Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-11

the center Of heavy woods here and gleam-
ed white with flint and yellow with gravel
where 1t had been gouged out of the hill
side. All round 1t there crowded trees, and
an underground of juniper and rhododen-
dron grew to the forehead of the cleft.
LOOK said Matthew Sweetland. The
scamps coined down there; an one slipped,
i reckon. See how the soil be tored away.
l lay he fell pretty heavy. Twas this here
more' catched his foot an over he coined.
Here's feathers an blood where he fell"
Minnie stood by her father-in-law and
examined the marks he indicated. 1t was
clear that some heavy body had crashed
over the edge of the quarry and fallen six
feet into bed of fern beneath. While the
man examined the ground Minnie picked
up feather or two, regarded the clotted
blood beneath, and wondered whether 1t
came from dead pheasant or living
poacher. She peeped about among the fern,
then started, bent down, picked up small
object and put II into her pocket quickly.
When the keeper returned she was looking
listlessly at the wound on the quarry.
The man must have fallen heavy, If
twas man. she said.
The bowl looks arter his own an
swered Mr.. Sweetland. Twould have
broke the neck of any honest chap. no
doubt"
They proceeded mile into the sweet re-
cesses of the woods. Then Minnie stood on
without emotion, the spot where her hus-
band was declared to have killed Adam
Thorpe
His father gloomily pointed out the place
where Daniels gun had been discovered by
Titus Sim.
1T have aged the poor wretch twenty
year.. he said. Sim be hang-dog crea-
ture now an sinks past me as though he
was to blame for Dams downfall. But
won't have that. He only done his duty.
There was the gun, an he had to show it,
tbs all summed up in that. How did il
come to be there If my son was not? An
why for did he run away or else kill him.
self. II he had the power to prove himself
guiltless? Who can answer those ques-
tionS?
"'Tis for me to do It," replied Minnie.
An rights on my side, father. II he was
dead, tbs for me y live to right his mem
Dry; but he be living. so tbs for me to clear
him more than ever, so that he may come
back and stand afore your face again like
an honest man..
"Never-neverr' he answered That's
where us picked up Thorpe: an that's where
the gun was: an there. alongside that
fallen tree In the brambles, was the spot
where t'other blackguard got me down an
nearly hammered the life out of me-"
The girl looked round about her and
nodded.
Now you go about your business. for ]
lay this is not a pleasant place to you. u
she said. I'll just peep around, If you
please"
There's no eyes of all them that have
searched here was so bright as yours, my
dear: but think twice afore you waste
your time here. IT'S not likely you'll find
aught; an IL you find anything more than
others have found, tbs most certain to be
SORROW"
II don't think it. My heart tells me as
there be that hid here as will pay for find
ing. I've felt it all along. an never more
than today"
Seek then. an il ycei can find my sons
innocence, me an his mother will bless you
foreyermore, when us wakes and when u:
lies down. You've my leave to come here
as often as you will, an I'll tell Thomas an
tothers that you'm free OF the woods
Your way home-alOng is by the path yon-
der. Twill fetch e out pom the side OF
Hameldon; then to the high road ban't
above a mile"
The old man left her, and Minnie, sitting
More. tree root