The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1900-03-08

teri, hut. as hr aiicrvard told me-. to the
inct that sith the failure 20 get help from
Striker help he had accounted aa certain
he had given over hoping. and took a dcs'
pcrateiy calm view Of the next day OF two,
surely believing that by then all would be
over. Yet uithal hc in no wise aha'cd his
vigilance, though he considered the hanl Of
death was near him, and when, finally.
there opened up bare chance ioT our es'
cape from the island he aid it was as
th7ugh he had come back from the grave.
Ay, and 90 dad |. II was as though a sui.
locating hand placed over my mouth had
been suddenly withdrawn.
On the start he told me littir oi himself
Though bad thought to find him communi.
cntiyrl, and had to drag from him that hs
bad left a brother a; Turtle bay. whom hs
vas now Iourneytng 10 rcIoln. The youth
was but year or twu younger than himself.
and fairly helpless, having been stricken by
the Almighty with dumbncss from birth,
though no, with its usual accompanying
oursc-deaincss, From helping the great
cause In some way both brothers were under
a han. aud my companions life was forfeit
II he was taken.
Now as black a. seemed my chances ! left
the weigh, Of the old adagc Of lie and hope
being akin, and ! was 10y no means over
ioyed in knowing that We might be hHndi,
capped by a helpless youth should some
chance open a way out from the surround.
ing danger. And this frankly told my
companion. though 10 me be made no reply.
For the most part he walked pace or 20
shesd Of me, and thus we went along, go.
ing easily enough while crossing open fields,
bat fAring sorsly when we struck woodland
or plowed ground Perilousy near, too, We
wen, TO DWELLING even stopping at q well
hard by ono 20 drink though first making
sure there were no dogs shout. | never
would have dared this had been alone, but
my companion laughed at the risk. and l
followed HE lead, though Il then struck me
~ strange that ] should LET this stripping
take the upper hand in our expedition The
truth is, | was tagged and not myself. and
though II driven TO a corner would have
fought like a shreW, had no head for fine
points on that night, and was growing timid
Anon we took to the high road for a space
10 flank a swamp, aud once 4 dog went wild
at the smell Of us, but We were unmolested,
Not house showed light Though that was
small wonder, Il being past midnigktl, aud
now We felt the breath OF the damp that
rose in the cooling air, and could even mark
the pondiike appearance Of the mist a. Il lay
in some black hollow Of the land. Through
brooks, small swamps and pools We went.
with heavy boots going dry shod, though
Ames. with but pumps and stockings, was
wet 10 the knees, and ! could heas the
scrunching Of water in bis shoes ss he
walked. But there was little TO choose
about him after had pulled him out Of 4
ditch into which be stumbled, though be
made joke Of il even while his teeth were
ehattering from the chill OF his aousina
II Yves fearful going in the dark. The Dove
lay Eve miles from Turtle bay by road but,
with our eiFcling and rc,raeing. we must
have gone three or four more For the most
part we spoke little. aud, though much re.
maincd 20 talk about, ! was in no spirits 10
ask qaestions-or answer them either, for
that matter. With me there was now no
thought Of what lay behind or before. oil
that remained Of ms wits being stupid,
stubborn determination 10 get on and reasn
our destination be Il what It might.
take II TWAS past one O'Clock. md had
been following my leader in an ainloss fash
ion for half an hour without word he
tween US when he halted and laid bis hand
upon me, pointing toward a house with the
bulk Of barn looming through the gloom
behind It, | seemed TO wake then. and no.
tice the glimmer Of water stretching beyond,
and knew We were on the bank Of the Sound
river.
els this the place them" asked, IS
tried 10 make head or tail Of the bleak build.
Ing that stood against the faint sky like
black block.
lie grunted an assent aud climbed fence,
I following tsmeiy behind. but instead Of
proceeding 10 the house. we cut around Il,
and 6nally entered what might hare been
dispsed COW shed built against the rear Of
tbs barn. Going to the end. be laid his ear
asainst the rough boards Of the barn and be.
gan scratching gently. Nothing coming Of
this, be fumblcd about. and presently, to my
great astenishment. hroad board came
away Ia his hand. leaving IN the barns aide
Ions, black hols that looked to lead ints
the bowsls Of darkness
f1n ne far.~fwr.xsr.