The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-12-16

still air, tinted with deep purple in th'
shadow and the loveliest rose-pinl
where the sunlight fell upon the snow
Where the snow had Slid away from
| the preclpitous sides, the granite
streaming with water, glittered In thu
bright rays as II IL were encrusted with
| jewels.
As we came 10 halt, waiting for q
response TO Braces call. the silence
was broken by a prolonged roar like
| that OF distant thunder, as some roc
loosened by the frost broke away anG
hurtled down the unfathomed cano...
A man came from the building,
which still bore faint trace OF the word
"Hotel" on the facade, and greeting
Brace with the air Of an old acqualnt-
ance, said he had got everything aired
and a supper ready 10 put down to the
fire. Brace had seen the necessity OF
preparing him for our reception. A
couple Of rooms had been made as de-
Gently comfortable az might be ex-
pected We left Lola there, and
strolled out while the dinner was pre-
pairing
The end Of the town abuttcd upon n
wide stream. that was tearing and
whlrling along among the gigantic
powders that marked It's course, to-
ward black cleft which divided a
towering mountain in two. Fantastic
az are the effects which characterize
the heights OF the Sierra, / had seen
nothing comparable TO this. II was as
If some mighty hand had split the
mountain in half.
IL have knowcd the time" said the
Judge, impressively, when both sides
of this river was filed with miners,
sands of dollarsp
/ had no sympathies with the past
glorles Of the stream. My mind was
filled with admiration Of the savage
beauty Of the scenery around.
Thar" said the Judge, ninging a
piece OF wood, part OF an appliance
which might have washed gold untold,
into the turbid and rushing water;
thar, bar stoppages, that'll pass the
Great Hcsper in less time than it will
take us TO get back to the hotel"
'Js il through that cleft we have to
goY
"Ah, sir, and down into the very in
nards OF It,"
! was looking toward the darl chasm
with a feeling Of awe, when Brace
10. .aI oil 4 IVn rt1tf
at his chin tuft, his lower lip protrud-
ing, his heavy brows bent. He point
cd slowly 10 trace in the snow.
"The man from the hotel been down
bere-is that what you mean?' l asked
1T amt him, sir, that mark. Look
at tits a one-footed man, end" he
ADDED, striding forward and looking
.id. it's q left-footed man, end
It's one wooden-legged man." and
then, with conviction, 'its the blamed
beggar that's been spyln', after us
Leave him to me. He amt goin' 10
spy us tomorrow. not hef knows IT,"
/ approached the marks, and per
Ccived that beside the foot was the
round hole made by wooden stump.
After dinner Brace looked TO the pine
torches he had brought up, and spent
the eveTfing drying them carefully,
while chatting with the man of the
hotel. He said not word about our
discovery, nor did the man speak of
any visitor in the house. This, with
u certain cunning look in his little red
eyes, alarmed me.
We were called nt 4 O'clock the next
morning, Brace saying that we must
start early in order TO get our job done
in time TO get back TO n comfortable
dinner, but in reality, believe, to
preclude the possibility OF being fol
lowed. When we had finished our
breakfast, Brace, taking the hotel man
by the button, said:
"Old pal, you hev got stranger
stayin' in this house reckony'
The man scratched his ear, looked
up and looked down, and then, at n
jerk OF his button, blinkcd up at Brace
and said:
Wal, ] allow l hev."
"a wooden-lcgged stranger, think
The same shuffllng, and then:
wal, j allow he hcv got wooden
leg"
"A native. / believe"
wal, a native. accordin' 70 appear
ances."
al kinder fancy he's In the little
chamber over there. 'TwRrn't a swine
l heard gruntin'. were it,"
You kin inspect him. If you like"
81 will, after which hef take n fan
cy TO nailin' of him up for four-and-
twenty hours for the same number a
dollars, you will allow me the use OF
hammer and some thrce-inch pints|'
Il will do that said the man; and
the two having shaken hands on the
bargain. he went Oft TO get the articles
required, while Brace looked into the
| room.
It's the same" said Grace, and turn
ing up his sleeves. he proceeded 10 mai
up the door in business-like manner
II don't think he will trouble us. un
less he kin afford to make IL worth tho
old pals while 10 let him out" said
Brace as we started from the house
END even then he won't get much of 6
chance seein' rs no mortal man car
get down that hole without light
and we've got eyes for TO see hef 1
light is follerin' on us"
IL was dark, despite the snow tina
lay upon the ground. Brace led the wa!
with pine torch. which burned slug
glshly in the mist that enveloped us