The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1903-12-23
CHAPTER Y.

A ticed that the door of the inn
Il "a kitchen had been kept swing
ing to and fro as certain ones
I'm the audience had stolen cautiously
but repeS tedly I'm and out Of the cali
nary apartment while the dancing and
other festivities were i'm progress. The
itinerant pedagogue was prominent in
these mysterious movements, which
possibly accounted for his white chOk-
er being askew and his disposition TO
cut a dash not by declining Greek
verbs. but by incl,ning too attentlvely
toward Miss Abigail. a me- iden lady
with q pronounced aversion for frivol-
ity.
The cause of the schoolmaster's frol-
icsome department was apparent TO the
soldier when he followed Barnes into
the kitchen. where in a secluded cor
ner near the hospitable oven, in the
dim light Of a talloW dip. stood a
steamlrg punch bowl. a log smoldered
I'm the fireplace. casting on the floor the
long shadows of the andirons, while
swinging pot was reflected on the cell.
ing like a mighty eclipse. Numerous
recesses containing pans and plates
that CLEANED by day were wrapped IT,
vague mystery. Three dark figures
around the bowl suggested a scent CT
incarnation, especially when one OF
them threw some bark from the vain IT
log on tine Goals aud the flames spra ag
up ms from pine knot and the eclipse
danced among tie rafters overhead,
while the pot swung to and fro.
AS the manager approached the bow
the trio. moved by some vague, i'm.
polling impulse. locked arms, walked
toward the side door crossed its thresh
old in some confusion. owing to a unan
imous determination to pass out at one
and the same time, and went forth into
the tranquil night, leaving Barnes and
Saint Prosper the sole occupants of the
kitchen. The manager now helped
himself and his companion to the bev-
crage. standing with his back to the
tiny forks Of flame from the shagbark.
His face expanded with good fellow
ship; joviality shone from his eyes
beaming upon the soldier. whom he IN
consciously regarded as an auxiliary.
Here's to our better acquaintance"
he said. placing his hand with little
ceremony on the others shoulder. The
blllposter!" Raising his cup. You
gathered then in
And you certainly gathered in the
cootents of their pockets"
"a fair robbery" laughed Barnes,
"as Dick Turpin said when he robbed
the minister who robbed the king who
robbed the people. a happy thought
that, turning the helmet into coliec-
ton boN 1t tided us over, it tided us
over"
Saint-Prosper returned the managers
glance in kind Barnes candor and
simplicity were apparent antidotes TO
the others taciturnity and constraint
During the country dance the soldier
had remained "a passive spectator, dis
playing little interest in the rustic
merrymakug or The open glances cast
upon him by bonny lasses burned i'm
the sunlit fields, buxom serving maids
as clean MS the pans I'm the Kitchen and
hearty maids not averse TO frisk and
frolic in wholesome rural fashion.
But now IN the face of the managers
buoyaucy at the success of mere eX-
pcdiont. a hopcfuIncss go warranted
by his short purse and the long future
before him, the young mans manner
changed from one Of Indifference to
friendliness, if not sympathy, for the
oycrsanguiue custodian Of players.
Would the helmet. like the wonderful
pitcher replenish itself as Fast as it
shift? The managers next remark
seemed a reply TO these queries, denot-
ing that Barnes himself. although TEN