Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-12

bCc1nCu 1nCTSuuIOuS.
 "If it want for Simpsons ,ab- sence," said he, ''I should set all this down as foolishness, Miriam"
 Wasn't Simpson by when father started for Hintonville?" she asked, 'and didn't he hear father speak about going to the bank for money to pay the pickers, and say he meant to return by Blue Creek road because he wanted to speak with Ezra Merri- man a minute?"
 He was there, by the Eternal" cried Parmelee, flor he brought the horse out"
 And you know Simpson owes fla sther a grudge for having him dis charged last spring. Father said he never would have let you take him back if help hadn't been so scarce," continued Miss Merton, growing more animated.
 If there's anythin' wrong,"- said Parmelee, now awakening to the pos sible seriousness of the situation, "we're losin' valuable time. You'll | cofne?" he asked, turning to Rossiter. "I'd rather have you along than any one else I know" e~a,. '.- is-..
 ''I'm at your service" said Rossiter. \"You find Dick Whittlesey, Miriam, and tell him to hitch on to the light wagon with the yellow gear, and drive towards Merriman's by the Blue Creek road as fast as he can. We'll l go across lots. If anythin's goin' to happen it'll be at the dip"
 Parmelee had suddenly thought of the remains of, the fire which .Ros- sitter and Becraft had seen near this depression in the road .... ,..-.- ..
 ''You know Sylvia went with fa- ther," said Miss Merton as she hur- ! ried away,
 By thunder, so she did!" cried
 Rossiter's face grew very grave at i this news.
 "You haven't revolver, have you?" l he asked. ...-. - 1 No; I wish to heaven I had!" ex- claimed the farm manager. 'sThere's a shotgun at the kiln, but it's so l heavy it'd be more hindrance than use"
 i Parmelee paused long enough at l the barn to catch up the ox-goad, then he led the way down through the orchard. The dog-trot pace he set hardly satisfied the impatient Ros- l sitter, but he ventured no comment, realizing that Parmelee was the bet | ter judge of time and distance. The latter was inclined to drink at the spring, but his companion restrained 1 him, telling him water was a poor ~4o hand. swerving from the logging road at the glade, they struck off al most at right angles. Progress was slower now, yet they did not relax 1 into walk until they approached a fence beyond which the bank of the branch of the Blue Creek glen pitched abruptly Up to this time they had exchanged but few words.
 i've been thinkin' it out,' said Parmelee, leaning for breathing 1 space against the top fence-rail, ''an' I guess we'd better part here, so that 1 you can hit the dip on one side and on the other. If you follow this fence i you'll come out in a pasture about 1 300 yards from the road; then if they're in sight you can shout, and ! 1 here, and that'll land me on the other side of the dip. In case everythin's not all right, it may advantage us more to have you appearin' from one way an me from the other. You'll have little farther to go, but I take it you're a good bit speedier than I am. How does the plan strike your"
 "As excellent" answered Rossiter.
 "All right, then" said Parmelee, ''we're .off!" and he put his foot upon the lower rail.
 Here and there, as Rossiter sped cn, the sunlight lay in little golden splashes upon moss and hracEzen, but mostly his track lay through sG:t, cool, green shade. The ground was high and dry, and, though the trees set thickly, there was scarcely any undergrowth to impede his progress. His blood sang in his veins, and he was keyed to the height of action. He leaped across hollows, sprang over fallen logs and vaulted cross-fences with the light-heartedness of one hastening to a tryst. His thought did not include MT. Merton, nor did it take into account the possibility of harm befalling the one whom he was speeding to guard. Neither did he harbor any dream in his mind that to him aught c N>ld accrue from any aid he might give to the girl whose gracious loveliness had grown to be so much to him. He was filled with the pure joy of serving. That alone impelled him.
 At length the forest grew thinner, and he saw before him the open field and beyond it the Blue Creek road. AS he emerged from the trees he dis covered that short distance from the dip the highway took a sharp turn, so that in reality he had but a few rods of it in view. He had traversed perhaps half of the stretch of pasture when he deserted horse and buggy rounding the bend. Was it MT. Merton and his niece? An in |, stant, and he knew it was, and Mir Merton was driving rapidly. Rossiter set up a shout and began waving his