The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-04-28


heels ye 60 into the deep bit"
For a minute there was silence pe'
tween the two men. broken only by the
swish of the stream and the tapping Of
the water against the bailift's body;
then tho shepherd broke out again.
mo" he said. with the air of one who
has been ponderlng difficult question,
u Gamma for the life O. me max out
what in the world CARED sc ventura
sac far frae hnme. Ance nfore7-it was
lang syne-a balilR cam here and what
he got was warnin' to them that cam
after him. He was big man; but what
CARED you. a man O your size, daur ]
Gamma think. Ee wad dae weel enauch,
I've nae doot, amang the shllpIt bod
les that bIde where you cam frae. But
TO come here-it's perfect insult e
the muirs. Just figure you and muclEle
jock shler-and at the imaginative
picture the shepherd was convuised
with silent laughter.
MeanwhIle-for he was conscien-
tious mana struggle was In progress
In the baillff's heart. For the hrst min
ute his resolution stood firm by his
duty. But gradually the Ice cold Of the
water saeped through his clothes,
through his skin, into his very boneu.
His legs ached and shlvers weAt
through his whole body. The cold
crept steadily upward seeming TO eEF
pei all the blood from his legs: - Il
advanced his resolution began proc
portionately to wane, and he to think
he had better make the best OF bad
business. The struggle with his con-
science was short. He looked at the
dark deep hole where the stream plaHh-
cd into the pool. and shuddered. The
struggle was over. He had stood By
his duty long enough. Surely It would
be folly to go further. So when the
time had expired, and the sheppard
asked his decision. 81 suppose I'll haze
to dae it," he said; but III pay ye out
yet"
Never fash yourself about that, T"
said the shepherd. Come moo and
vel haze crack WI yon saumon."
with an III grace the bailItf took the
hooks and addressed himself to his un-
pleasant task. At first ne made little
attempt to catch the fish. He had a
vague hope that In time relief would
come from some quarter. and he put OF
the evil moment. Meanwhile the shep.
herd tainted him from behind.
"Eh, man! We haze little skill. The
saumons playing wi ye. Div We no see
he's fair lauchin' at We? And, by the
way, balllff--about that visit Of ours to
the court-wll 1t be sumo, div ye think.
or will we pit it afr indefinitely? Per-
sonuiiy, would recommend the last
wuy-hut ony way we like"
But taunts were Of no avail. The
bailiff did not in the least feel his
honor offended. and his efforts were
still tanguid At last the shepherd
grew impatient.
See here" he said, "its nae use de-
layin. Ye've got to catch that sau-
mon, and II We dinna be smart I'll pit
We in the water again. BY the way 4"
he added casually, there's Jock shlel
himself comm. II I were you I'd hurry
up and catch that flush afore Onybody
saw me"
The bailiff glanced around and there,
sure enough, the six foot Of staiwart
shepherd came in .leisuFely fashion
down the road. His last hope ned.
There was nothing to be expected from
the newcomer, whom he knew as a
notorious poacher. Besides, It was bat
ter that there should be no witnesses
to his deed So he doggedly recalled
his ancient skill, and set himself to
catch the salmon with all speed. With
much art he gradually drove the dsh
upward on to the shadows.
Zine. mani" said the shepherd, ap-
provlngly. II keened ye were JulSt
shammin' It's no Ill to see we've
been at the business afore. Set thief
to catch q thief and max a poacher
into a bailIn. Ye haze skill after a.
Great, man!--great! Just be cautious,
noo-cautIous-canny-and there ye
haze him"
And just as Jock came up the gilt
terlng back was landed at his feet.
Man, Jock" said the shepherd,
"ye're over late. We've been ha'ein'
grand sport, me and the baillff. He
could gle points in saumon catchin'
even to you"
The bailif turned to Jock. II TAX
you to witness that haze been forced
to this"
81 ken nooht about that" said Jock,
smiling. "A ken is that saw ball
IN landIn' n saumon."
"Ay," quoted the shepherd irreVer-
entity; "he digit pit for ithers and
fell IntIl t himself"
The bailiff glared savageiy at the two
men with impotent hatred in his face.
Rage and a helpless longing for ven
geance filed his heart and choked his
utterance. Then he blurted out an oath
and flung himself or
stop minute. my bonny man." said
the shepherd. yen surely never lea'e
this fine sauBlon abint ye. WeeL lWl-
fu' man maun gang his ain gait But
tax my advice and tell them that em-
pioys sc to pit on bigger men for bail
ids or the summon Wilma haze n niue
kle chance up the muirs."
The baitift deigned not to reply. He
set his shoulders square drew up his
small body to Its utmost and strodc
over the ridge with high dudgect writ
large en- his squat little figure. The
other two watched him ms he disap-
peared. mirth and kind OF pity strug-
Cling for mastery In their faces. But
the ludicrous picture of the forlorn lit