Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-04-17

the post Sunday school library. Come
off,"
Whereat all the contrariness of Mac:
Intoshs nature was aroused. "Iwould," =
he insisted. Then an idea seemed to-
strike him. "And I'll bet." he added,
"that I'll reform him. too"
angels have trod there" they as
sured him. "but it would be pictur-
esque to see you rush in. And, by way
of incentive. we'll bet you a hun
dred to ten that you won't"
Macintosh took it. and two monthsi
was set as the limit of time in which
he might show the finished article.
provided, always" he stipulated,
"that the c. o. will give me another;
hunting-leave inside of week"
This the commandment-the matter
being presented to him-agreed. to dos
So Macintosh told Barclay of certain;
magnificent hunting grounds he had
discovered on the last trip, and worked.
on his imagination and his sportmansS
ship; and they started off together, on;
horseback, with their bedding wrapped.
in rubber ponchos, and provisions on;
led-horse. Macintosh did not want:
a private or any one else along.
Barclay, being in state Of new and
keen repentance, abstained from TAX
ing flask along. but Macintosh did
not believe in foolhardy heroism Of
that sort, and his saddlebags held two.
Their way led across an all but lin:
terminable waste of chaparral. The
first day out Barclay drank water
But he stood it in silence until they
halted at noon under mesquite bush
Then Barclay gave a great groan. 1ts
was SO nearly sob that Macintosh
shuddered. He asked what the trouble
was, but he knew very well.
"I'd give my eternal soul-7if j
haven't already-for drink" he said.
81 don't believe 1 can stand it, old fell:
low; let's go back" e
But Macintosh refused; he had come;
out to be gone eight days, and he was
going to stay out. You're two days
from the post, anyway" he reasoneds,
"and you'd either be dead or over IT,
before you got back"
So Barclay had no choice but to keep
en-. Macintosh said nothing about the.
TASKS in the saddle-bags. He was.
keeping those for possibly a more urs
gent use. ~ ~,
At nightfall they came to assettle--:
ment in gulch between two bare foot:
hills. 1t was a deserted settlement OF.
mining origin to judge from a forsaken:
shaft or two. and if it had ever had IA
name it was forgotten now as had
probably been the pony whose skeles;
ton--the legs still hobble d-lay across
the entrance Of the one srreets 3 leHs
ran along the bottom.of the gully and and
was lined on either side by a dozen
or more shacks. ~ sts
eve can put up in one of those:
houses tonight" Macintosh said cheer:
fully. 81 did when I was here few
days ago."
Barclay, who was in very bad state
by now, and whose nerves were agonlz-
ing, looked dubious. and said that he
would prefer to sleep outside under a
poncho, as they had done the night be-
fore. "The places are probably alive
with centipedes or skunks or some,
thing" he complained.
Macintosh had a career of falsehood
opening before him for the night in
any case. so he entered courageously
upon it now. He said that the house
he had gone into had been singularly
free from anything of the sort, that
it had been very comfortable, and that
roof where you could get it was in
dubitably better than the stars. So
they cooked their supper and hobbled
their stock. and when the moon
rose they took their bedding
rolls and went into the shack. which
appeared to be in the best state OF
repair, and which had. in the towns
lifetime been its most fourishing
saloon.
Macintosh lit candle, and set 1t on
what remained Of the bar. II Barclay
had been in condition to notice any,
thing besides his own woes, he would.
have seen that MacIntosh's face was
white and his looks anxious. But he
only unwrapped the poncho with shak-
ing hands, and began to spread it in q
corner. Then he jumped back and,
stood looking, terror-eyed into the
shadow. There was an ominous, sharp,
sound, that died away.
"Say, Macintosh he quavered;
there's a rattler in here" Macintosh.
crossed over to him and laid his hand
on his houlder. 81 guess not. old fel-
low" he soothed; turn in and you'll
feel better in the morning"
Barclay insisted upon the snake,
with angry oaths. 1t ratified again as
he went a step nearer. Don't you
hear it?" he urged.
Macintosh shook his head pityingly,
sadly. And Just then something dark
and long went sliding slowly over the
floor. The sensation which stole up
MacIntosh's back to the roots of his
hair was not pleasant. "Confound IT."
said Barclay, his voice breaking and
high between rage and sheer scare,
"get that candle and look, If you don't
believe me-"
Macintosh went for the candle, walk
ing circuitously to avoid something
coiled and beginning to stir, and there.
by disturbing yet one more. which
ratified, too.
Barclay turned around with spring.
perhaps you didn't hear that?" he DE,
manded.
Hear what?" asked Macintosh,
patiently.
He brought the candle, and Barclay
took it in his hand and put it almost
at the raised and darting head OF a
rattler. Maybe you don't see now, :"
he triumphed.
Macintosh felt like dancing as the