Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-03-13

J We'll do it'll" and the two swung
of In the direction Of the gulf.
1t was one of those vital Septem.
Der mornings. The artist Frost had
begun work upon his autumn picture,
giving little touches here and there
which later he would amplify until
the whole countryside from horizon
to horizon would show the result of
his glowing skill.
you're not sorry you came hop
pickin', are you?" demanded Becraft.
as the two stopped for a moment at
the spot where Rossiter had encoun-
tered "Whiskers."
The valley of the Blue Creek was
at their feet, peaceful and beautiful
in the September sunlight.
"Sorry!" exclaimed Rossiter; Every
far from it. And I've you to thank
for it all. feel that I'm different
man from the vagabond you met that
day at 1llica."
There's no doubt o. that. No
body'd take you for the same chap.
But as for thanks, don't want to
hear anythin' about that sort o.
thing. You don't suppose I've for
gotten what you did for me, do you?'
"Well, We'll call it's quits, and say
no more about it. But why did you
let on to your mother in regard to
that business in the river? She made
it mighty uncomfortable for me the
other day."
Becraft grinned.
did she?" said he. "She always
thought you was just about right,
but, by jinks, now you're the whole
thing, an no mistale!"
What does she think about GER
tain son of hers? Eth, Joe?"
Becraft tried to look unconcerned,
but his effort proved a fat failure,
and so, in the best of humor, they de-
scended into the valley. Along the
bank of the singing, crystal stream
they wandered, now through open
pastures, now beneath the shade Of
great forest trees, and now through
dense underground of beech and
maple. On both sides rose lofty
wooded bank, sometimes 100 yards
or more from the bed of the stream,
sometimes close at hand, SO that
they could see, in moist clefts far
above their heads, great sprays of
maiden-hair and beds of the rare
walking fern. They surprised
specified trout in dark pools, hol-
lowed by the action of the water upon
the blue slate which gave the stream
its name; and they encountered GU
rious fungus-growth, strange even to
Rossiter, who had picked up consid-
cradle wood-lore in his wayfarings.
BY and by they noted the branch
glen, of which Parmelee had spoken,
and turned into it. 1t was contract
ed and thickly wooded before they
emerged upon the Blue Creek road,
a highway which ran for some dis
lance parallel to the stream and then
bent away towards the Merton farm,
but above the road it expanded, and
in places the forest was less dense.
The road crossed the rayine by an
embankment, and yet there was a
sharp dip, so deep was the depres-
sion.
"Golly!" said Becraft, gazing about,
"if this amt a wild place!"
ut certainly is" responded Rossi.
ter. We might be miles from a
house. and yet 1 presume there are
farms quite near
They did not pause to see, how
ever, but continued on their way up
the glen.
II think we'd better climb the bank
and strike into the woods here" an
nounced Rossiter, as they reached
spot where the ravine widened and
it's bottom was dotted with dense
clumps of scrub hemlock.
They were making for the thicket-
covered slope, when, on passing be-
tween two close set hemlock clumps,
they discovered the still smouldering
ashes of a fire. Charred potato skins
and cobs from which the corn had
been eaten were strewn upon the
ground.
We're too late for breakfast" said
Rossiter, looking about him as if in
search of further traces of those
who had hndled the fire. ut might
be interesting to know who Toasted
here. More than one, evidently,
judging the workmen by their chips,
or if but one he'd been indulging in
pretty long fast"
There was nothing further to be
discovered, SO they assembled the
bank and entered the foraet AS+.r
time, as Parmelee had predicted,
they encountered the logging-road,
and were back at the farm before the
dinner hour. That afternoon they re-
ported the finding Of the remains Of
the fire to Mr.. Merton's manager.
"Of course, there's no tellin' who it
might have BEEN" Parmelee said.
Wen keep watch anyhow. That
blamed monkey may still be hangin'
about after ALL"
ITO be continued1