Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-07-15
CHAPTER XIII.-(Continued.)


striding side by side and each busy
With his own thoughts. AS they were
nassfng the Deer Trace gates a loose
tainted figure loomed black against tho
naIings, and the voice of Japheth Pet
tigrass said:
"Why, howdy, Brother Silas!
Thought we'd gone back to South Ire
degar. When are We comm out to Lit
tie Zoar agin to give US another o
them old-fashioned. spiritual times O
refreshin' from the presence Of the
Lord?"
why do you ask that Japheth Pet
+igrags? The Lord will deal with you,
one day"
yes, I reckon so; that's what makes
me- say what I does. There's heap .
sinners left round here. yit, Brother
silag There's the Major, for one, and
7 know you're always countin' me In
for another I dunno but you might
snatch me as g. brand from the burn
in. II you could make out to try 1t one
more lap around the cou'se. l been
thinkln' right p'intedly about
But the preacher had cut in with
curt Good might" and was gone, with
his broad shouldered nephew at his
nEHlSI &AG IAAS AAO4 DC IA 1NS@ "~A~~ ~~@'
with the stars for his audience.
Pettigrass was cropping for the gate
latch when hand fell on his shoulder,
and a clutch that was more than nalr
a blow twirled him about to face the
roadway. He was doubling his nsts
for defense when he saw who his as
sailant was.
why, Tom-Jefr! what's ailin' ye?"
IN with
ings Of rage.
"Japhe Pettigrass, what did you
think you saw last Wednesday fore
noon up yonder at Big Rock Spring on
the mountain? Tell It straight, this
time, or I'll dig the truth out OF you
with my bare hands,"
"Sho. now, Tom-Jeff; don't you git
no servigrous over nothin'. didn't
see nothin' but q couple O. young fly
aways playin' possum in a hole in the
big rock. And I'll leave it to you II L
didn't call Caesar off and go my ways
ses' like I'd like to be done by"
Yves; and then you came straight
down here and told my uncle!" The
hand he had been holding behind him
came to the front, clutching stone
gnatched up from the metaling OF the
pike as he ran. IF should break your
face in with this, Japhe Pettigrass, 1t
wouldn't be any more than you've
earned"
81 tell Brother Silas on you, Tom
Jeff? You show me the man at says
I done any such loW-down thing as
that. and I'll FRAGILE a flfty-dollar
hawsswhip out en- his ornery hide
WILL so. Say, boy; you don't certainly
believe that O. me- do YEP
Il don't want to believe 1t of YOU
Japhe" Quavered Tom, as near to tears
as the pride of his eighteen years
would sanction. But somebody saw
and told, and made it heap worse
than 1t was"
Who do you reckon 1t was told On
you? Was there anybody else In the
big woods that mornin ?"
Yes; there were three men testing
the pipeline. We both saw them, and
Nan was scared stiff at sight of one of
them: that's why 1 put her up in that
hole"
When you find out who that Teller
is that Mans skeered of. you can lay
your hand on the man that told Broth
er Silas on you. But l wouldn't trou-
BILE about it none, If I was you"
The dinner at Woodlawn that night
was a stiff and comfortless meal, as 1t
had come to be with the taking on
Of four tined forks and the other con-
ventions for which an oak-paneled din
ing-room in an ornate brick manson
sets the pace Caleb Gordon was fath-
ems deep in the mechanical problems
Of the days work. s was his wont.
SiIas Crafts was distracted and silent
Toms food chaked him, as 1t had need
under the sharp stress of things; and
the convalescent householder remain
ed at table only long enough to pour
the coffee.
Tom excused himself few inmates
later, and followed his mother to her
room, climbing the stair to her door,
Ieaden footed and with his heart ready
TO burst.
is that you. Thomas?" said the gem
tie voice within, answering his tap on
the ponel Come in son; come in and
sit by my fire. It's right chilly to-
night"
Thomas Jefferson entered and placed
his chair so that she could not see him
without turning, and for many minutes
the silence was unbroken. Then ne
began. as begin he must, some time
and in some way.
Nanny" he said, feeling uncon-
sciously for the childish phrase, mann
my, has Uncle Silas been telling you
anything about me?"
Something. Thomas. but not great
deal You have had some trouble with
Doctor Tolivar."
Yes"
7 have known that for some little
time. Your uncle might have told ne
more, but I wouldn't let him. There
has never been anything between US to
break confidence, Tom. I knew you
would tell me yourself, when the time
came"
7 have come to tell you tonight
nanny. You must hear 1t all, from
beginning to end. It goes back long
way-back to the time when you used
TO let me kneel with my head IN your
lap to say my prayers; when you used
TO think was good. ."
The fire had died down to few
glowing masses Of coke on the CRATE
bars when he had finished the story OF