The newspaper., 1908-03-06


Uncle Joe gave her a sideways
glance.
Hay and taters," he exclaimed; I'VE
don't feed hosses on taters down here.
Where'd you come from p
'I used to live at Tins Place, up in
the woods, n we fed our hosses on
taters, n they had backs sharp 'nuff
to split ye."
This time Uncle Joe faced squarely
around.
Il know all about hosses," she con-
tinued glibly. Il used to take keer on
'em n ride one plowin', an I've been
throwed more'n hundred times when
we struck roots, an ye ought to "a
heerd Tim cuss. l used to cuss just
the same, but Mrs. Frisbie says |
mustn't"
Wal, swow." calculated Uncle
Joe, realizing that he had case"
What's your name, n whar's Tins
Placer"
My names Chip, Chip Mcclure.
only 'tain't, it's Vera; but they allus
called me Chip, an Tins Place is
ever so far up in the woods. | ruined
away cause dad sold me. an fetched
up at Mrs. Frisbie's camp, n she's
goin' to eddicate me. My mother got
killed when | was a kid, n my dad
killed mother one. too; he's bad 'un." ="
Uncle Joe gasped at this CORY tale
of double murder. not being quite sure
that the girl was sane.
'Hain't they ketched yer dad yit?"
he queried.
NO. nor they won't" Chip ratified
on, as If such killing were a daily oc-
currence in the woods. He's a slick
'un, they say. an now he's got Pete's
money. he'll lay low"
Worse and worse. and more Of it,
Uncle Joe thought.
You must "a had middlin' lively
times up in the woods" he said. Did
yer dad kill anybody else sides yer
mother n this mani"
He didn't kill mother Chip re
turned promptly: he used to lick her.
though. but she go; killed in a mill.
n l wisht 1t 'ud bin him, ! wouldn I
a bin an orfin then. Say she added.
as they entered a woods -bordered
stretch OF road. did ye ever see spites
here?"
"Spites." he responded now more
than ever iii doubt as to her sanity.
what's them?"
why. they's Just spites-things ye
can't see much of 'ceptin' it's dark.
Then they come crawlin' round. They's
souls o. animals mostly. Old Tomah
says. I've seen thousands on EN-"
Uncle Joe shifted his quid turned
and eyed the girl once more First. a
wild and wofully mixed tale OF mur-
der. and then spooklsh things! Be
yond question she had wheels. and he
resolved to humor her.
oh. yes. we see them things here
now n then he said. but it takes
considerable ticker TO do # We hain't
had murder. though. for quite a spell.
This is a sorter peaceful neck o woods
ye're comm to-"
But Chip failed TO grasp his quiet
humor. and all through that 2O-mile
autumn day stage ride she chattered
on like a magpie.
He soon concluded she was sane
enough. however. but the most volu-
BILE talker who ever shared his seat.
4 never seen the beat o. her" he
said that night al Phinney's store
the village news agency.-"she clacked
every mint from the time We started
till We fetched. in. an | never callated
sich COINS on ez she told about cud
ever happen. Thar was murder n
runnin' away. n she got ketched n
carried of n fetched back. n a whole
lot o resky business. She believes in
ghosts. too. sorter Injun sperits. n
she kin swear jist ez easy ez kin. 1t
seems the Frisbies hev kinder 'dopted
her. n guess they'll hev their hands
full. She's a bright 'un. though. but
sich a talker,"
At Aunt Comforts spacious. old.
fashioned home. where Chip was now
installed. she soon began to create the
same impression. This had been An
gie's former home. and her Aunt Com
fort Day had been her foster mother.
This family. in addition to the new
arrival. consisted of Aunt Comfort
rotund and warm-hearted: Hannah
Pettibone. a well-along spinster of an
gular form and temper. thin to an al
most painful degree. with well-de-
fined mustache. and general helper
on the farm. and a chore boy about
Chips age named Meier. completed
the list
Once included in this somewhat di-
varsa rroun chin became nm i,nmedi-