The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-06-26

| aim outlines AT inc edge or the WOOD.
There he paused and stared at me for a
full minute before speaking. Then his
tones were not only husky, but tremu-
lous.
II say, boss, is that you?'
Eyes"
"Kin-kin you tell me whether this is
! me2'
Its the tramp that tried to rob me
of my money"
81 say, bossl'
"Well?'
He seemed to rouse himself for the
final effort and exclaimed:
"Holy geel'
At which he whirled about and dash
ed among the trees, as if fearful Of more
punishment for his offense.
Meanwhile the others had disappear
ed, and / saw nothing more Of any of
them.
The stone house which was my des-
tination was somewhere in the vicinity,
and began search for it. | recalled
that the path was well marked from the
highway, but the position of the moon
in the sky threw that side Of the road in
shadow, and l could see nothing in the
nature Of a clew.
Not forgetting that shadowy pursuer
l scanned the road TO the westward, but
he was not in sight.
Finally struck a match and held it
close to the ground. There the path was
exactly in front Of me- By the tiny
fame | was able TO follow it with my
eye for a rod or more. The house was
barely 80 feet distant
Neither eye nor ear could detect any
thing unusual, and | picked my way
along the path, with just trifle of mis-
giving, for be it known that that region
is afflicted with venomous copperheads
and the warm spring weather must have
brought many Of them from their win
ter quarters.
Only part Of the distance was passed,
when light Iwinklcd among the trees.
Some one was at the stone house.
'DiscCe and Huke have become impa-
tient, though | cannot be much behind
time "
Somehow the knowledge that human
beings were near at hard drove away
all fear of the deadly reptiles | moved
more rosolutely, and minute later
paused III front of the old stone struc-
ture, which stood in the middle of a
small clearing.
Still 1t was prudent to make recon-
noissance before entering the building,
which was to be the scene Of an event
full meeting.
The thought had never come to me
that the house was occupied. When OBJ
served on the previous Sunday, there
were no signs of life about it, and Tom
Discoe' S references had not removed that
impression.
But it was an error. Some one lived
there, though the lower story consisted
Of but a single room, while sloping
ladder led to the rooms above. | saw
through the open door the scanty furni-
ture, with large table in the middle of
the apartment, and upon it stood good
ly sized lamp, which shed a bright illu-
mination through the interior.
But none of the three or four chairs
was occupied. 1t looked as if the owner,
after lighting the lamp had departed
and given over the place to the parties
that had engaged it for the evening
Perhaps l had mistaken the building, |
and yet that could hardly be.
While L stood in doubt and perpleyity, |
hesitating whether to advance or to wait |
for further developments, | caught the |
odor of tobacco smoke. 1t was not cigar |
that some one was smoking, but the |
weed was cheap, strong and rank.
Then tiny glow showed in the door
way, and it was explained. The owner
Or occupant of tho house was seated |
there smoking his clay pipe.
GOOD ebenin, boss"
The negro had heard me as shifted |
my position and spoke without any mis-
giving. 1 walked forward, and as the
short, heavily built African rose to his
feet to receive me wondered how had
failed to see him from the first.
Good evening"" l called in return,
going forward to where the lamplight |
fell full on me, He scrutinized me close
ly as approached and was disappointed.
"Yo' amt de gemman dat / was
lookin fur, but guess yo's de gemman
what was disumspected by de oder folks.
Walk in, boss, and makes yo'self at
home"