Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-06-29

She would not tell; and since the
murmur of voices was still spainly au-
dible she begged in dumb show for
silence. Whereupon Tom shut his
mouth and did not open 1t again until
the sound of the voices had died away
and the fainter tappings of the ham
mers on the pipeline advertised the
retreat of the inspection party.
They're gone now. he said, short
ly. Let's get out of here before we
stifie"
But a second time Ill chance inter-
vened. Tom had a leg ovef the brink
and was looking for soft leaf bed to
drop. into. when the baying of hound
broke on the restored quiet OF the
mountain side. He drew back into
hiding.
The girls ague At of fear had passed.
and she seemed less concerned about
the equivocal situation than girl
should be; at least, this is the way
Toms thought was shaping itself He
tried to imagine Ardea In Mans place,
but the thing was badly unimagina-
BILE. A daughter of the Dabneys would
never run and cover and beg to be
hidden at the possible cost OF her, good
name. And Mans word did not help
matters. A. : Fl.
what makes you so cross to me,
Tom Jem2" she asked. when he drew
back with an impatient exclamation.
4, haln't done nothin' to make you let
on like you hate me, have tn
I don't hate you" said Tom. frown-
ing. IF I did. l shouldn't care.' Just
then the hound burst out OF the laurel
thicket on the brow Of the lower slope.
running with Its nose to the ground.
and he added: That's Japhe Petit
grass dog; hope to goodness he Isn't
anywhere behind it"
But the horse trader was behind the
dog; SO close behind that he came out
on the continuation Of the pipe line
path while the hound was still nosing
among the leaves where Tom had lain
summing himself and telling his tale OF
woe.
Good dog-seek him! What Is 1t,
old boy?" Pettigrass came up, patted
the hound. and Sat down on the fiat
stone to look on curiously while the
dog coursed back and forth among the
dead leaves. Find him, Caesar, find
him. boy!" encouraged Japheth; and
finally the bounded pointed a sensitive
nose toward the rift in the side of the
great boulder and yelped conclusively
Dye reckon he climm up thar, Gaze
sar?' Pettigrass unfolded his long legs
i and stood up ion the fiat stone to at
| tain an eye-level with the interior 81
the little cavern. Tom crushed Nan
into the larthest Granny. and flattened
| himself lizard like against the neare,
side wall. The horse trader looked
long and Hard. and they could hear
him still talking to the dog.
You're an old fool. .Caesar-that,s
about what you are-and Solomon al
lowed thar wasn't no fool like an old
one. But you needn't to swaller that
/ whole, old boy; I've knowed some
young ones In my time-sometimes
gals, sometimes boys. sometimes both,
But thar ain't no postum up yonder
| Caesar: you've Jew the track this time
for certain. Come on. old dog: let's ID
gettin' down the mountain"
4 The baying dog and the whistlins
man were still within hearing when
Tom swung Nan lightly to the ground
and dropped beside her. No word was
spoken until she had emptied and re-
filled her bucket at the spring, then
Tom said. with the pickering tang still
on his tongue;
/ Say. Nan. want TO know who It is
that's going to kill you If he happens
to find you talking to me-"
i She shook her head despondently q
cayn't new tell you that. Tom Jeff."
I'D like to know why you can't"
Because he'd shore kill me then,
Then I'll find out some other way
What differ does 1t make to your
she asked: and again the dark eye.
searched him till he was fain to lool
away from her. s.8 4. \
A Il reckon 1t doesn't make any differ.
ence. If you don't want 1t to. But on,
Time you We're willing enough to tel
me your troubles. and
And I'll new do 1t naree mother
4 time: never, never. And let me tel
you somethin' else. Tom-Jeff Gordon
If you know what's good for you, don.
you new come anigh me again. On,
time we usen to be boy and cir
together: you're nothin' but a boy yet
but lob. Tom Jeff--I'm woman!"
i And with that saying she snatchet
her bucket and was gone before h,
could find a word wherewith to mattel
At.