Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-12-09
The fshin's no

He amt to blame. The fshin's no
good down below"
sIt's a dunn sight worse up here"
growled the prodigal. @You steer
your stranger right about face and
keep him away-you mind me.
Strangers amt welcome hereabouts.
"All right, friend" cried the
stranger, in his easy way. "There
isn't any harm done. Only it might
be better for you tosput up a warning
sign instead Of using your cunning
method. Come, boy"
They trudged back together, neither
looking around nor speaking until
they were some distance away.
"Artie," said the stranger, "Fm
thankful you were with me this morn
ing. If you don't mind I'll shake
hands with YOU"
The boy w%onderingly shook hands
with the stranger.
you don't think Jed really meant
to shoot you, do you?n he asked.
"If he had any such idea he
dropped it when he saw you," said
the stranger. Butt was a beautiful
spot for an accident-or a hiding
place"
Then they trudged along in silence,
the stranger smiling and the boy oc-
casionally looking at him in wonder.
That night he varied his custom.
He didn't send the usual mail COM
m~unication. He telegraphed this mes
sage to his New York friend from the
Office in the little hotel: Leave here
soon. Much better. Look for me at
any time"
The operator no doubt regarded
this dispatch as only mildly interest
ing, but he would have been consid-
erably surprised if he could have
read between the lines.
The simple message was at once a
revelation and a demand for help.
After he had returned to the cot
tage he called the boy outside and
they sat together on the little porch,
the stranger smoking and the boy
watching the rings Of smoke that
foated above his head.
I'm we'll pleased with you, boy"
said the man presently. II find you
are just the lad I was sure you would
prove to be. And now / am going to
trust you to do a very responsible
thing"
He paused and looked at Artie.
"All right, SIR"
The strangers voice dropped.
at concerns the prodigal.n
"Yes, SIR"
There are reasons why I want him
watched"
Il don't care for, the reasons, sir"
Good. They will come later. |
want you to follow him tomorrow.
Keep out of his sight, but don't. let
him get out of yours. I am going
away early in the morning: l will
return as soon a. possible
Tomorrow, sir?"
"Yes, but not before afternoon.
There are papers I must secure at
Springfield. There are men I must
meet. 1 am leaving this trust in your
hands, my boy"
I'll do my best, SIR"
"I'm sure Of that. The prodigal
may go to the place where you have
seen him. He will look for some
thing there, no doubt. Watch him.
He may prepare to go away. Watch
him"
He glanced at the boy.
81 understand, sir. And when am
1 to tell you all about it?"
"If there is anything that you think
should know as soon as possible,
leave a note for me here at the
house."
"Yes," said the boy. You'll tell
me what it all mean afterward, won't
you, sir?"
"Yes, yes, and you'll find it a fine
story-if the ending proves all right"
He reached out his hand. Good
night, partner"
Good night"
The man sat on the porch for some
time after he finished his cigar.
Then he stepped down and walked
away in the darkness. He was gone
a half hour or more. When he came
back he paused on the steps.
Hes there, all right" he NUT
tered. "He won't make any attempt
to get away before tomorrow" He
yawned heavily. You've worried me
for two years, my man." he growled,
but your worrying hours are nearly
ended"
He crossed the porch and softly en-
tered the house.
When the boy arose the next morn
ing the stranger had gone. He was
on his way to the county seat. A
good horse drawing a light wagon
was taking him over the hills at as
fast a rate as could be expected for a
seventeen-mile drive.
At 2 o'clock he was back at the
cottage. He returned behind a team
of fine horses and in the wagon with
him were three strange men.
He found a note written by the
boy.
He read it aloud to the men:
"Sir-I watched the proddyga1 like
you said, and he diddent see me. He
has borrod Seth Cutters lite wagon