The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1897-06-02

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drive, in the course of which the aa-
swer to Miss Gray's letter had been in
trusted to the mail.
"You look like new man." said she,
approvingly. "Sakes alive! how get
tin a new patient does perk you young
doctors up!"
'The more the merrier. of cour,e,"
said l.
you're lucky to get two such special
suffers. You'll be gettin' rich, what
with the new one and the old one over
yonder."
She pointed to the house on the knoll,
which showed q dark spot among the
lowlands lying about 1t fresh and green
and bright in the slanting rays of the
setting sun, now nearing the crests of
the hills to the west.
Seems like blot on our landscape.
don't it?" she said, with her eyes still
fixed on the somber mound.
YES" thought i. perhaps in more
ways than one."
TX.
One evening, about fortnight later.
I stepped out of my Office for the double
purpose Of enjoying a pipe and stroll
in the open air. The hou- was late, at
least for that community of early ris-
ing and early retiring, and few lights
were to be seen in any of the cluster of
farmhouses. A faint gleam from one
of the upper rooms Of the house across
the way showed that Mrs. Loring was
wooing slumber under the protection of
her night-lamp. She and her niece, bav-
ing arrived that day, were now in full
possession Of their new quarters. Both
had stood the journey well. Mrs. Lor-
ing, in fact, was never more cheerful
than when on the wing. The invalid
had greeted me with effusion, while
Miss Gray had displayed a cordiality
that was almost too full o. friendliness
and too lacking in self-consciousness to
please my fancy. Cheerful good-fel-
lowship was, perhaps, all that had rea-
son to expect in her; yet it was a very
fattering result of many a tete-a-
tete in the moonlight Of the tropics.
The night was clear, and, though
there was no moon, it was pleasant to
stroll along, reviewing the events of
our acquaintance and speculating upon
the effects Of its renewal. I was fol-
lowing the path to the knoll, and 20 ens
crossed were my meditations that on
raising my eyes from the ground was
surprised to find myself close to the
base of it's landward slope. was on the
point of turning back, when heard a
voice recognizable as Lanar's, which
seemed to come from the northern
side of the little hill, at the base of
which, as has been set forth, was one
of the saltwater creeks. The words
were not to be distinguished. but his
tone gave evidence that the business
he was engaged in had nothing alarm
ing about II, although, from the hour
selected for carrying it on, it was likely
that he desired to avoid observation.
1t might be well TO prove to him that
even at such a time and place he could
not be sure that some loiterer was not
ubout, and to give practical illustra-
tion of the need Of sentinel; at least
that was the excuse Iframed for advanc-
ing. Cautiously 1 stole by the spring
and up the ascent. On the dark surface
of the creek the still darker outlines of
a boat could be made out. The craft
was moored to the rocks, to which a
man was transferring number of cases
and packages. A little way up the
slope, directing the operation, stood
Lamar. Intent as he was upon the task
in hand, his quick ear caught the sound
uf my steps, and he turned toward me
like a flash.
ats Morris" called out. 1t was
too dark TO perceive his motion clearly,
but thought detected Q swift move
lnent Of his right hand toward the
breast of his coat
'Ah! You are . rambler until late"
he answered. Startled - he must have
been by the interruption, he spoke with
all his usual deliberate coolness.
"Yes; I was wakeful and happened
to walk this way. Hearing unusual
sounds, pushed on to investigate.
There was a chance, you know, that q
reinforcement might be acceptable"
There was nothing in his manner to
indicate whether the explanation sa&is-
fled him.
johnson brings . small cargo, sup
plies that might cause talk IL obtained
through the village" said he. HE will
place them presently in the house."
IAN excellent plan. He buys them at
the larger ports up the coast, sup
pose"
"Yea."
There seems very little danger that
anyone should stumble upon you while
the goods are being landed" said I,
but my experience tonight shows that
It Is possible. 1t might be advisable
to post sentry, for II rumor of these
midnight labers got about it would set
the village by the ears"
"Hereafter the pfecaution shall be
taken. Remain . little" he added, as
was about 10 go. II. too, am wakeful.
Let us converse"
He led the way 70 the front Of the
house and seated himself On the door
step
"How Of your medical practice7" he
asked, when had found resting-plsce