Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-03-18

"Oh don't send her array, AUNT PhCmU"
iff full Nedged after the next election
1t delighted him no little to find Miss
Rob McGrcsor, whom he knew very
slightly indeed, thus social and friendly.
"This fellcr was sent up fer horse
stcalin, I'm sorry ter say" he went on;
"fust offenso, though. Thar was some
thought he wasn't really guilty, but
others said he was one or the gang, all
so he had ter co.
81 see. A case of poor Tray-whippcd
because CT bad company, " Rob returned.
smiling pleasantly at the deputy, who
meandered on:
"Ef We kctch him, Miss Rob, mayby
he can help us erboCt that last matter
er yours. 1t does seem ter mo no man
ncr men couldn't or took off anything
so well known as your old marc nor so
handsome as that high steppin colt cr
hers 'thout somebody asecin 'ein, at
least somewhar's. Thar oughter been
bills out an or reward otfered'-
Eyes, dare say Rob broke ill.,
"But, you see, Mr.. Reed, have not
any bad money to throw away after good
horses. | believe you legal gentlemen
have a fiction that all money is bad. "
"It does make most or the trouble i'll
the world, either havin it CT losin il or
lackn it," Mr.. Reed said profoundly,
and mentally patted himself Oh the back
for having spoken SO well. ''Of co'so
you ain t seen, but jest fer forms sake
we must ask you-you an Aunt Phemy
-ef you've saw any long, danglin fell
lcr lean as cr houl, with black eyes an
er hangdog look, either passin the road
er sliuliin in tho bushes yore"
If such man has passed, have not
seen him. Rob said. facing tho official,
though her heart was humping fast.
"Auut Phcmy can answer for herself.
But, if you must search the place, pleaGe
do not go near tie house. If pappy
knew, it would make him so unh.p-
py'-
"Ho shan't be bothered, depend on
that" the deputy said, smiling down
mt her. The other men had come up to
him, their long must aches beaded ut the
ends with fair water. Aunt Phcmy
stood with eyes downcast. She had the
African instinct Of secrecy and had III
stantly caught Nob $ cue.
"'Tain't nobody went crlong dis way
as seoa,' she said; then, dropping a
sort of courtesy: Il hear Sis Liza al
Aun' Why Johnson say las night as
dec coined home frum pra'ar meetin
dec gut er skecr frum sono sort er crit.
ter. Dee lowed it WIS er hGn't, dar on
do hill by Topnlark S grabcyald. 1t wus
long an high, dee say, an groan SO dee.
sho' thunk it wus ole man Topmark
done come back caso er dc way he son
Ben carryin Oh sence he los lie wife. y
"Oh, no, hol Beg your pard'n, Miss
Rob, but that's jest too rich!' the dep
uty said, laughing cxplos!vely. lie had
heard-who had not:-of Iopmark's in
fatuation. II Rob became Mrs. Top
mark No. 2, her influence would be Il
thing to covet, for Topmark certainly
carried tho district III his pocket when
il came to local elections. Tho whites
divided always Oh lines of social or per-
sonal cleavage. 1t was the black votes
which really told for a fellow or against
him, and tho storokecper swung the
black vote as he pleased. I
Not in set words but dimly and afar
off, all this rushed through the officials.
mind. He had good reason for not
wanting Miss Rob McGregor to romem-
ber him as q rude and pestilent fellow.
Now, no doubt on her fathers account,
she was anxious to have the posse go III
some other direction. So much he read
shrewdIy underneath her smiling cour'
tesy. and she should have her way. There
was certainly small likelihood that the
man they hunted lay hid at Roscoe, for
all it had so much tangled scrub. Any"
way the chance was too remote to be
worth making her al enemy. Facing
about, he said to his followers, speak
ing low and rapidly: II think I've got
Glow Well ride f,r the big nlc"cdGl"