New-York tribune., 1909-09-05

medical science which was about TO begin was
the last number on the program. realistic
picture OF Indian home customs, which had
been universally praised 10y the press OF the
country would follow immediately the close of
his discourse. and the ladies who were beginning
90 move out were doing So At their own cost
Willie Caikcr wanted 10 see that last act. bUt
he felt that he must be up and doing He dIi
not care Tor medical science. and he had no
money, anyway. with which . buy a bottle OF
the Miracle. The time might come when he
would have anyone OF the countless diseases II
was guaranteed to cure, but he would not bor-
row trouble PauSIng ~ the flap ot the tent.
he had last look at his mother. as she sat
watching the lcc cturcr with the brcathless inter
est OF woman who Is finding out for the first
time just what Is the matter with her then
he slipped away.
THE preparations for the flight were simple:
for the boy had made up ms mind not %
hamper himself on the march with unuccded
luggage. He had 10 have his revolver. Of course
with the two remaining cartridges Into his IN
side pocket nc slipped the tIutypc OF his mother
and himself that had been taken az the last
county fair, and about his neck he ticd his best
bandana. When he had stuck the note INTO the
coffee pot where It would Ice found at supper
time, the last tie was broken. and he was of on
the trail of the Tallapoosas.
He knew the WAY they must 20 when the
snow was over, SEQ he kept 10 the big road as lar
as the tanncry lane. turning there across the
fields, and following the creek 10 the hue kle-
berry path that led him 10 the mountain S crest
and the pike again. Here he could await their
coming, now watching the quiet valley OF his
past below HIM turning 10 the rolling
hlshlkoquIllaS country and the broad white
tral that led over 1t TO the river. beyond that
20 the rivers source, To the AllcghcnieS on 70
pittsburgh. thence To the plains and the future.
How slowly the minutes passed Willie
Calkcr began 10 wish the parting could have
been made more suddenly. At first he had
hardly dclgncd more than glance at Black
Log; but posted himself on the southern slope
with his eyes fixed on the great trail and his
mind busy with its wonders. Then he turned
again to the northward and his past watching
the distant clump OF naples from which the
mill lifted its broad back. If he could only hear
the rumble Of the wheels once more,
How slowly the hours passed. Dark clouds
were sweeping over Thunder Knob. and the
grumbling OF a storm could bc heard away down
IN the west The growing clouds came on till
the valley was IN their shadow and the lightning
was playing nearer and nearer along the noun
t.linS- Night alone would have been fearful
enough. for the was fast sinking To- its rest
among the hills; but night coming at the heels
ot a storm would have driven the boy back u
the village IN hurry, had not the creak Of
wheels sounded round the bend below him
THEY brought him friends and shelterl
They brought HIM all he had been dream
ing OF! The nasal tones of Colonel Candy cut
sharply through the stiffness that followed a
crash of thunder. Jim answered, swearing az
his mules.
y shout Of welcome was on Willies lips He
stayed it. The long looked for TaIIapoosaS
were here; but they had come upon him So sud-
denly! It was hard to break away from home
all at once this way. Out in the sunshine II
would be easy; but now the trees were threSh-
ing wildly overhead and he could hear the
>wlshlng OF the ram it raced toward him
through the woods. There was not much adj
venture IN Black Log; but OFF there by the
clump OF trees where the mill lifted its broad
back there was lasting shelter How fine a
storm was when YOU could look it in the face
through a window Distant danger has its
tasclnatlonS. The boy began 70 suspect that
1t might have its dcluSions too. and he crawlc,
INTO a bush to think ii all over for the last time
lie wanted 70 convince himself irrevocabIv
that 1t was best But was 1t best
The TallapoosaS clattered by; they reached
the crest OF the hill and turned to the slope
that led away To the west Willie ran ~ he
r.-.l nd ! .