The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-02-07

| the rugged peaks rose high into the
still air, tinted with deep purple in the
shadow and the loveliest rose-pinE
where the sunlight fell upon the snow
Where the snow had slid away from
the precipitous sides, the granite
streaming with water, glittered in the
bright rays as If it were encrusted with
| jewels.
! AS we came to a halt, waiting for a
response to Braces call, the silence
was broken by prolonged roar like
that Of distant thunder, as some roc
loosened by the frost broke away ant
! hurtled down the unfathomed canoA.
A man came from the building,
which still bore faintstrace of the word
"Hotel'' on the facade, and greeting
Brace with the air Of an old acquaint-
ance, said he had got everything aired
and supper ready to 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 as might be ex-
pectad. We left Lola there, and
strolled out while the dinner was pre-
pairing.
The end of the town abutted upon a
wide stream, that was tearing and
whirling along among the gigantic
powders that marked its course, to-
ward a black cleft which divided a
towering mountain in two. Fantastic
as are the effects which characterize
the heights Of the Sierra, had seen
nothing comparable to this. 1t was as
if some mighty hand had split the
mountain in half.
II have knowed the time," said the
Judge, impressively, when both sides
of this river was filled with miners,
and every one of 'em worth his thou
sands of dollarsy'
had no sympathies with the past
glories Of the stream. My mind was
filled with admiration of the savage
beauty of the scenery around.
"Thar," said the Judge, finging 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 Hesper in less time than it will
take us to get back to the hotel"
us it through that cleft we have to
goy'
"Ah, sir, and down into the very in
nards of it,
was looking toward the dark chasm
with a feeling of awe, when Brace
touched my elbow. He was dragging
at his chin tuft, his lower lip protrud-
ing, his heavy brows bent. He point
ed slowly to trace in the snow.
"The man from the hotel been down
here-is that what you mean?" / asked.
ut amt him, sir, that mark. Look
at tits one-footed man, end" he
added, striding forward and looking
.;io- sr-end's it's Ieft-footed man, end
it's one wooden-legged man." and
then, with conviction, tits the blamed
beggar that's been spyin' after us.
Leave him to me. He amt goin' to
spy us tomorrow, not hef / knows it."
/ approached the marks, and per
ceived 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 evening 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
a certain cunning look in his little red
eyes, alarmed me.
We were called at o'clock the next
morning, Brace saying that we must
start early in order to get our job done
in time 10 get back to 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, l geckon?''
The man scratched his ear, looked
up and looked down, and then, at a
jerk of his button, blinked up at Brace,
and said:
wal, allow hev."
A wooden-legged stranger, / think ?"
The same shutting. and then:
wal, allow he hev got a wooden
Leg
"A native believe"
wal. native, accordin' to appear
ances.'
Il kinder fancy he's in the little
chamber over there. 'Twarn't swine
/ heard gruntin', We're it?"
you kin inspect him, if you like"
II will, after which hef take fan
cy to nailin' of him up for four-and-
twenty hours for the same number O.
dollars, you will allow me the use of
a hammer and some three-inch pints r.
II win do that" said sAe man; and
the two having shaken hands on the
bargain. he went of to get the articles
required, while Brace looked into the
room.
TITS the same" said Brace, and turn
ing up his sleeves, he proceeded to nail
up the door in a business-like manner.
II don't think he will trouble us, un-
less he kin afford to make it worth the
old pals while to let him out" said
Brace, as we started from the house,
tend even then he won't get much of a
chance, SEEM as no mortal man can
get down that hole without a light,
and we've got eyes for to see lief a
| light is follerin' on u.s."
| 1t was dark, despite the snow that
lay upon the ground. Brace led the way