The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-09-25
.MlREY
By
FRANK NELSON


| Il LIZ III piileT irellc HiShci UP"
r Mirey." said the old man, peev-
tshly. "Ih' cher hurts my back-an'
I'll suns a shinin' right in my eyes.
The gill tenderly adjusted the pill
low and with masculine strength
lifted the rude CHAIR with its paraiy-
tic burden to shadier spot under
he apple tree.
"Ye amt a trea lin Jake right,
Mirey." grumbled the old man. He
cin't said nothin, but | kin see it;
m you a goin' to marry him this
fall"
"Mebbe | am-mebbe | amt, the
girl said. impatiently.
The old man looked up at her anS-
iously.
Il knowed it." he exclaimed. I've
seed il a comm ever sence that Evans
come snoopin' round here. a pizen-
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 Islander him
that way, pap" retorted the girl,
hotly. Lots of them city folks
spends their vacations in tn lhoun-
taiGs. An ennybody kin see he's
gentleman. He amt no spy"
There were hot words over the
nj lno hn I'll a n
sullen and dissatisfied and the girl
defiant. AS she turned to go he saiA:
"Mirey. they's sumthin' clean for
got to tell Jake when he come by, an
[ must see him. lie amt more'n
half way to tn stnl. yit Run, Mirey,
We must bring him back
The girl hurried obediertly down
the steep path and along the base OF
the mountain. smiling as she went.
II kin coax him into it after while"
she murmured, IAN then | kin be
>umbody. Rob says | kin have emmy
thing /"
A crash a rattle of descending
stones, 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
wound on the curly, handsome head.
With choking cry Mirey sprang
forward and raised the wounded head
IN her arms.
we've killed him." she moaned.
Hes only stunned leetle."
growled the tall man. He was
follerin' me, an when | s'prised him
he tried to shoot. He's spy,
Mirey.'
you lie. Jake!" the girl cried, de-
family. 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, otiicial-looking envelope.
Look at that, Mrey,' he cried,
with a note of triumph. "Frum tn
internal Revnoo D'partment.''
THAT amt his name on it-.it's fer
sumbody else she protested, wildly.
Let me read what's inside
She reached up trembling hand,
took the opened sheet and her sun
Drowned face turned pale. The
wounded head dropped from the en-
circlng 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 ye goin' to do with him,
Jake?" asked the girl quietly, al
most iuaudibly.
"Ye've hec1ed rumors of what went
with 'tother one" the tan man NUT
tered, with significant glance.
But faint fer me to say. Tn boys1l
decide that
The girl shuddcred and turned
away.
you'll have to go an tell tn boys,
Mirey. while ! watch him. He mustn't
Git away"
II KAN bring Inelh. Jahe' IL
watch him He'll not git away" saw
agely. "Give me tn gun"
Jake's eyes looked searchirgly
INTO hers. She met the scrutiny un-
Hinchingly:
KIN / trust ve, Mirey?'
Don't | know what'l happen ef he
pits away" she cried. Indignantly
Dye think I'd send pap and-and
you-to prison? I'll kill him first.
Go--an' hurry"
She seated herself on nearby
bowlder and with drawn face and
cold pitiless eyes regarded the I'M
conscious captive. The bees, home
going. heavy-laden. droned unsteady
among the blossoms, loath to leave.
From the distant river came the
faint whistle of passing boat. A
great, black buzzard tapped heavily
down upon the dead limb of a
sycamore. wiped his hooked beak on
his sable plumage and cooked his
h,Ieful eve inuuisitively at the fallen