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

lRugh, tnen went ON
"This is brave work for inen--attack.
ing q harmless woman at dead of night.
could guess who you nre. will not.
do not want to name creatures 80 inef-
fably mean and vile. Ro of at once,
tell you! Remember this is Roscoe and
I the mistress Of it.
"Hol You won't bo long, my Ano
lady' Noch shouted as he made for his
horse. The rost wero already mounted
and galloping for life across tho fields.
They had scattered furiously almost at
the bullets ping Noch stopped and
faced about. He was alone with the
breathless old woman, tho slim. scorn-
ful girl. Why not wiring their nccks
and make oil end of thcm1 His hand
itched to feel that soft throat in its
grasp. He had hated aristocrats all his
life. Now he hated her with hot. per-
sonal grudge.
With honrse cry he made to spring
upon her. She was too quick for him.
She fet her back against the wall, flung
her rife to the shoulder and frontod
him in the moon rays without one thrill
Of fear. Her fine nostrils dilated, her
eyes famed with the primal fire. tho el-
emental human impulse Of combnt. Her
finger OH the trigger was as steady rs
steel. She half smiled as she said. GOV.
erina the heart Of her adversary:
"How would like to kill you il only
you were worth killingr
Among men Noch Annis was no COW.
ard He owned sullen, brutal, bull.
dog courage. crafty and cruel, but cour.
age for all that. Yet now he skunk
away, muttering as ho set his horse In
full run:
THAT thar gal. she a tho devil or ono
or his mighty big imps."
In some way Rob managed to get the
old woman inside and stir the hearth
embers to leaping blaze Then she
found lamp, lighted 1t and looked At
Aunt Phemy, who sat covering and
shaking. but uttcring no sound. As Rob
turned 70 her she pointed eagerly toward
the water pail. Rob ran and fetched a
dipper Of water, which she drank with
great effort.
"Are you hurt. Aunt Phemy? Tell me.
Show mo where.' Rob said, bending
close to the old womnn's ear. The black
lips were ashen and shrivelcd as by the
touch of q strong corrosive. They tried
to speak, but no sound came over them
savo faint, innrtioulate. husky CRY.
'Can you hear me, Aunt Phemy9"
Rob asked. her own lips Quivering.
The black woman nodded.
"Can you speakH"
She shook her head.
"Did they-they hurt you, burn, tor.
ture you?" Rob asked, her eyes again
flaming. her hands beginning to clincb.
Again the old woman shook her head.
Then she stopped. picked up MI over.
turned earthen pot full Of pungent. Wis.,
lid paste, held it minute toward Rob,
then pointed down her own throat.
II understand. They made you swal. :
low that" tho girl said. Again the old
woman nodded. Next breath she had
thrown the pot into tho fire, where it
hissed. and its contents sent up weird
green and yellow flames.
CHAPTER XVII
Lawyer Howell was certainly osol
hand. Though Mr.. Topmark awakened
him at daylight the next morning for .
conference that ought to have set him In
o flutter, he came to breakfast sleek and
serene as ever, albeit he had talked free.
ly with Mrs Annis and her niece.
He was in holiday temper, we'll pleas
ed with himself and all about him.
Though he fancied himself bachelor
confirmed, he had still semihuman do.
light in the young of his species, espe.
cinlly when they had spotlsss faces and
wore fresh white pinafores and had
habit of speech quantity frank and d.
vcrting. Then, too. tho green country
charmed him. 1t had such wonderful
harmonies of tint and tone. The happy
babble of water slipping past was music
to his ears. i,
"Tho day Is n concrete idyl," he said
to himself about l l clock, tipping back
his chair 20 far he half lay Mt ease In IT.
at is truly case Of all save the spirit
Of man is divine. Gan Topmark be such
a fool as to think do not soc what
cards he thinks he holds and how he
means to play them3 1t is astonishing,
his infatuntion, or rather 1t would be If
the girl were merely pretty. She is 40
very much morc-ore Of tho women
men die for-I myself might be rather
hard hit If she would look ut mo rs
human being. Shc did not last night.
I~ rt 0f vNir n II nh0nk
whom she was not even curious. She
had something OH her mind. wonder
mo, l wonder most how my respected
host relished tho snub she gave him.
No, am sure I could not afford to love
her, even with Roscoe secure. My wife
must put success before everything.
This girl will never do that. She will
never do anything indeed that does not
square with u sense Of honor almost
fantastic. A hard ono to drive. she. II
Mr.. Topmark thinks otherwise, he is
letting himself in for very bad half
hour. He is tho shrewdest blunderer-
Oh, hol Here he comes, looking like the
devil"
Mr.. Topmark had indeed face OF
fury as he dropped into chair and
wiped his forehead with his hand. The
hand shook and his breath cnnlo o
thought unevenly as he said through bis
set teeth:
"Well, from the looks er things. How:
ell, YOU II have ter take that case All try
ter put Miss Magnolyer Tubbs, gran
daughter of Naomi Pickins, deceased,
in possession or her rights.
"Ahl" said Mr.. Howell, half closing
his eyes. They were too wide awake.
"Don't bring up business today. 1t