Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-07-12
CHAPTER VI.-CoNTINUED.

slant | thought that they would light
over it. However, though their jeal-
ousy was evident. their excitement
cooled a little when they discovered
that the scrap of stuff was empty; for,
fortunately the pebble had fallen
out of it. Still, it threw them into
such a fever of eagerness as it al
wonderful to witness. They nosed the
ground where it had lain, they plucked
up the grass and turf and passed it
through their fingers, they ran to and
fro like dogs on a trail; and, glancing
askance at one another, came back al
ways together to the point of depart
ure. Neither in his jealousy would suf-
fer the other to be there alone.
The shock-headed man and | sat our
horses and looked on; he marvelling,
md I pretending to marvel. AS the
two searched up and down the path,
we moved a little out Of it to give
them space; and presently, when all
their heads were turned from me, I
let a second morsel drop under a
gorse-bush. The shock-headed man,
bye-and-bye, found this, and gave it
to Clon; and, as from the circum-
stances of the first discovery no sus-
picion attached to me, I ventured to
find the third and last scrap myself.
I did not pick it up, but called the inn
keeper, and he bounced on it as I have
seen a hawk pounce on a chicken.
TLa.x I,,,{ol fac &lo fa,rtL ,oo,.o1
hut, of course, in vain, and in the end
they desisted, and fitted the three they
had together; but neither would let
his own portion out of his hands, and
each looked at the other across the
spoil with eyes of suspicion. 1t was
strange to see them in that wide
stretching valley, whence gray boar
backs of hills swelled up into the 81
lence of the snow-it was strange,
l say, in that vast solitude to see these
two, mere dots on its bosom, circling
round one another in fierce forgetful-
ness of the outside world, glazing and
shifting their ground like cocks about
to engage, and wholly engrossed-by
three scraps of orange-color, invisible
at so PAGES!
At last the innkeeper cried with an
oath: II am going back. This must
be known down yonder. Give me your
pieces, man, and, do you go with An
tome. 1t will be all right"
But Clon, waving a scrap in either
hand and thrusting his CHASTITY mask
into the others face, shook his head in
passionate denial. He could not speak,
but he made it clear that if any one
went back with the news he was the
man to go.
NONSENSE" the landlord retorted
fiercely. "We cannot leave Antoine to
go alone with him. Give me the stuff"
But Clon would not. He had no
thought of resigning the credit of the
discovery, and l began to think that
the two would really come to blows.
But there was an alternative, and first
on and then the other looked at me.
1t was a moment of peril, and l knew
1t. My strategem might react on my
self, and the two, to put an end to
this difficulty, agree to put an end to
me. But l faced them so coolly and
showed so bold a front, and the ground
was so open, that the idea took nc
root. They fell to wrangling again
more ~viciously than before. One tapped
his gun and the other his pistols. The
landlord scolded, the dumb man CUR.
Sled< At last their difference ended
as I had hoped it would.
Every well then, we will both &C
back" the innkeeper cried in a rage
"And Antoine must see him on. But
the blame be on your head. Do you
give the lad your pistols"
Clon took one pistol and gave it tt
the shock-headed man.
1.-THE other!" the innkeeper said i'm
patiently.
But Clon shook his head with {
grim smile and pointed to the argue
buss.
By a sudden movement the land
lord snatched the pistol and avertet
Clon's vengeance by placing both !
and the gun in the shock-headed man,
hands. "There!" he said, addressing
the latter, now can you do? If mon
sieur tries to escape or turn back
shoot him! But four hours ridin,
should bring you to the Roca Blanca
You will find the men there, and will
nave no more to do with it,"
Antoine did not see things quite il
that light, however. He looked at m
and then at the wild track in front 0
us; and he muttered an oath and sal
he would die if he would. But. the land
lord, who was in a frenzy Of iii
patience. drew aside and talked to hlr
and in the end seemed to pefsuad
him; for in few minutes the matte
was settled. Antoine came back an
said sullenly. Forward, Monsieur,
the two others stood oh one side,
shrugged my shoulders and kicked u
my horse and in . twinkling we tw
We're riding on together-man to mar
! turned once or twice to see wha
Those we had left behind were doin
End always found them standing in al
parent debate; but my guard Shove
SO much jealousy of these movement
that | presently shrugged my shoulder
again and desisted.
! had racked my brains to brin
about this state Of things. Blu
strange to say, o I had succeeded,
found 1T less satisfactory than | liza
hoped. had reduced the odds an
got rid of my most dangerous antage
nists; but Antoine, left to himsel
proved to be as full Of suspicion as a
egg of meat. He rode a little benin
me with his gun across his saddle-bo'
and q niStnl near his hand and ut Al