The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-18

in the countryside amang sheep; she's a
gleg yin, and mony a story I could tell
about her. Yen ken that wild bit, ava
at the head O. the waiter ca'ed the Craig
Slap? Weel It was ae dark winters nicht'
- And he rambied into some story not
over creditable to himself.
So he ratified on. from subject 10 sub
tect, story to story, entirely reckless of
the fact that the hailiff paid him not the
least attention. That minister Of the law,
albeit at heart he felt somewhat appre-
hensive. preserved outwardly a dignified
and scornfu silence.
The day was approaching the darken-
ing and the night frost was tingiing the
faces of the two men when at last the
shepherd halted. They had come to
place where the stream ran in pools and
shadows and as far as the turn in the
valley there was no one in sight
Meg" cried the shepherd. watch thae
sheep" and he turned toward the stream.
'Whaur are we gaun?" asked the baileff.
suspiciously.
ITO catch saumon. Are We comm ?"
said the shepherd, cheerfuly. He peered
cautiously over the edge Of the bank and
drew back in silence. "Hushi Here's a
grand kin. Haze We gotten your heuks,
baihn? Nor Then III haze to lend We
mine"
what for?'
ITO catch. that saumon."
''You?"
The bailiff laughed scornfully.
''Weel." said the shepherd. "I'll no. pit
ye In there. Even sma' thing frichts a
saumon But, that's a fine deep pool yon-
der; and I'm thinkin' it's gey cauld moo
that the SUMS doom. VIII We catch that
saumon?"
mo"
'Then 1t Gamma be helpit.". and. tuck
ing the small man under his arm the shep-
herd carried him, kicking and wriggling,
to the edge of the pool. In another moment
the unhappy bailiff was standing waist
deep In water.
Moo" he continued. laying his watch
on the grass, I'm gle ye three minutes
20 max up your mind; and II by that time
ye're aye obstinate, head over heels ye
go into tho deep bit"
For a minute there was silence between
tho two men, broken only by the swish of
the stream and the tapping of the water
against the baillfr's body; then the shep-
herd broke out again.
mo" he said with the air OF one who
has been bordering difficult question, II
Gamma for the life o. me max out what
I'm the world carried We venture sac far
frae hams. Ance afore-it was lang syne--
n bailiff cam here and what he got was
a warnin' to them that cam after him.
He was a big man; but what CARED you.
n man o. your size. daur / Gamma think.
We wad dae weel eneuch. I've nae doot,
amanR the shilpit bodies that bide where
you cam frae. But to come here--its a
perfect insult 20 the muirs. Just figure
you and muckle Jock Shielr" and at the
imaginative picture the shepherd was con-
vuised with silent laughter
Neanwhie--for he was a conscientious
fgsn-a struggle was in progress in the
Ailtffs heart. For the first minute his
sesolutisTf stood firm by his duty. But
sfaduaily the ice cold of the water seeped
through his clothes, through his skin, into
bis very bones. His legs ached and shiv-
srs went through his whole body. The
cold crcpt steadily upward. seeming to
expel all the blood from his legs; as IL
advanced his resolution began proportion
atey to wane and he to think he had
better make the best of bad business.
The struggle with his conscience was
short He looked at tho dark, deep hole
where the stream FLASHED into the pool.
and shuddered. The struggle was over
He had stood by his duty long enough
Surely II would be- folly TO go further SO
when the time had expired. aud the shep-
herd asked his decision. II suppose I'll