The evening Republican., 1902-07-17
her back, but Aunt Rhoda spoke

naturally makes him over-suspicious
How was Jeff's clothes? I'll lay he
wants pair of the good warm
socks I'm a knittin' for him, poor
boy.
The peddler's tone was husky as
he replied. He cleared his throat
ostentatiously. Arizony regarded
him attentively, but said nothing
except later on to suggest that it
was about bedtime. The peddler
rose and took up his pack, saying:
Il wouldn't be surprised after all
if you didn't soc Jeff sooner than
you expect to. There was some
talk of the Governors pardoning
him out"
II hope to the Lord he will. Ari-
zony, show the man into the She'd
room. Jeff was alters a good boy,
and if his old mother can just set
eyes on him once more"
The crack of rifle up the mount
ain side interrupted her. All three
listened to the echoes, then Arizony
said
That's father. He's after a coon,
l reckon. Come on, stranger"
She 'slered him into a small shed
room at the rear, oDaneda window to
let in the moonlight, then turned
back at the door to add:
"You mustn't mind father. It's
Just his way since jeff went off. |
wish jeff was back. We all love
jeff
Again the peddler seemed to be
about to speak earnestly. but Arizony
who had Withdrawn her eyes, as if
vaguely disappointed about some
thing, went out and closed the door
before he had uttered a word. lie
sighed, laughed to himself, and shook
his head.
w guess | lam all right with them,
after all. " he muttered. "Bpt will
wait until morning and give the old
man a good surprise"
Ten minutes later lie was breathing
heavily, with his face turned to the
open window. The peddler was evil
IDENTIFY tired man.
AriZony could not sleep A restless
feeling had taken possession of her,
which, somehow, associated itself
with the stranger under the roof.
III can't make the man out" she
muttered. "Seens like | must seen
him before somewhere. Father na-
turally hates the sight of him, cause,
he's IL pcddler, | reckon. What's
that"
Midnight had passed, vet SO alert
were her senses that she had de-
tected certain stealthy sounds at
the rear of the house. Rising. she
threw Oh her gown and noisele ssly
opening the front door, stepped out
into the bright moonlight The,
cold dew moistened her bare feet
us she stole around the corner OF
the house and toward the rear
room occupied by the p.ddler.
ii may be mistaken she mutter-
ed. "but can t rest until father is
sale in bed. "
The window of the shed-room was
open and the mconshine flooded the
interior. AS she passed A:izony
gave a quick glance within: then
she stopped, pressed one hand to
her bosom and gasped for breath.
Certain sounds IRON a rear porch
beyond the shcd'room again arrest
ed her attention.
Lord sakes!" she said half
aloud. "There's not a minute to
lose.
Uttering these words she hurried
on, rounding another cornsr Of the
house, then dashjng into the little
porch ust III time to see the she'd
room door open, while tall,
shadowy form blocked the entrance
and stood by the slumberIny mans
bedside.
Arizony. uttcring faint Shrek.
threw herself upon the intruder and
grsspsd an upIifte1 arm.
"tather!' she screamed. ''Can'G
you see?' It's Jeif--our Jelr!'
During his sleep the peddlcr's
Immense beard had fallen off. Walk
eniny, he now disclosed ito the lnzad
old mountaineer the smooth, ruddy
features ola very much astpnlsAel
young man, whose years might num-
Der twenty.oue Or thereabOuts-
After one recognizing look, the
fathers hand uncIenclcl and large
knife fell to the floor.
"Jetf!" he Igasped. "My jeff Yet
how was | to know"
lie staggered and would have fall.
en- but jeff, springing to his sisters
assistance, held up the aged form,
which they gently deposited upon
the bed.
BY this time Aunt Rhoda already
wakcned, was lin the room. The
sight Of her sons undisguised face,
and the old man, lying PROSTATE and
insensibc, were q severe tax upon
her se!l-command. But she reprcss.
ed herself, gave jeff a swift embrace,
then turned to her husband, saying:
'Jetf you ought to be beat for COM
in home disguised and given your
father such a scare. Run Arizony!
Bring me the campfire bottle,
quck!'
Half an hour later the four we're
seated round Il blazing lire Ia the
front room, for sleep was just then
out OF theqneStion. Old Gilbert, still
weak, watched his son unceaslnglys
His gaze no longer hostile, resembled
the dumb scenting OF an atfec,onate
dog striving to gain its masters at.