The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-05-21
tie the rope to the pick and fling it up
through that hole?"

the experiment, and he tried without
loss of time. Asingle attempt to throw
the cumbersome anchor up through the
hole in the roof answered the question.
The short-headed pick used by the
miners is much lighter than the common
iimplementof that name, but even with
this advantage he could not throw it to
the required height and, in addition, he
saw at once that, even If he had the
strength, it would take hours of prac-
tice to bring the skill necessary to'en-
able him to hurl the thing through the
narrow gap in the rocks Not TO weary
himself needlessly, he desisted after the
,irsttrial, and sat down to cat hisscanty
supper by the last rays OF fading light.
After it had been washed down by an
other drink from the pool, he made his
simple arrangements 70 pass another
night in the cavern, and tried to go to
sleep; hut his brain was too actively at
work trying to devise new expfdients,
and after tossing and rolling upon his
sandy couch GRANVILLE he sat up to try
to think it out Since the night was
clear and calm, the silence in the cave
was profound, and, knowing that the
ordinary noises of the upper world
could not reach him, he was startled
from his revery by sound like the
shutting of cautious footsteps, followed
Immediately by the appearance of a dull
glow of light in the chamber beyond the
crevice. His first thought WAS that his
captors had come to make another at
|. tempt to kill him, and it brought with
it fit of terror similar TO that which
had attacked himon the previous night,
shut he set his teeth and overcame it,
fiattcning himself against the wall and
waiting breathlessly for what should
follow. 1t was trying moment, and
he was surprised to find himself grow
ing calmer and more collected with the
passing of the tagging seconds; then
the tinglingl of his nerves told him that
he had once more passed the mysterious
boundary between helpless fear and
courageous resolution, and, drawing his
revolver, he waited in grim silence for
the appearance of a faceat the opening.
While he watched, the light began to
fade. and the explanation came to him
at once. They've gone into the mine;
that's better; perhaps can catchthem
/ as they come out" In few minutes
the dull glow began to return, and he
saw the two men as they emerged from
the gallery leading to the mine. They
were talking in low tones, and Ring
brand listened.
"Itol' We hit was too soon" the who
; carried the lamp was saying; "we-all II
= jest have to wait yere spell till them
tellers get sleepy"
/, They passed out of Ripgbrand's range
of vision, but he could still hear every
word that was said, and the reply made
him almost sorry that he had held his
hand while he had them in sight:
they'll get sleepy bime-by. Wonder
if that, thar neighbor of our'n in yon.
der's still a-snoozin' like he was when
We plugged him?", rttr
/ "Ye can jest bet, on hit, Buddy; / low
was some shaky, but l reckon / ain't
missin' anything as big as man at that
thar distance" 9%
There was a little silence, and Their
one of them spoke again: whilst
we're a-waitin' yere, jeff, We mought &c
+ over what you-all's a-figurin' on fer to
norrer night. l hain't got hit right
clear in my haid yet"
"Jest hol' on minute. Gimme thai
thar light, till see if the city feller''
whar he ort to be-" n4
Curiosity to know what was to be ex
planned overcame Ringbrand's desir'
for vengeance, and he crouched in the
shadow while the mountaineer mad'
his investigation. gi
us he thar?" asked the other voice.
"Shore; he's a-layin' right plum whal
he did las night. Don't reckon he evel
moved"
Then Ringbrand understood that tn,
dim light had misled them, and that tn,
shot had been fred at the log. He hat
scarcely time to be thankful that h
had not moved the latter during tn
day, before the light disappeared from
the crevice and the conversation was re
sumed. xs sf S8 HI
Now, about that thar projec' for to
morrer night, Buddy, I'd figured hit jes
this-a-way. julie she'll light out in tn
mornin' for McNairville on the mar
an we'll fetch the rest O. the bosses III
on the mounting by the Dunbar roa
endurin' the day. Then, long late i
: the eyenin', when ever'body's gone t
bald, we-all II jest ride over to tn
coloncl's, leave the bosses with Jed i
that thar little patch O. trees front {
! the house, an then you'n neil go smok
'em ont. When they shows up, you talk
the young un am leave the colonel t
!, me. reckon I'll show him that don
miss the same man tvicct.'
How bout the gal~
"Necdn't to mind bout her; she'
look outfor herself" and then the sam
voice added: II reckon Jed'd.be gla
enough to take keer o. her, if she'd 'lo'
hit" a. .t..i.s
, Even after the convincing object-le!
: son of the attempt upon his own lif,
Ringbrand could scarcely believe til
evidence of his senses. Could it b
possible that these two men were calm
!. " discussing a plot which pointed I
: a double murder as it's object? The
were speaking again, and he straine