Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1901-11-22

VIII exceptionally broad shoulders and
an active. powerful frame. His face.
above the black pointed beard. was
very dark and his expression pleasing.
though when the face was i'm repose
there was certain hardness that con-
trasted strongly with the CHEEKY frank
ness OF expression when In a lighter
mood. What his head was like could
not see. as ever at supper he kept his
SLOUGH felt hat pulled down low on his
forehead.
Charlie muttered something about
coarse bush manners. but the gentle
man with the hat either did not hear
or was wilfully deaf-at any rate Char.
hes remark in no way interfered with
his spirits or appetite.
Bit of nuisance, gentlemen" he
said, with his mouth full OF cold beef,
Deing dragged on like this when re-
spectacle travellers ought TO be abed.
Devil take the gold escort, say II I
don't cotton to sitting by man with
loaded rifle slung across his knees
It's a bit shaky for a cove OF my time
OF life"
He laughed as he spoke and helped
himself to huge slice OF ounce tart.
Lucky were not in the old DAYS.
gentlemen" he continued. II shouldn't
have fancied going over that mountain
with n coachload OF dust and only two
armed men-and one OF 'em civilian
to guard it,"
who said there were only two arm
ed men," interrupted grufr voice and
the sergeant stood in the doorway, For
"A
name-looked startled, but the next IN.
stant turned laughingly TO the SER
geant.
why, you said so yourself, sergeant.
Didn't you say that you and the ac-
countant (Mr. Jones) would be ready I'm
half an hours time? You didn't say
nothing about no others"
Sergeant Fulton growled something
under his breath as he dropped his
huge frame into chair and called for
a drink
What's happened to that fellow
Moonbeam. sergeant asked Charlie
Wilson after pause. HE seems to
have left this district"
cant say, sir" replied Fulton.
Hes n tough nut to crack, and the
devil knows what he's up to now. I'd
give ten years Of my life TO get that
scoundrel"
YES" laughed Charlie, "he's given
you chaps rough time for the last
year or two. 1 can't help admiring the
pluck OF the fellow, though he is such
a bad lot"
"A bad lot" growled the sergeant
Hes murderous villain, that's what
he is. He shot my mate, Dick Quin-
ton, without giving the poor chap a
dogs chance of n run for his money"
Il don't know anything about II. and
I'm talking lot OF rot, l suppose" said
Landon, joining in, but IL seems to me
an outsider-to have been his life or
your friends. Perhaps Trooper Quin-
ton wouldn't have given him much law,
l expect, II he could have drawn
bead on him."
You think not" said the sergeant
sharply. well, | think. as I've said.
that Moonbeam, rs he is called, is
murderous blackguard. and If could
get chance at him I'd plug him as
would bandicoot."
well, well, sergeant" laughed the
other, mo ofrense, and, as / say. |
haven't heard much about the chan.
What's he like? Have you ever seen
him?
"Only once said the sergeant slow
ly, "but think I'd know him again"
Well" laughed the other, Il can
only hope, for Moonbenm's sake, that
you won't happen to meet him."
At that moment a tall young man.
room. lie carried black bag In his
hand. Good evening. gentlemen-Mr.
Fame, Mr.. Landon-may 1 introduce
myself? I'm the bank accountant.
We're to he fellow travellers, and I'm
much obliged to you for your courtesy
in coming on tonight. The coach is
ready. Shall we startY"
Five minutes later had wrung dear
old Charles hand for the last time for
many day and taken my seat in the
coach. 1t was light spring coach.
with covering over il and two paral.
lei seats. In the front one sat the
driver, and by his side Sergeant Full.
ton, with n loaded rife between his
knees. In the back seat sat Landon.
Jones, and myself; Jones, with his bag
center.
1t was beautiful starlit night, and
the air was deiiciously cool after the
broiling heat of the day. We were all
In the best of spirits, despite our con-
tinuous journey, Landon especially be.
Ing in a particularly facetious frame
OF mind. AS fellow traveller it would
have been difficult to surpass him, so
well stocked was he with lively re-
miniscence and amusing anecdote.
What he was by trade or profession he
did not say, though fancy that we ali
tacitly took him to be commercial
traveller. Certainly he knew the road
well, and even at that hour OF the night |
pointed out the various landmarks OF |
interest as we Observation-Disclosures rem
dered historical by association with
bushrangiDg and gold mining Incident. |
That's the rock behind which the
Clarkes hid to bail up the COACH" he |
exclaimed suddenly, as great white |