Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-11-24
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THE FARM .rA.z +
I'M - OF
THE HILLS "'''s6'' {.
CY FLORENCE WARDEN +
Copyright. 1899. by Florence Warden.
Copyright. 1899. by Florence Warden.
CY FLORENCE WARDEN
CHAPTER VII.
COON TAI. AuAIN.

COIH raj AGAIN.
The Doctor now fully aroused aud
conscious that there were dangers un-
dyr tAr shelter hr hal found quite as
great n those Ee had encountered ON
Tie I-Oau'aiuS outside. followed the
wet Jg3'G,araS Across the floor and
Cu'urI G!,:e the door 10 which they
l,d
~ ?r:, re could see nothing on the
other s-i" of IL: 1; was cold. ii was
drafty. II was dark, but he knew that
hr was not IN the open air He went
back into the kitchen. liz one OF the tai.
low candies and carried ii out into the
cavcrnOus blackucsS, into n moldy,
damp smell, and into n wide, covered
space. the floor OF which was partly
boarded and partly paved in the rough.
est manner with broken stones 4
sturehOuSc this evidently. There were
stacks OF wood and peat; there was
built up mound Of roots, partly covered
with straw and earth. There was lum-
Der Of all sorts besides, giving TO the
place 50 many hooks and corners and
hiding places that Mason knew II
would be unwisc II not Impossible TO
hunt out the person or persons who, he
felt sure, lay hidden there, watching
him as he moved.
For he could hear those slight hard
II distlnguishable sounds which he.
tray the presence Of Il living creature
In concealment He looked UP and
saw that the roof was OF rough beams
and boards. through which the snow
came here and there.
Amy one here" he asked.
But no voice answered.
He repeated the question in tirmer,
allHost menacing manner and then
figure appeared in the doorway behind
iim.
liz recognized IN n mumrrt the farm.
or himself.
"Whl. sir. what are you doing IN
hcrrt'
Inc question, uttered in u genial, hos.
| pit&hIe tone, struck warmth into Mas.
sons heart. He rrtrcatrd nj orrr into
the Kitchen and turned towH"G his
host a face which betrayed some of
thc sensations he had just expert.
encrd.
"Why sir. you look rs If you'd had
fright, that YOU do" said tie farmer
as he ,ook the candle from the doc.
tors hand and lit the remaining Que
on the nlHntelpicCe. you haven't got
over your adventure on the h.ls, am
thinking. It's made YOU nervous"
Some one has been in the room
Will" was asleep" began Mason in
voice which was hardly steady.
SNt his host answered him at once
Yes, | came down very soon to tell
yoU III" Girl had fallen asleep Eut rs
ycH We're having q nap yourself by
that time though, it better not TO dis.
turb You, as You were going to sit up,
s. went up stairs again and waited
til heard You moving about, or, rarh-
err I'll heard you call out"
Although the farmers manner and
words we're rvas>urjng, MaSscn had
tire evidence Of more than his eyes to
countprlalancp the effect OF this state.
mcnt. Pointing 20 TIE wet fooimarks
on tie floor. he said;
Those are not your for'>,rps. ar"
they"
The farmer glanced down III the wet
| door and Shooh hih head.
no. Sir: they're not mine. by The
size Of them they're Mcrltcks."
And he went hHcl, to tie door and
pcrrcd into the darkness beyond. AFT.
cr Il few moments. however, lie came
back into the kitchen without having
called 20 any one.
lie must have come through to have
a peep at you, sir, out OF curiosity"
said he. hut he's gone back to his
own place, how, ! expect for there's
no sign Of him in Tie Cu;hUUar."
Reginald Mason was standing by
the lire, with a frown Of pcrplHHi;y on
his face. That remark of the farmers
about the size Of Tie footmarl,s had
eugendorcd fresh suspicion in his
mind.
rs the man you call Mrrrick." he
asked abruptly. ever known also by
the nickname of COch Ta!|
Yes. sir; that's what tncy call him
by reason of his height and Of lis col
or" said the farmer 10 some surprise
at til" question.
And you are Mr.. Tr"SarCo. aud th!'
iS Mvuachlos fa7ml" wca, Oh The doc
tor
Yes. sir" The farmer stared a,
him with more surprise than cr'r ant
added after short pause: And how
did you como to hear of ne s!rI Were
you coming to see Inc or TO see my lit
tie place"
Mason nodded For the moment h,
could do no more. Presently. when b.
had recovered himself ii little, under
the searching gaze of his aEtOniShet
and puzzled host. he said
II was coming here to find this maj
Cocb Tai He was engaged by my
brother. the cwper of this ring" ant