The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-03-18

through that hole?"
There was still daylight enough for
the experiment, and he tried it without
loss of time. A single attempt to throw
the cumbersome anchor up through the
hole in the roof answered the question.
The short-headed pick used by the
miners is much lighter than the common
implement of that name, but even with
this advantage he could not throw it to
the required height, and, in addition, he
saw at once that, even if he had the
strength, it would take hours of prac-
tice to bring the skill necessary to en-
able him to hurl the thing through the
narrow gap in the rocks. Not to weary
himself needlessly, he desisted after the
first trial, and sat down to eat his scanty
supper by the last rays of fading light.
After it had been washed down by an
other drink from the pool, he made his
simple arrangements to pass another
night in the cavern, and tried to go to
sleep; but his brain was too actively at
work trying to devise new eNpedients,
and after tossing and rolling upon his
sandy couch for awhile he sat up to try
to think it out. Since the night was
clear and calm, the silence in the cave
was profound, and, knowing that the
ordinary noises of the upper world
could not reach him, he was startled
from his revery by a sound like the
shuffling of cautious footsteps, followed
Immediately by the appearance of dull
glow of light in the chamber beyond the
crevice. His first thought was that his
captors had come to make another at
tempt to kill him, and it brought with
it fit of terror similar to that which
had attacked him on the previous night,
but he set his teeth and overcame it,
fiattening himself against the wall and
waiting breathlessly for what should
follow. 1t was a trying moment, and
he was surprised to find himself grow
ing calmer and more collected with the
passing of the tagging seconds; then
the tingling of his nerves told him that
he had once more passed the mysterious
boundary between helpless fear and
courageous resolution, and, drawing his
revolver, he waited in grim silence for
the appearance of face at the opening.
While he watched, the light began to
fade, and the explanation came to him
at once. They've gone into the mine;
that's better; perhaps can catch them
as they come out" In a few minutes
the dull glow began to return, and"he
saw the two men as they emerged from
the gallery leading to the mine. They
were talking in low tones, and Ring
brand listened.
'T toll ye hitwas too soon" the one who
carried the lamp was saying; "we-all ii
jest have to wait yere spell till them
sellers get sleepy"
They passed out of Ringbrand's range
of vision, but he could still hear every
word that was said, and the reply made
him almost sorry that he had held his
hand while he had them in sight:
They'll get sleepy bime-by. Wonder
if that thar neighbor of our'n in yon-
der's still a-snoozin' like he was when
ye plugged him?"
"Ye can jest bet on hit, Buddy; low
] was some shaky, but I reckon amt
missin anything as big as a man at that
thar distance"
There was little silence, and then
one of them spoke again: whilst
we're a-waitin' yere, jeff, ye mought go
over what you-all's a-fgurin' on fer to-
morrer night. l hain't got hit right
clear in my haid yet"
"Jest hol' on minute. Gimme that
licrbf f;ll 7 if oifu fallarsr
whar he ort to be-"
Curiosity to know what was to be ex-
planned overcame Ringbrand's desire
for vengeance, and he crouched in the
shadow while the mountaineer made
his investigation.
SIS he thar?" asked the other voice.
"Shore; he's a-layin' right plum whar
he did las night. Don't reckon he ever
moved"
Then Ringbrand understood that the
dim light had misled them, and that the
shot had been fired at the log. He had
scarcely time to- be thankful that he
had not moved the latter during the
day, before the light disappeared from
the crevice and the conversation was re-
sumed.
snow. about that thar projec' for TO-
morreS night, Buddy, I'd figured hit jest
this-a-way. julie she'll light out in the
mornin' for McNairville on the mar,
an we'll fetch the rest O. the hosses up
on the mounting by the Dunbar road
endurin' the day. Then, long late In
the evenin', when ever'body's gone to
bald, we-all II jest ride over to the
coloners, leave the hosses with Jed in
that thar little patch O. trees front o.
the house, an then you'n nell go smoke
'em out. When they shows up, you take
the young un an leave the colonel to
me. reckon I'll show him that don't
miss the same man twicet."
"How bout the gale"
Needn't to mind bout her; she'll
look out for herself" and then the same
voice added: "I reckon Jed'd be glad
enough to take keer O. her, if she'd low
hit"
Even after the convincing object-les.
son of the attempt upon his own life,
Ringbrand could scarcely believe the
evidence of his senses. Could it be
possible that these two men were calm
ly discussing plot which pointed to
II double murder as its object? They
were speaking again, and he strained
his ears to catch every word.
"They's only one thing about hit
that looks sort o shaky, jeff; that's
the part about the gal. Course
knows we-all amt fightin' weemin'