The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1908-04-10

wanted was one long tramp; he woult
be back by morning.
He was not so ready to return some
hours later, when the stars by theil
silent sweep reminded him that he
must retrace his steps IL he wished tc
be back at dawn. Never had the wide
night seemed so sweet The town was
far behind; he stood in a small val
ley, thickly covered with mosquitoes
and heard the night wind sigh softly
through them.
Slowly he turned toward the distant
town. Some of the sweetness of the
breeze was lost already. Suppose he
remained, but no. he could not endure
capture; better go back Of his own ac-
cord
So thinking, he crossed the valley
and ascended little hill. Before him
lay another valley, containing what
seemed to be a field. His course lay
directly across it., and soon he stun
bled over something Peering about
he discovered the foundations of a
house, burned long ago. He was pick
ing his way through them when sud
denly the ground was crumbing under
his feet, the stars seemed to be dan
cling about him, then he knew no
more.
When Avery was again conscious Of
the sunshine it was cleaning brightly
into the mouth of the old we'll into
which he had fallen. His head was
aching slightly from a blow as he fell,
but otherwise he was not injured
| Examining the walls of the excava-
ton he found that it was very doubt
full whether ne could get out unaided.
For the present he was content to re-
main. The country was probably be-
ing secured for him by this time, and
the well was a better hiding place
than he could have found He was not
hungry, and he drank from puddle
near the wall.
1t was somewhat past noon when he
felt few spoonfuls of earth sift
down. Quickly glancing up, he saw
woman's face between him and the
green. His first thought was to keep
perfectly still, but she had discovered
him as he moved; he saw her draw
back in surprise. Then she spoke.
Are you hurt?"
mo"
Cant you set out?'
mo"
'Tll bring you rope" And she
was gone.
From the length of her absence
Avery supposed that she went some
distance.
How long have you been in there?"
asked the rescuer.
Three days." he was startled to
hear himself reply.
Slowly they crossed the field On
the way the woman told her tale. She
and her husband were moving to what
seemed kinder country when he re-
ceived hurt that rendered him I'M
able to work. Still they went on, till
one of the horses fell lame, and since
then they had been unable to get
farther, although only a few miles
from town.
Arrived at their camp, Avery told
his fiimsy tale of searching for strayed
cattle, which neither man nor woman
seemed to doubt. They fed him and
his hunger seemed proof of a three
days fast. All the afternoon he lay
under the wagon and rested, planning
escape.
Meanwhile the movers little girl
grew worse. She had been half sioA
for several days, but now her mother
became alarmed about her. Avery
saw the woman saddling the sound |
horse; before he could imagine what
she intended to do she had asked him
to go to town for doctor.
1t was equally impossible to refuse
or to explain. Slowly he mounted and
turned the animals head towards
danger. The dark cloud had climbed |
higher now; its edge touched the
zenith.
though on so urgent an errand, he did
not speed. In few minutes he would
reach the high road, stretching away
in two directions His horse was
fresh; the rain was in his favor.
The Doctors wife was reading the
new poem, Lucille" that night. yet
she was not too absorbed to hear
knock A man stood outside, who
edged out of the shaft Of light as she
opened the door, and asked her the
question which she heard oftener than
any other. She told him that her hus-
band was at the sheriff's supper and
him where to go, with feel
ing of pity, both for him and the ply
stefan who must mount and go in such
weather.
The man outside, when the door