The Monticellonian., 1903-08-27
MIREY Y
 By FRANK NELSON
Copyright. Iaoa. by Daily Story Pub. coJ

The girl tenderly adjusted the pill low and with masculine strength lifted the ruGe chair with its paraly- tie burden to shadier spot under the apple tree.
 "Ye ain't treatin' Jake right, Mirey." grumbled the old man. He ain't said nothin', but 1 kin see it; an you goin' to marry him this fall"
 "Mebbe I am-mebbe I ain't,' the girl said, impatiently.
 The old man looked up at her anx- iously.
 q knowed it." he exclaimed. I've seed it a comin' ever sence that Evans come snoopin' round here. q 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."
 We've got TO call to slander him that q way, pap retorted the girl. hotly. Lots of them city folks spends their vacations in tn noun tains. An enpybody kin see he's gentleman. He ain't 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' 1 clean for got to tell Jake when he come by, an l must see him. He ain't more'n half way to tn stll, 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.
 ''I kin coax him into it after while" she murmured, 'an' then 1 kin be snmbody. Rob says l kin have enny- thing l."
 A crash, a rattle of descending stones, smothered ejaculation, and two struggling, interloeked men rolled down into the path below her. One of them. wrenching the revolver from the others hand. arose panting, 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.
 "He's only stunned leetle," growled the tall man. He was | follerin me, an when I s'prised him 1,a ta1 Has Mirey."
 .sYou lie Jake!" the girl cried, de- fiantly. 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, ofiicial-looliing envelope.
 Look at that, Mirey,' he cried, with note of triumph. "Frum tn Internal Revneo ,partment!"
 That ain't his name on tits 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- eircling 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' 10 do with him, Jake?" asked the girl quietly, al most inaudibly.
 We've heered rumors of what went with 'tother one" the tall man nut tered, with significant glance But tain't fer me to say Tn boys'n decide that
 The girl shuddered and turned away.
 You'll have to go an tell tn boys, Mirey, while I watch him. He musn't git away.
 IT kain't-bring them, Jake. I'll watch him. Hell not git away" say egely. "Give me tn gun"
 Jake's eyes looked searchingly into hers. She met the scrutiny un- Ainchingly.
 "Kin trust ye. Mireya"
 Don't I knew what'I happen ef ke gifts away" she cried, indignantly. Dye think I'd send pap and-and you-to prison? I'll kill him first. uo-au aurry."
 She seated herself on a nearby powder and with drawn face and cold, pit;less eyes regarded the un- conscious captive. The bees, home going, heavy laden, droned musicany among the blass oms, loath to leave. From the distant river came the faint whistle of passing boat. X great, black buzzard Tapped heavily down upon the dead limb of a sycamore, wiped his hooked beak on his sable piumage and cooked his baleful eye inquieitiyely at the fallen man.
 The captive heaved long. quiver. ing sigh, opened his eyes, struggled and sat up. staring about him con fusedly.
 "AIirey," he said, faintly. 'Is that you, Mirey?"
 THE ABANDONED ORCHARD.