Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-12

s against Dan was due to summary dis.
missal from Dams farmhouse, when his
visits to see Miriam, Dams handsome
young daughter, a slip of a girl of Is.
were resented by her father with fiery
indignation.
Dalton Fenwick fell Into the pleas
ing habit Of lettering away the morn
Ing hours with Miriam on athes weli'
shaded porch, while her elderly com.
panlon, Mrs. Carter. looked after cul.
mary matters, ever dear to her heart:
or In the afternoons of those bright
summer days they would stroll through,
the forest, sit on a rock atsthe foot of
Glen Blrnie's falls and. discuss mat.
ters, ethical. social and others, to the
sound of the rush Of the waters: or
they would drive to some distant ham-
let lying In the heart of lonely valley.
coming back at nightfall when the last
glory of day had fallen behind the IN
dulating ranges and faint mists yelled
the peaks. =
There must have been some very spe
cial cause which absorbed and occupied
Dan Kirkwood those days. His horse
would be saddled and brought to the
door, and after a nasty breakfast he
would ride off. over the same trail
through the woods, coming back late In
the afternoon, faded, but with a strange
jubilatlon in his stern face, although he
said nothing as to the cause of ii. or
the reason for his continued absences
Tint he rode far was evident from
! the tired walk and dropping neck of his
sorrel when he got back, nor did he
visit his mill or farm. the young man
In charge of both coming nightly to-
make his report.
Miriam was surprised, then yaguelv
|: uneasy, but was too proudly devoted to
{ her father to have any doubts concern.
ing him or his occupation, nor would
she ask any questions. as he did NOT
volunteer to explain.
I'VE are going on grand expedition
tomorrow, dad. wish you were not
SO busy and could go with u.s." Miriam
/: SAID, placing a loving hand on her faith
er's shoulder.
81 wish could, grille. Where are
you going? l; suppose Dalton will be
1 along7"
r ooh. yes. We intend to picnic in
Black Cave. Dear old Carter has got
ten up famous lunch basket. Weswill
drive there In the four-seated trap, and
Joe will come along to look after the
horses"
Black Cave, half way up Black
Mountain, is a. singular and rather
startling place to visit.
1t runs back from the sharp decliyity
\ OF a PERCEPTIONS cliff, which is heavily
timbered, and the entrance, small and
narrow, is SO hemmed In by shrubs and
bushes 1t Is only discernible to those,
who know 1t. while the towering gran,
lite boulder Into which the cave runs is
overgrown with n century-old forest
growth of hemlock and pines.
The drive back would have been glo-
rious only Miriam complained of
headache, and the horses being nettle-
some and the road rough, Dalton's close
attention was required to avoid any
! mishap.
So.
twas growing toward dusk, but Dan
Kirkwood had not returned.
Bill Jones slouched up the walk to
the porch steps.
"Not home yet? thought not. WE'LL,
I'm sorry to bring you bad news, but
you've got to hear 1t sooner or. later
and / may as well tell you,"' he said,
sitting down on the top step with IN
affectation of ease badly assumed,
while Miriam sprang up and looked
down at him with blazing eyes.
The revenue officers have been noti-
fed. They must have arrested Kirk
wood by this time. He and his gang
have still In Black Cave. They'll be
caught red handed. I'm afraid Dan
will have to go up. Its penitentlary
ofrense, you know. He has made piles
OF money out Of 1t, but It's bad busI-
pes to feql With the United States gov