Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-11-15

! GAss.sA [&
Tom took peep as the men followed
the black aooman into the h0UeI.
and get me my fifty for yon screw
hammer? Man, but he'll be squeakin'
fine the moo"
you've only to say Erickson brought
'em," added Brummy, "and you were
too drunk to see what they were or
you'd never have taken them In"
He'll know different"
AYE, but he's going to pretend" ex-
planned the Scot, IAN you've just to do
the same"
"Then I'm to lug them back myself.
am II"
First thing in the morning, and the
cove'll tip you the stumpy himself"
1.-THE young cover
eyes"
"Dinna we keep tellin' We it's Mats
idee? He thairsts for that mans
blood as much as do myself An Ia
Sits juggler If got the chance"
The villains went on talking for an
other hour. But the foul truth clogged
Toms mind. and lie took in but little
more of what he heard
So It was not a theft. but a con-
spiracy, and the arch conspirator was
the beast that Tom had cared for In
his cups. the petty tyrant whose prop
erty he was even now risking his life
to rescue from his own confederatesl
Tom ground his teeth. He would res
cue it STILL And not only Macbeth and
Brummy. but Mr.. Nat himself should
see the saddles on their pegs In the
morning.
The villains went on drinking as they
talked. Another cork popped, yet the
moon was still high IN the lucid heaV-
ems when the two convicts staggered
off. Jarman at once put out his iight
and in a little oil WAS still but the
leaves, the locusts AMI the tiny tribu-
tary of the Hunter in which Tom had
laved his feet.
He came from behind his tree. The
saddles were still outside.
He stole near; nearer yet; near
enough to hear Jarman and his gin
already breathing heavily In their
sleep.
But they might not be sleeping heav-
ily, and what if they awoke? The STIR
rup irons might ring together. Tom
knelt down and crossed the feathers
over the top Of each saddle. The new
pigskin might creak, for all the oil 1t
had absorbed; in fact, it did as Tom
lifted the saddles, and he stood there
with one on each arm ready to fling
them down and to fight for them still.
But nothing happened. So he crept
away.
This time he crossed the creek with
out dallying and only halted within
few hundred yards of the farm build
ings. Here he sat on a stump, mopped
his forehead and wondered whether he
should take the trouble to elude the
, night Waterman a second time, and as
!, he sat the moon twinkled In the four
; stirrup irons, which shone like silver,
they were so beautifully clean, and as
J he was admiring them 1t suddenly
came home to Tom the groom that he
, had cleaned those stirrup irons him.
, self.
Yes, in spite Of all, he had taken a
sort of involuntary pride in his work.
And that was another thing for which
his fellew convicts had cursed and
, hated him. But tonight he scorned and
! cursed himself for it, with twice their
< bitterness, and an oath broke into a sob
as he caught up the saddles and start
. ed to his feet.
. In word, the sight Of his own hon
' est handiwork so cruelty thrown away
7 drew blood from a heart that had re
: manned adamant under studied prov
l ocation and cool but minute since In
2 the face Of monstrous treachery. Tt
I have done hands turn for such
9 wretches That was the intolerant
D thought. 1t awoke the restless rebe
: that had slept 80 long in this tortured
bosom. Not another stroke Of willing
I work would he do. He would be al
? his fellows from that moment, only
8 beginning there and then. he would
condescend to hide and dodge no more
9 So the groom marched boldly upon thu
/. gate across which Mr.. Nat had pointed
/? with his whip to the lights Of Castle
g Sullivan and would have slammed thu
u gate behind him but for one clrcum
8 stance. Mr.. Nat was leaning agains
4 1t now.
!, Nor was he alone. The girl O'Brier
was at his side. Tom was upon then
q before he could check his steps, but III
Y did not try. He strobe up to his enem!
0 and stood before him without word
Q but with a saddle speaking for itsel
on either arm.
q "Well-wellT cried Mr.. Nat. "Wha
K are you doing out Of your roomf Ant
8 what - what - what have you go
U there"
Q "The new saddles"
! $50 / see. My saddles. What have
y you been doing with them2 Where dit
you find them, ehT
y The tone was loud and clustering
J. but uncertain and surprised. In thu
, moonlight Tom looked his enemy cool
L ~ and steadily In the face and the CIR
= drew away from her companion ant