The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1896-06-19

hurt anyone"
"Thar's them that mought hurt you
all, if they found you yere. You're the
man that's stoppin' at Tom Ludlow's,
amt YEP"
EYES," Sc
81 knowed hit, the minute sot eyes
on ye-" she hesitated, and seemed to
be weighing her words. Il amt got no
lieve ye're in with the rest of 'em; We
don't look like hit. But that thar won't
help you none, less'n We stay at home
an min yer own business. I 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."
"Wer, / hain't got nothin' more to
say, 'ceptin'' that hits gettin' late an
ye'd better he trampin'. Jest wait a
minute
e She disappeared in the house and
came out again il a moment with a
sunbonnet drawn over her head.
"rhar's a short cut over the shoulder o
the mounting, an low ye'd better
| take hit; yell be heap less liller to
meet up with the folks that d ask We a
sight more questions N what l 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
81, al, IL
Hingbrand 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 1 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 a pair of malevolent eyes
watched their movements. Before
starting on his homeward walk, a 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
hole in the roof had disappeared. He
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 it 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 few hours
before-that those who did it might
even now be in the upper gallery, or
hidden in the dusky shadows near at
hand-a very panic of terror seized him,
and he thought he should suffocate be-
fore he could struggle out into the open
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 fear
suddenly left him, and he sat down
} upon q fallen tree, covering his face
with his hands, and wishing, in his
shame and humiliation, that he had
never been born. He stayed there until
the lengthening shadows warned him
that evening was approaching, and
then, pulling himself together, he rose,
and went slowly back to Tregarthen.
It was nearly dark when he reached the
| village, and he found Mrs. Ludlow sit
| ting on the veranda.
I'm proud of you, Mr.. Ringbrand,'
she said, as he came up the steps; you
don't deserve to be helped. persuaded
| Hester to stay to tea and had it all ar
ranged that you were to see her safely
home; and you had to go and spoil is
all by staying away! Where in the
world have you beeE?'
II am very sorry to have failed you.
I took long walk and went farther
than 1 intended to. 1 hope Miss Lati-
mer did not have to go back alone?''
Ringbrand's voice was grave, and his
tone was submissively apologize.
No; Tom went up with her. replied
Mrs Ludlow. going before him into the
dining-room and lighting the lamp.
I'm afraid you won't get much for sup
per-" she added, sitting down to pour
his tea.
o"More than I need-or deserve" he
said, making brave effort to simulate
an APPETITE for the belated meal.
Mrs. Ludlow, sitting opposite, no
ticed that he ate next to nothing; and
she saw that something was troubling
him. They were old friends. and had
been well acquainted in the days when
Hi1gbrand was struggling apprentice
in the literary workshop and Ludlow a
small-salariedoc clerk in an engineering
Office. what is it, Hugh? ?" she asked,
with kindly sympathy; sis it anything
about Hester?"
NO; that is, it is nothing that she
las said or done"
Wont you tell me about it? Per-
haps could help you"
II can't tell you now,"s he replied,
pushing his chair back at the sound of
Ludlow's step on the veranda. Il don't
feel equal to talking tonight, and
1 boro x-o,, will oxouSa mo ~ I trc 70 n, Y,