what's
up? Barn raisin,?
On the top Of the hay with which her
arms were filled lay her blue apron
folded abou, the old Bible. She specu-
lated vaguely about the probable fate
oc a girl who should tell a lie with rhe
Bible right under her nose. Her father
was spokesman for the searching party.
"Jeb Wilson's been done for down in
Davis Dell by a town chap. We's
lo0kin for him. Seen anybody pass
this way. Sus?'
Sue laughed scOrnfully:
Likely. amt il, so many folks pass
this wayr
Her father laid his hand on the
clumsy latch TO the sagging barn door.
Sue Strengthened her back against 1t
resolutely.
Not in there. pop. I've just found
that old yell5r turkey we thought the
minks had got. She's settin' up in the
hay loft. and I wouldn't have her pes
tered for forty Jeb Wilson's No, l
Wouldn't She do look so peaceful and
proud like. Bud Frank, take the gen.
tlemel TO the spring house and give EN-
a bait er bu-termilk. Fresh churned
this mornin', gentlemen. And you uns
do look like you'd been swallerin' 20
peck er dust all t'Oncet."
Lumley took his hand off the latch
and faced towards the men.
Were fcclin away valerble time,
gents. VIII you step down to the milk
house and Wet yo' whistles before we
start ag'in?"
Wont the gentlemen stay and take
a bite Sues hospitality waXed urgent
as she perceived her father was bent
on pushing forward 'Twon't take
me more'n half an hour, pop, to get en-
somethin' hot"
They'll have something hot when
we ketch the eeller that done for Jeb
Wilson: so will he
This witticism revived the tagging
energy Of his followers. and after hur-
ried excursion TO the spring house. Sue
had the satisfaction OF seeing them
mount their horses and disappear down
the steep. stony bride path by which
they had come.
When the last hcof beat had ceased TO
sound upon the rocky ground. she fed
her prisoner, and leading him down
with provisions and good advice. sent
him away in an opposite direction from
that taken by The horsemen. He turn
ed and waved lis hat to her before the
black woods swallowed him up.
"Of course, I won't never see him
again" she said. stolidly. and I don't
know as I care to; but lied for him.
r.foN+ on +oD 0f mqnmV'S Pfbla and
that's goin' TO maks it hard for me to
forget him out and cut"
Tn point of fact. she found it'impos-