The Washington times., 1907-09-29

surroundings here DO not appeal %
me. have other business with yog."
At Quivering Bayou.
Stand sun a moment and let me
kRve good look at you" said the
sime voice minute later. III you are
Hing the truth, it is all right. If
not--There was a man prowling
about here two OF three days ago
tall ard snooping-looking. with big
eyes and a beard. You are nc related
To him. are your
Z haven't the least idea whom you
lie talking about" he said coolly. IT
was never in this part Of the country
before"
A man came round a oiump o. IN
dergrowt5 and stared at him curious
~
4 guess you are all right" he said
frankly "A man can never tell
though. and I can't think OF any
earthly business you could possibly
have with me. L attend to my own
enthusiastically. And my taxes"
1T Is past noon. and ate breakfast
early" said Annerly quietly. I've
got turned round somehow IN this in
fernal swamp. Can you give me
glass Of milk or something 10 stay my
hunger until I get to Rosston?"
The man hesitated- He was suriy.
ill-featured brute. and looked back
over his shoulder at the cabin, now
family visible through the trees
Il don't know" he said doubtfully.
Ny wife is a cripple
"A very little viii satisfy me-. sad
Annerly personal---very.. He ratified the
few coins In his pocket and the look
Of uncertainty left the men's face.
you can come on. I guess. he
said al last. You look ike q differ
ent sort from the other fellow"
He shambled along to the house. The
hounds came forward threateningly,
heel again.
A woman sat IN the door watching
their approach inquisitively. She was
bent and twisted with rheumatism
Her hands, calroused and scanned and
brown with toll. were knotted and
ugly. She looked at the men. then
twisted her face round over her Shout
der and looked back into the cabin
behind her.
Get backr' she Enarisd at some
ming behind her IN the shadow
Back. sayr'
The words and tone were those ons
would have used 70 q fractions cur.
There was a vague. indefinite sound
q. in the cabin behind her-a jaTring
ooise like the closing OF an Uniting
1oor-and she turned again, her face
twisted into an ugly smile.
What does the gentleman want,
Ben5yT'
He is a stranger. Molly. and has
lost his way. He Is thinking Of buy
ing land and somebody sent him down
here"
And I am very hungry" SAID An
nerly. looking at her overwhelmingly.
Can you let me have something TO
eat?"
Our dinner is over long ago" she
said reluctantly. There Is bread and
milk. though. and some fresh butter.
And the honey. Benny. We haven't any
meat
That VIII do nicely" said Amer
~. He stared behind her into the
cherries cabin with its bare floor and
rough walls. DO you live here alone,
you two?" he asked as he took the
rush-bottomed chair which the man
handed him and sat down.
The man looked az him suspIcIousIy.
"Au alone" he said stiTly. Me
and my wife and the child She IL
an idiot and we keep her mostly out
OF the way"
AnnerIy listened, but heard nothing.
''She Is very quiet" he said
Some days she Is
The suspicion in the mans eyes
quickened 10 a smoldering CLEAN and
the woman shifted her chair restlessly
so that the way into the cabin was
barred. The two men were sitting on
the narrow porch. Depends on the
notions that strike her. and the moon
Some days she IS as wild as a buck
and tear things"
His shifting glance met the eyes OF
his wife. wavered a little and fen. He
muttered something about getting the
meal ready and went round the house.
the hounds trailing at his heels.
At the Pistols Point.
Had little excitement up above"
said Annerly. Evidently he was trying
only to pay for the courtesy OF his
entertainers by interesting them. big
planter named Fairfax-owned nearly
ali the country IN and around Ross
ton. they say-died very suddenly.
People think that he was murdered
He saw a sudden, horrible change
sweep over the twisted. commonplace
face before him. AID the ferret-lil1e
eyes Swallowed suddenly into a CLASSY.
hsh-lil1e stare Her knotted hands
CROPPED feebly at her throat and then
fell away impotently
Hello. hereI" called Anneriy.
Come quick Your wife is IN a At OF
some kindI''
He heard a quick rush OF feet and
the rustic Of skirts inside the cabin,
but no one came out He called again
excitedly and caughs the woman as
she pitched forward senseless.
The man, still with inc dogs at his
heels. ran round the cabin. He was
carrying a stone jug and the milk was
dripping from II as he ran. He looked
at Annerly stupidity. then at the wom-
an.
'Ts she deadT' he asked foolishly.
what have you done to herr
Nothing at all said Annerly I'm
patiently. I was merely telling her
the news, and she went all OF a heap.
-Vnsr 10 hrrfnw crfr