The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-09-10
MIREY
BY
FRANK NELSON
Copyright, 1908, by Daily Story Pub. Co.,

{shly. TIL cher hurts my back-an'
til suns a shinin' right in my eyes"
The girl tenderly adjusted the pill
low and with masculine strength
1fted the rude chair with its paraly-
tic burden to shadier spot under
She apple tree.
"Yc amt a treatin' Jake right,
Mirey.' grumbled the old man. He
amt said nothin', but | kin see it;
an you a goin' to marry him this
fall
"Mehbe | am-mebbe | amt" the
girl said. impatiently.
The old man looked up at her anX-
iously,
q knowed it," he exclaimed. I've
seed it comm ever sence that Evans
.Come a snoopin' round here. "a pizen-
in Yer mind with his stories bout
the 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
we've got no call to SANDER him
shat way, pap" retorted the girl,
hotiy. Lots of them city folks
spends their vacations in tn noun
tains. An ennybody kin see he's
gentleman. He amt no spy"
There were hot words over the
young city man, leaving the old man
sulleu and dissatisfied and the girl
defiant As she turned to go he said
"Aiirey. they's sumthin' l clean for
got 10 tell Jake when he come by, an
must see him. He amt more'n
half way to tn sim, yit. Run, Mirey,
We must bring him back"
The girl hurried obediently down
fhe steep path and along the base of
The mountain. smiling as she went.
y kin coax himint it after while"
she murmured, AN then | kin be
~umhody. Rob says | kin have emmy
thing /"
4 crash, a rattle of descending
stones, smothered ejaculation, and
two struggling, interlocked men
rolled down into the path below her.
oue of them, wrenching the revolver
from the others hand, arose painting,
tau and powerful. His opponent lay
quit" still, blood trickling from a
wound on the curly, handsome head.
With a choking cry Mirey sprang
forward and raised the wounded head
5H her arms.
we've killed him." she moaned.
Hes only stunned leetIe."
growled the tall man. ''He was
fo!ierin' me, an when l s'prised him
ie tried to shoot. He's a spy,
Mirey.'
"1ou lie Jake!" the girl cried, de-
fiantiy, An this won't do We no
good, nuther."
The tall man bent down and from
ahe inner pocket of the stylish coat
drew a long, ofiicial-looking envelope.
Look at that, Mirey," he cried,
with note of triumph. "Frum tn
Internal Revnoo DEPARTMENT."
"Ehat amt his name on tits fer
sumbody else" She protested wildly.
Let me read what's inside"
She reached up a trembling hand,
took the opened sheet and her sun
Drowned face turned pale. The
wounded head dropped from the en-
clrcling arms and she staggered to
her feet, swaying, crushing the let
ter in her hands. The man at her
feet stirred and sighed. The tail man
knelt and with his handkerchief
bound the mresisting hands cruelty
sight.
What ye goin' to do with him,
jake" asked the girl quietly, al
most inaudibly.
''YeNe heered rumors of what went
with 'tother one" the tall man NUT
tered. with significant glance.
''But faint fer me to say. Tn boys'n
decide that"
The girl shuddered and turned
away.
''Youll have to go an tell tn boys,
Mirey. while l watch him He mustn't
git away"
II kain't-bring them. Jake. III
watch him. He'll not git away" saw
agely. Give me tn gun"
Jake's eyes looked scarchingIy
into hers. She met the scrutiny un-
iinehingiy,
kin trust yc, Mirey?"
Don't | know what'n happen eff he
'gii~ away" She cried. Indignantly.
bye think I'd send pap and-and
you-to prison? I'll kill him first.
Go-an' hurry"
She seated herself on nearby
howlder and with drawn face and
cold pitiIess eyes regarded the I'M
conscious captive. The bees, home
going, heayy-laden, droned musicallv
among the blossoms, loath to leave.
From the distant river came the
faint whistle of a passing boat. A
great, black buzzard tapped heavily
down upon the dead limb of
sycamore. wiped his hooked beak on
his sable plumage and cooked his
baleful eye inquisitiycly at the fallen
man.
The captive heaved a long. CULVER
ing sigh, opened his eyes, struggled.
nnd sat up, staring about him con
fusedly.