The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-08-21

vent 20 = mpth 81 u 80 sla FLilnS 4
a. to cause Tie stranger TO spring
hastily aftefh him
oil III cod OH Look thereir
what S 81 man."
There therel The picture! Don't
don't see nuthin'. Ye amt
gone cracked hev ye2 Whose pic
It there.-o Lordi-its there,
Ms Godl can't re see?-An It's his
faee IN, .glsamin' with green flames
oiy Marian I amt seen it
afofe yeariE
he seemed suddenly to collapse. and
ne stranger permitted him to drop
Imp the earth.
Darn II 4 Kin see .anythin'. old
nan bgt IN scout round thar bit,
lest Ter ease yer mind, an see what l
In skser up
re md hardly taken half dozen
before Murphy called after him:
Don don't go an leave me-it's
not there noE-thet's qreer!T
me other returned and stood gazing
down upon his huddled figure. You're
me scout! afeard o spooks Do ye
aks these yere turns often! Fer II
ye do. / reckon a how I'd sooner be
FidiR alone
Murphy struggled to his feet and
gfipped The others arm Never he'd
nuthin like it-afore. But-but 1t was
~ creepy an green amt seen
thet facetn Is year"
What facei-
a fellow kneW-once. He
he's dead
The other grunted disddnfully. Bad
luck ter see them sort," he voluu-
teeFed solemnly. Blame glad 1t
warn me Is see It. anil don't know
Is skeeE much right now bout keep
n Company with ye fer very long.
However. Iiteckon II either Of US cal
c1lates On doin' much ridin' ternight,
We better stop foelin' with ghosts, an
90 ter saddlin up.
They made rapid work Of II the
neweomer proving somewhat loGua-
eipns. yet holding his voice to Judi
cions whisper. Il was he who led the
WY down the bank. the four horses
slowly splashing through the shallow
water to the northern shore. Before
Them stretched a broad plain, the Sur
faee rocky and uneven. the northern
stars obscnred BY ridges Of higher
land Murphy promptly gave his
horse the spur. never once glanefng
behind. while the other initiated his
example, holding his animal well in
check being apparently the better
mounted.
They rode silently. The way be-
came more broken and rough as they
advanced. causing them to exercise
greater caution. Flying clouds OBJ
scured the stars, yet through the riffs
they caught Heeting glimpses sufh-
cient to hold them to their course.
And the encroaching hills swept in
closer npon either hand, leaving them
CROPPING their way between as in
pocket, ret ever advancing north.
= Finally they attained to the steep
hank Of q considerable stream. found
the water Of sufficient depth to compel
swimming, and crept up the opposite
3 shore dripping and miserable, yet with
ammunition dry. Murphy stood swear
ing disiointedly. wiping the blood from
wound in his forehead where the
jagged edge Of a rock had broken the
skin, but suddenly stopped with
quick intake Of breath that left him
painting. The other man creDt toward
him, leading his horse.
What Is II now" he asked, grufiy.
HeT re got EN- agin?"
The dazed old scout stared, point
ing directly across the Others shout
der, his arm shaking desperately.
ITS thar!-an' it's his face! oh.
s GodI-I know it's year"
The man glanced backward into the
pitch darkness. but without moving
his body
There's nuthin' out there, less It's
freely 2 he insisted. in tone Of con-
tempt You're plum crazy Murphy;
the nights got on yer nerves. What
Is Il re think We see?"
His face, tell re! Don't ] know?
It's al green and CHASTITY, with snaly
flames playin' about it, But ! know;
15 years, an ! amt forgot"
he sank down feebly-sank until he
was on his knees, his head craned for
ward The man watching touched the
miserable, hunched-up figure compass
sionately, and it shook beneath his
hand, endeaHoring to shrink away.
Ny God! was thet you? | thought
Il was him areaehin' fer me. Here,
let5me take yer hand. oh, Lord! An
can't re see? It's Just there beyond
them horses-all green, cravlin', dew
illsh--but It's him.
Who2-
Brant! Brant-15 year,"
Rrant9 Fifteen years? Do you
lem MAI, Brant, the one Nolan killed
over q Bethune2"
he didn't"
The old man heayed forward, his
head rocking from side to side; then
suddenly he tupbled over on his face,
s IL -. A.. tk,l.,kh IIfa nonranfOn