Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-03-25
CHAPTER XVI.


Rob was utterly without fear. She
thought nothing Of going anywhere
about the plantation at any hour Of day
or night. She walkod slowly along tho
mill road, her head bare, her eyes up
raised. now to the twinkling stars, now
to the lace Of branchy boughs thrust be-
tween her and the sky.
1T is almost too delicious to sleep to-
night" she said. II have a great mind
to moon about here in The dew for an
hour But maybe had better 60 home.
Though pnppy is safe in Lions guard,
he may bo wskcful and fret for me-.
So thinking, she went quickly for.
ward, stopping 50 light the grass hard.
ly bent for her tread. The house was
dark and silent when she camc to it.
Lions big bulk made shaggy blur OF
white upon the floor Of the long hall.
Doors at either end stood wide to the
vagrant air, and from the big square
front room to the right came the sound
Of gentle breathing, even and regular as
that OF q child Rob listened to 1t .
minute, then stole back into the silver
fiber strung to it's utmost pitch, and
sleep out Of the question. She strayed
on to the garden and laid her cheek
against the full dew wet roses. She
plucked Glove pink. too. and set 1t at
her throat Jack loved the pinks most
Of all her flowers. Afterward she never
smelled them without recalling that
eerie night
On she wandered to her mothers
grave. a green mound OF dewy myrtle.
into the orchards beyond, almost out
into the road again. then stopped short
Her keen ear had caught most uncom.
mon sound for tho time and place It
was low, but vibrant, the tramp Of
many hoofs sharply in motion. "Iwon.
dor-let mo see what that means" Rob
said half aloud, making swiftly toward
the house. As she entered II Lion sat
upright, with his nose in air, as though
on the point OF bowling. Rob softly 81.
fenced him and caught her rife from
the rack 1t was her sole personal ex-
travagance-a magazine gun, light aud
trustworthy. Lion. watching her, crawl
ed to her feet, giving out little, low, ap.
pealing whines, yet not Offering to un-
crouch without her word.
mo! Keep guard Good boy Guard -
Rob said, shaking her head and running
lightly away. The dog quivered all over
III his eagerness to follow. but lay ODE.
diently OH the floor, head to the wind.
Il do wonder what it can be- Rob
repeated. Then she laughed aloud and
added, II wonder why l wonder when
/ shall certainly soon find ont"
Teddy Barton was always hospitable,
especially with his employer out OF the
way. But those about him the night OF
the party were amazed ut the lavishness
with which he set out things to eat and
drink, particularly to drink. One round
of bottles was not empty before fresh
ones were IN their place. There was no
great company Of the revelers. only two
Of Teddy's chums. man OK two from
the hoop pole region who were each in
Mr.. Topmark's debt, and Enoch Annis.
whom Teddy called familiarly Noob.
All these Teddy kept uproariously 60
ing. BY midnight. what with his wit
and whisky, they were drunken ripe for
any sort of adventure-all. that is, save
Annis. He had grown more sober and
saturnins apparently with each glass.
Indeed, he said oontemptuously aside,
"Teddy was blame slow in bringin
things to bead" But Teddy answered
only with q wink and an explosive gig
gle, then struck up wildly:
"Cyarve dat possum! Cyarvo dat possumi
Cyarvo cook dot possuIn. chillunsl
Cyarve him ter de hearth
Then ingeniously he led the talk to
night ridings and raidings, repeating
vaingloriously tales caught from his
elder brothers Of what he called pat.
ter rollin" in tho slave times and later
with the Kuklux It must have been
fun alive, he said. "Say, now. why not
try jest er little Of it2 Niggers a.plenty
scattered all round the country, MI good
men and horses jest goin ter waste at
the sto'. All fellers that air game hole
up the right hand, b'George!" Every!
body was game. just wait till he could
get out few things. The fun should
be had in style--yes, il it broke the
store. Topknot7 Hang Topknoti Who
was he anyway Besides he was so love
crazy he wouldn't never know it ef