People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1899-08-24


turned, Ringbrand drank deeply and
lifted his hat as he thanked her.
That amt nothin'," she saio.
"Thar's plenty O water in the cove.
Ye didn't come plum up yere to get &
drink, did YEP"
Ringbrand laughed easily: NO, ]
can't say that did; am just tramping
around to amuse myself"
The woman looked at him suspicious
~. You city fel!ers have tol'able little
ssDse," she said, slowly. Pears like
yed know better'n TO come a-pryin'
round McNabb's cove"
why should know better?" asked
Ringbrand. 81 don't see how it can
hHrt anyone"
-Thars them that mought hurt you
all if they found you yere. You're the
man that's stoppin' at Tom Ludlow's,
amt YEP"
YES"
y knOwed hit, the minute | sot ewes
ON ye-" she hesitated, and seemed to
be weighing her words. "Iain't got no
cali 10 be helpin' you all, but don't be-
iiere ye're in with the rest of EN-; W
don't look like hit. But that tharwoL't
help you none, less'n We stay at homo
an min yer own business. l low We
done heard the story bout the dog =
got hisself killed cause he didn't have
no better sense than to run with tn.
. Gclyes?"
AYes, I've heard it."
We'll, | hain't got nothin' more to
say, 'ceptin' that hi,'s gettin' late an
Jed better be trampin'. Jest wait 8
minute"
She disappeared in the house ap3
came out again in a moment with
Slnbonnet drawn over her heau.
-1bar's short cut ever the shoulder D
the mounting, an low ye'd bette:
take hit; veil be a heap less likcr 10
r1fet up with tie folks that d ask We a
aght more questions II what have.
Come on"
She entered the Forest at the rear o.
he house. and Eirgarand followed her
a silence. Half way up the mountain
they came to an indistinct trail which
leh them by many devious windings to
the base ofthe cliffs, and, sbirting these,
EdngbFand found himself, for the sec
o1d time that day, standing on the
snail plateau at the mouth of the Nc
Nail tunnel.
That's yer way" said julie, indicat-
Ing the road leading to the valley. Jest
iSePp straight on till We get down the
InoE1ting; We cayn't miss hit, nohow."
Riagbrand lifted his hat again: I'm
sure l thank you very much; it's good
Of yon to take so much trouble on my
account"
''Nev' mind bout that; but you all
tRke my advice an don't come prowlif
round this yere cove no more. Yer
phteness moughtn't get We out ag'in,
ue6t time"
She turned abruptly and left him to
make his way back to Tregarthen, and
neither of them saw the parting of the
bushes at the top of the cliff through
1hich pair Of malevolent eyes
watched their movements. Before
STIRRING on his homeward walk, sud-
den impulse prompted Ringbrand to
cliRb once more into the abandoned
con! working. The place was darker,
ngw that the sun had gone behind the
mountain, and it was some time before
he could see well enough to make out
The dim outlines of the interior; when
he was able to do so, he saw that the
hole in the roof had disappeared. He
lighted a match, and, on finding the
paace, discovered that the aperture had
been plugged from above with frSg-
mint of stone which fitted accurately
enough to make it appear to be only one
III the rough inequalities of the tunnel
roof. When he realized that this had
been done since his visit of few hours
before-that those who did it might
even now be in the upper gallery, or
hidden in the dusky shadows near at
hand-a very panic of terror seized him,
and he thought he should suffocate be-
fore he could struggle out into the open
ar again. Once outside of the tunnel,
ne fed down the rough mountain road,
BeVer looking behind him or stopping
20 take breath until he was halfway
% the valley; then the stimulus of fear
s1kielly left him, and he sat down
szpon a fallen tree, covering his face
with his hands, and wishing, in his
shame and humiliation, that he had
i1cvsT been born. Hestayed there unit.
III frightening shadows warned him
rthai evening was approaching, and
ylsea, pulling himself together, he rose,
E1d went slowly back to Tregarthen.
Twas nearly dark when he reached the
,yiIizge, and he found Mrs. Ludlow sit
ting On the verandG.
I'm proud of you, Mr.. Ringbrand."
she said, as he came up the steps; you
edOR't deserve to be helped. Ipersuaded
Hester to stay to tea and had it all ar
ranged that you were to see her safely
home; and you had to go and spoil is
al by staying away! Where in the
sHOrld have you been?"
Il am very sorry to have failed you.
i took long walk and went farther
than intended to. hope Miss Lati-
Rer did not have TO go back alone?
1psurdrand'S voice was orava and b;s