Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-01-10
BY FLORENCE WARDEN.
Copyright, 1899, by Florence Warden.


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nospitium ana disappeared into what
was now a loft over the cowhouse.
Without n moments hesitation Mas
son ran up the ladder in pursuit, burst
open the door of the loft and found
himself face to face at last with Coch
Tai
There was enough light left for him
to see the peasants face as he stood
just inside the doorway. 1t was flush
ed, lowering. desperate. The moment
he saw that his pursuer had set foot
In the loft he passed him quickly, I'M
fastened the ladder and flung it out I'D
on the ground.
Then he folded his arms and stood
towering over the other man in an atti-
tude Of sullen defiance.
And Mason saw that in one hand
he held the open clasp knife with which
he had cut the cords which held the
ladder in Its place.
Mason drew back step. he saw
that he was caught in trap.
CHAPTER XII.
CooH TAILS STORY.
+ In the first moment Of surprise and
alarm. on finding himself thus i'm
prisoned by the man whose antago-
nism he had SO much reason to dread,
Reginald Mason instinctively glanced
round him for some available weapon
Of defense.
The loft in which they both stood
was long and wide and very bare. the
rough stone walls being much in the
same state az in the time Of the
monks occupation, and the roof being
Of the rudest and most primitive sort.
In one corner was small bedstead,
IN another was an iron washstand.
This was all the furniture which could
Be distinguished from mere lumber.
But as Mason looked, the setting
sun, which had been obscured by
heavy snow clouds, struggled through
the mist and shining in through the
smal west window of the loft threw
into strong relief the face and figure
Of the angry and menacing Coch Tai.
For the first time the doctor was able
TO see him perfectly, and as his eyes
met those Of the mountaineer his fears
died away.
Dor this wild son of the hills was no
dull, british creature, such as he had
expected to see. True 1t was that the
animal was strong in him, betrayed In
heavy jaw and full Tipped mouth; true
chat the expression of his face at that
moment was fierce, threatening. But
b his blue eyes there was light there
was fire; they looked out upon the
world with steady, open gaze, the
gaSe 20 It seemed to Mason. Of an
honest man.
All the fear Of the savage mountain
Ger which he might have momentarily
felt melted away at once as he looked
at him and recognized the charm
which this rugged face must have had
for his Ill fated brother. It was strange
that this very first look he was able to
give straight into the eyes of the man
he had longed SO ardently to meet
gave him his first doubt as to the
mans guilt.
II am glad to meet you,s he said at
last. after pause, during which they
had stood steadily measuring each
other, eye to eye.
OOch Tai never moved.
Well" said he sullenly, ''and what
have you to sayT
He spoke in rough voice, with a
strong Welsh accent, but his tones
had in them something Of the strange
charm of his look and manner. His
defiance seemed manly, not coarsely
aggressive, and his eyes still looked
out steadily as an honest mans should.
There was another short pause.
Il want" said Mason at last, ITO
know all you have to tell about my
brother"
Coch Tai frowned.
You have heard" said he shortly,
'.from Tregaron all there is to tell"
mot all" returned Mason firmly, in
tone which showed that he did not
mean to be put OFF. II have heard his
version. but I want to know yours.
You accompanied him from Trecoed
as his guide, remember that"
At this reminder Coch Taps face
flushed, and he turned angrily upon his
Questioner.
"What can a guide do when man
chooses to go his own wayY asked he