Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-05-26
CHAPTER XIV.

now here, Mrs. Redden," he said, taking
OIL his cap and bowling in a very formal
and elaborate manner. He came up
this afternoon upon important business,
| but has gone on further-much further
than our camp. can assure you, though,
that he is safe and well. Miss Lizzy,
has your hurricane experience made you
admire storms to such a degree that you
| take the numerous risks of accident from
falling limbs and trees without hesita
ton, on cloudy day and inclement
nightT
| While a slight sarcastic smile linger-
ed about his lips, there was a puckering
of the brows and a glitter in his dark
eyes, made darker by the black border of
hair and cap, and also a certain harsh
ness in the tones of his voice that COM
bined to make her feel that she was put
upon the defensive, and under censure
and reproof
II do not know that l thought of the
danger" Lizzy answered, blushing a lit
tie. II suppose that after so recent an
| experience"
You ought to have thought of it," he
| suggested. mo doubt! No doubt. Even
by experience we mortals learn but slow.
ly, and after many lessons. Mrs. Red
den, you will not think of going on far
| ther in search of your husband? Can't
you take my word that he is well and
| safe?'
He stood close to Lizzy-even touch
Ing her with the folds of his gum-enam-
eled rain cloak, while he faced Mrs. Red
den.
II mout a tuck your word fur ut, Mr..
Mason, eff ut I'D aben three-four weeks
| ago." said the determined and plain
spoken old Hoosier woman, defantly.
But you haint as much thought Nv, nur
your word haint as good as hit wair then.
colne up hy-ur after my man, un l
want i'm before I go back"
There was a moments pause, in which
Mr.. Mason seemed to be upon the border
line between anger and surprised anuser
| n.ant.
II am sorry to have lost the good
opinion of yourself and so many of the
kind-hearted people of Sandtown," he
| said earnestly, and with n return toward
something like what might be termed
his Sandtown manner. II must beg you
both to believe that / have not willfully
injured anybody in what l have done. l
have had your interests in view, as we'll
AS"
Eyes, hit looks lack ut, don't ut" broke
in the determined and Independent old
woman. "Hit looks lack hit was to our
ntrust to git the Farmers Bank into
sich a tight plaist ut it had to bust up,
III bust up every farmer en- Redden
l oh In oil Vol oh nd
| you come down h-yur un bid In all ar
moggijis fur little UT nuthun."
The amount of scorn thrown into her
vigorous sentences by her staccatos of
emphasis was surprising to contemplate.
Under this invective Mr. Mason kept his
gaze steadily and searchingly upon Lizzy
| Wickly's face, while his face remained
turned toward the angry visage of the
blunt and fearless old Hooser woman.
Il certainly have had no hand in the
misfortunes Of the Farmers Bank" he
said quickly, and keeping his eyes fixed
upon Lizzy's in that searching, question
ing look that plainly asked her what she
thought Of these charges. "And 80 far
as the mortgage sales are concerned, l
had only thought of doing favor to one
of the mortgagors by compelling the
mortgage to pay something like the full
value of the property. But if there are
many sufferers l shall make an effort"
MANY! They's about uvverybOdy at
I know. Un most Nv um lose thur farms,
too. Un thur family will suffer, 1 reck
on. Billy Bler .tole Coonrod-"
Congressman Biler is the attorney for
the railroad that is closing up the Farm
ers' Bank, Mrs Rcdden. You know that
fact, so you can put proper estimate
upon every bit of information that comes
through him." Mr.. Mason said, looking
hard at Lizzy for symptoms of some eff
feet of his words, and seeing those symp-
toms very evidently.
"Billy Biler! Billy Biler I'D no more
do sich theng thun he'd put his head
en- the frew said Mrs. Redden indignant
ly. "We've knowed him too long fur
that. But / reckon, LizZy, we mout
as we'll go back. I've kline uh gut over
my awneasy spell bout Coonrod. He's
always tuck k-yur Nv hisseff. But I
felt mighty awneasy-mighty awneasy."
Lizzy, signfylng that she was quite
ready to set out on the return walk, Mr..
Mason, resuming in great measure the
jaunty air with which he had met them,
volunteered to escort them, and offered
his arms to both ladies.
"No, thanky." said Mrs. Redden, much
molli6ed. 81 kin walk alone Wit. You
mout help Lizzy thar. She's purity well
tard out, l reckon. Un young g-yurls
needs sight more armun un keppun
along un ole weemun does. I'll lead out,
un you two kin follow, mebby."
Acting instantly upon her own sugges-
ton, Mrs Redden 'led out" with the
long swinging stride peculiar to the old
time Hooser danes, who walked every
where when the "hosses" were at work,
and before "ridun-nags" became plenti-
fui.
To be continuedl
A Modified Appreciation.