The Van Buren press., 1903-08-29
MIREY
BY
FRANK NELSON
ScoryrIss,, iN5, by Daily Story Pub. oOl

TLIP tn piller leetle higher up,
Nirey," said the old man, peev-
khly. "Th' cher hurts my back-an'
sh' suns a shinin' right in my eyes
The girl tenderiy adjusted the pill
low and with masculine strength
hfted the rude chair with Its paraly-
tic burden to a sha6ier spot under
the apple tree.
"Ye amt treatin' Jake right,
Mircy," grumbled the old man. He
amt said nothin', but / kin see it;
an you a gCin' to marry him this
fall"
"Mebbe | am-mebbe I amt" the
girl said, impatiently.
The old man looked up at her anx-
Iously.
81 knowed it," he exclaimed. i've
seed il comm ever sence that Evans
come a snoopin' round here a pizen-
in yer mind with his stories bout
fine houses, an great ladies, an
dresses, an dimunds. What brought
him way up here in this wild place?
Who knows what he is. ennyhow?
Like as not he's one of them revnoo
spies"
"Ye've got no call to SANDER him
that way, pap" retorted the girl,
hotly. Lots of them city folks
spends their vacations in tn noun
tains. An ennybody kin see he's a
gentleman. He amt no spy"
There were hot words over the
young city man, leaving the old man
sullen and dissatisfied and the girl
defiant. As she turned to go he said;
"Mirey, they's sumthin' clean for
got to tell Jake when he come by, an
! must see him. He amt more'n
half way to tn shh, yit. Run, Mirey,
ye must bring him back"
The girl hurried obediently down
the steep path and along the base of
the mountain, smiling as she went
Il kin coax him into it after while"
she murmured, "an' then | kin be
sumbody. Rob says ! kin have emmy
thing /"
A crash, a rattle of descending
stones, a smothered ejaculation, and
two struggling, interlocked men
rolled down into the path below her.
One of them, wrenching the revolver
from the others hand, arose painting,
tall and powerful. His opponent lay
quite still, blood trickling from a
wound on the curly, handsome head.
With choking cry Mirey sprang
forward and raised the wounded head
in her arms.
"Ye've killed him." she moaned.
Hes only stunned leetle,"
growled the tall man. "He was a
tollerin' me, an when | s'prised him
he tried to shoot. He's spy,
Mirey."
"Iou lie, jake" the girl cried, de-
Sanity. AN this won't do ye no
good, nuther.'
The tall man bent down and from
the inner pocket of the stylish coat
drew long, otlicial-looking envelope.
Look at that, Mrey" he cried,
with note of triumph, "Frum tn
Internal Revnoo DEPARTMENT"
"That amt his name on tits fer
sumbody else" she protested, wildly
Let me read what's inside"
She reached up q trembling hand
took the opened sheet and her sun
Drowned face turned pale, The
wounded mead dropped from the en-
circling arms and she staggered to
her feet, swaying, crushing the let
ter in her hands, The man at her
feet stirred and sighed. The tall man
knelt and with his handkerchief
bound the unresisting hands cruelty
tight.
What We goin to do with him,
jake?' asked the girl quietly, al
most inaudibly,
"Ye'ye heered rumors OF what went
with 'tother one" the tall man NUT.
tered, with significant glance
'Bu, tain't fer me to say, Tn boysn
iecide that"
The girl shuddercd and turned
away.
You'll have to go an tell tn boys,
Mirey, while I watch him. He mustn't
git away"
IL kain't--bring them, Jake, III
watch him. He'll not git away" saw.
sgely. "Giye me tn gun"
Jakes eyes looked senrchingly
into hers. She met the scrutiny un.
hinchingly.
"Kin | trust ye. Mirey?"
Don't ! know what'll happen ef he
gifts away" she cried, Indignantly
"Dye think I'd send pap nnd-and
you--to PRISON. I'll kill him first
Uo-Nrr hurry"
She seated herself on nearby
bowlder and with drawn face and
cold, pitiless eyes regarded the un.
conscious captive. The bees, home.
going, henyy.laden, droned musically
among the blossoms, loa,h TO leave.
From the distant river came the
faint whistle Of passing boat, A
great, black buaaard tapped heavily
down upon the dead limb of a
sycamore, wiped his hooked bcak ON
his sable plumage and cooked his
baleful eye inquisi,iyely at the fallen
man.
The captive heoyed long, quiver.
mg sigh, opened his eyes, struggled,
and sat up, staring about him con.
iusedly,
"Mirey," he said family, as that
you, Mirey2"
THE ABANDONED ORCHARD.