The Holly chieftain., 1903-08-21

pines. They halted at the rickety
gate, and one of them dismounted and
went up the walk. He removed his
hat as he drew near Dolores.
Miss Johnson"
She hesitated a moment; the name
was unfamiliar to her save as used
by young Green. Then she bent her
head in reply.
Your father?"
He is not here" she said, slowly.
Where can we find him?"
Il do not know"
But we must find him." He
frowned sternly; his face and voice
were authoritative. He is summoned
to appear in court to-day in the Green
case; the law cannot wait. Can you
give us no idea where we can find
him?"
No"
He returned to his companions and
reported that Johnson was not there;
his daughter did not know where he
was. They held a consultation. If it
were possible Johnson must be found
and brought to court that day; law
and right must not be delayed. Riding
down the mountain they halted at the
tavern. The tavern-keeper's wife came
out to meet them.
They asked for water; she said
water was scarce on the mountain,
but she could give them cider if that
would do.
They replied that cider would do
very well-in fact, much better than
water for their purpose, for they had
rough time before them.
AS they drank they asked for the
host. He was away, she said, gone
over the mountain to the town:
trial was being held there, had they
not heard of it? Nearly every one had
heard of it; it was making stir.
Folks were excited about it; there
was to be trial there, and Johnson
had they ever heard of Johnson
was all they were waiting for to lay
the guilt where it belonged; he knew
more about it than most folks; some
thought
Did Johnson go? No, not that she
knew of, and she would know. He
went over to the opposite mountain
last night to hunt his COW.
In what direction did johnson go?
She was not sure; she believed he
went right down the road across the
valley. There was bridge across
the river ii one followed the road
along the foot of the mountain a bit.
jenkins had seen her there, and he
told johnson SO at the tavern; John
son went right over to hunt her; he
took his gun in case he came across
game, but that was useless unless he
were luckier than usual, for Johnson
was too shiftless to have luck.
Yes, the COW came back; she had
lost her bell; he would expect to find
her by that; doubtless he would keep
on hunting; he hadn't sense enough
to know she would most likely come
home by herself But if he did not
wish to return for reasons best known
to himself-Johnson was shiftless, but
he was no fool about some things.
His girl now had about as little
sense as was possible. She did not
even know when she was well off; she
was like her mother for all the world,
only worse.
AS for Dolores, she seemed to like
him to talk to her; she was not in the
habit Of talking much; she never
talked with her neighbors, she felt
above them; he was the judges son,
and, no doubt, she felt fattered that
he took notice of her. Their men
never said much to her, for they did
not like her. Maybe she went over
the mountain. Well, maybe she went
because she wished to go. How could
she answer for her? Perhaps
Could they find Johnson if they
tried? She did not know. The oppo-
site mountain was a dangerous place:
there were sharp ledges and turns and
deep chasms: folks seldom ventured
over there except for hunting; they
had no cause to go.
Did they want Johnson? He was
not in the habit of gong off; he never
went hunting except on their own
mountain; he had no go ahead in him;
he was shiftless and SO was his daugh-
ter-only worse.
They had accomplished their errand
and paid her literally as they arose
to go, more determined than ever to
find Johnson were it a possible thing.