Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1902-09-03

hou>e yohuer, waving his hand in
the direction of the town. -You
heard about it?"
Yes"
"Well, what then?" and his grasp
on her arm frightened.
81 know nothing of him who
caused it?"
No; 1T was none of our work"
"Hou are sure of that?"
DO you suppose 1 would keep it
from you if 1 knew?'
No" and, dropping her arm, with
out another word, walked over again
10 the way he had come. "I go on
business of my own, and while | am
In the neighborhood / am to be left
alone. No following, remember" and
with this parting warning, which his
manner implied more than his word.
he passed out into the passage, and
so on up into the outer air.
AS he stood for moment a little
dazzled by the sunlight, two men en-
tered the glade. In deep talk they
did not notice him at first, but. when
their eyes fell on him, one uttered an
exclamation and seized his compan-
ION by the arm and dragged him into
the bushes.
The object OF their alarm, noticing
the action, simply laughed, and.
turning on his heel, went down a
path TO the right, with a good-hu-
mored smile on his face
AS he made his way along. he
paused once and again to listen He
oil h,
both hands, as if preparing to use it
in case of necessity.
To make sure that no one was fol
lowing, he withdrew into the bushes
at one side of the road and waited.
Tie was in a position to command the
path, and see any one coming or
going.
1t was not long before a cracking
of dried branches warned him that
his suspicious were correct. Pres
emily tall young man, with dark.
unshaven face, and in very ragged
clothes, skunk into view He drew
nearer, looking about with fright
ened eyes. AS he came abreast of
where the other was hidden. he
paused TO listen. 1t was only for n
moment that he stood there, for the
man with the pick leaped out in the
road, with the weapon uplifted and
such fierce look on his face that the
other, with a howl, turned and ran
up the path, his grotesque tatters
ttuttering in the wind, and disap-
peared in twinkling at turn in the
way.
"A fine new recruit that" muttered
the man with the pick, looking after
him. But what of it? The most of
the breed are towards"
Then he shouldered his implement
and went on down the path until he
he came to a small ravine, through
which a brook was flowing. Swing
ing himself down over the bank he
dropped on the edge of the stream.
and, for a moment, stood looking
around him carefully at the rocks
on either hand. Then one peculiar
shaped stone seemed to attract his
attention, and he nodded, and at
once began to throw up the earth at
the foot Of the rock His face wore
an anxious expression now, and was
full of tense emotion. He worked flu
riously, as if his very life depended
on his energy. Not once did he
pause, except to straighten his back.
wipe the sweat from his forehead or
cast a look around the little ravine
TO see if any prying eyes were fixed
on him.
1t was half an hour before the pick
struck something that gave out a me
tallc sound. He was trembling with
eagerness now, as he dropped down.
stretched himself full length over the
edge of the hole and felt among the
loose earth at the bottom with his
fingers. Then n deep sigh of relief
escaped him. as he drew out long,
metal cylinder that seemed to be
made of copper, now discolored with
contact with the earth. He arose to
his feet, and taking the pick in hand
with blow smote one end of the CYL
inder and the top few off like the
cover to a box.
safe enough, after ALL" he NUT
tered, in delighted voice. s he drew
out of the tube a roll of yellow parch-
ment, and, unrolIing il, glanced over
the cIose-written and faded writing.
Folding the scroll, he placed il care
fully away in an inner pocket. and
then, picking up the copper cylinder,
sent II flying into the bushes at the
foot Of the ravinc.
a good days work" he said. rub
bling his hands together softly
Blessed old nature is a better
guardian than man. i'm human hands
] should never have found it again
i'm this wicked world"
lie stood and washed his hands i'm
the blyfowing brook and bathcd
his heated face. Whatever the papcr
contained. it must have been of great
and lasting Importance TO him. For.
when ne was sure it was unframed
and i'm his possession. his face seemed
20 lose its ANXIOUS lines. and he be-