Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1904-01-29

ccmmcrclal Traveller TO Fly.

confidence but very little experience
he started out on his journeyings.
and nothing was heard OF him for
week. Then letter came:
"I have not succeeded In obtaining
any orders yet. but have had long In
tervlew with the principal or Messrs.
Brown Bros. This, fiatter myself, Is
q feather in my cap. as he Is a very
difficult man TO get at"
Three days passed, no order came,
but another letter, In which the am-
bassador ''plumed" himself on the fact
that he had talked to the secretary OF
large company for two hours. Yet
another week rolled by. and the trav-
eler wrote, claiming another feather
In his cap on the strength Of an inter
view with the managing director of q
syndicate, and asking for more cash.
The firm wrote him as follows,
Dear Strive have received ..-ouT
letter. and note your request for
money. We are not inclosing any, but,
noting that you have q good many
feathers IN your cap. we should advise
you to make them into a pair OF white
wings and 49, home"
ed: It so brutalizes the human char.
acter." she said. earnestly, after q
pause.
THE sooner the rebels are conquer.
ed the quicker II will be ended" said
one of the men. $50 you see it's our
duty to catch this spy. who is said to
be very cunning and useful In his way.
He can't be a great distance Off, and
as soon as we get rested we must take
to the woods and hunt him down.
The other gave his hearty assen, co
this proposal, and after talking over
their plans together both men left the
cabin and passed so near to our hero,
that by raising their hands they might
have touched him: but the darkness
which had succeeded the moons de-
| parelre, favored him and he remained
| undiscovered.
Waiting until he could no longer
hear the footsteps nor voices OF the
retreating figures. he stepped softly
to the door and tapped
The latch was raised. and a voice
| demanded. who's thereY'
"a friend: one. Mt least, who has
not the power to injure YOU" was tho
reply
The door opened wider. and the pale
and haggard face Of the applicant was
exposed to tie woman. who scrutinized
, him steadily and closely
Come In" she said. briefly.
81 am In dis ress," said Hastings.
81 apply to you because you are q wo-
man, and ! cannot forget that a wo-
man was first ct the sepulchre of
Jesus. I am sick. weary. hungry and
sorely pressed by my enemies. I am
the American spy for whom a reward
is offered. You can save me or deliv-
er me into the hands OF your husband,
or those who have gone In pursuit OF
me-"
The mother and daughter exchanged
glances but neither spoke, and Hast
ings enxiously awaited the decision of
his fate.
The woman who had opened tho
| door now s'guifod ~ a motion of the
| hand that he should enter. He did so
and a seat was nl7ced for him by the
| daughter. whose sympathies were OBJ
viously enlisted. She glanced sympa
thizingly az his detected countenance
and noted his falter'ng steps and
| limbs trembling with weakness.
1--WE can give you food, but our pro-
lection will avail but little after my
husbands return" said the woman.
"Can you not conceal me?" asked
Hastings, earnestly. Heaven will
surely reward you for the deedr
The mother looked at her daughter
and the two conversed together in a
blow voice.
I'VE will do what we can" said the
former, briefly rs she placed refresh.
ments before him and signed to him to
eat
do not stop 20 talk" she added
| quickly. as the young officer endeavor
ed to express his gratitude. There is
no time to lose. and food win do you
more good than anything else"
Hastings did not watt for a second
bidding. and the nutritious beverage
| soon had the effect to renew his
strength and inspire fresh courage
His head felt less giddy the cheer.
full fire warmed his stifrened limbs.
and he would certainly have fallen
asleep in his chair had not n feeling
OF dread lest the men should suddenly
return. caused him to look often anxi-
| ously towards the window.
They Will be gone two hours" said
him on that point.
Hastings signi1ed his thanks. and
| looked at the fair speaker So atten-
lively that a crimson glow stole over
her expressive oountenance. making
her look more interesting than before
He forgot, for the moment. himself
his Illness the danger he had incurred.
the risk he now ran, everything in
contemplating her symmetrical figure
regularity Of features, and the bsnevo.
lent kindness that beamed from hey
eloquent eyes. He was startled from
his revery by the barking of a dog.
You are lostp' she exclaimed.
Father is near byr'
Hastings started to his feet and
looked hurriedly about for some mode
OF egress besides the door by which
he had entered
The young girl shook her head. and
her cheek paled with terror. Hastings
knew that discovery was inevitable II
he remained Whara he xro~