The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-09-30
CHAPTER XIII.-(Continued.)

was paced in silence, man ana boy
striding side by side and each BUSY
with his own thoughts. AS they were
passing the Deer Trace gates loose
iointed figure doomed black against tne
paIings. and the voice of Japheth Pet-
tigrass said:
"Why, howdy, Brother Sllas.
Thought ye'd gone back to South Ire
degar When are We comm out to Lit
tie Zoar agin to give us another
them old-fashioned, spiritual times o
refreshin' from the presence OF the
Iord?"
'Why do you ask that, Japheth Pet
tigrass? The Lord will deal with you,
one day"
Eyes, l reckon so; that's what makes
me say what 1 does. There's heap .
sinners left round here, yit, Brother
Silas. There's the Major, for one, ana
I know you're always countin me IN
for another I dunno but you might
snatch me as a brand from the burn
in, if you could make out to try 1t one
more lap around the cou'se. l been
thinkin' right pintedly about
But the preacher had cut in with
Gu Good might" and was gone, with
his broad-shouldered nephew at his
heels; and the horse-trader went on,
with the stars for his audience.
Pettigrass was cropping for the gate
latch when a hand fell on his shoulder
and a clutch that was more than half
blow twirled him about to face the
roadway. He was doubling his fists
for defense when he saw who his as
sailant was.
"Why, Tom-Jeff! what's ailin' ye?"
he began: but Tom broke in with gasp
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
SO servigrous over nothin'. I didn't
see nothin' but couple O. young fly
aways playin' possum in hole in the
big rock And I'll leave it to you If
didn't call Caesar off and go my ways,
jes' like I'd like to be done by"
Eyes; 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
.
pike as he ran IF should break your
face in with this, Japhe Pettigrass, it
wouldn't be any more than you've
earned"
II tell Brother Silas on you, Tom
jeff? You show me the man at says
/ done any such low-down thing as
that, and I'll FRAGILE fifty dollar
hawsswhip out on his ornery hide-I
~ raj IN
believe that O. me, do ye?"
81 don't want to believe it 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 it was"
"Who do you reckon it was told On
you? Was there anybody else in the
big woods that mornin'?"
Eyes; 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 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 wouldn't trou-
DIo ABOUT II none, II was you.
The dinner at Woodlawn that night
was stiff and comfortless meal, as it
had come to be with the taking on
Of four tined forks and the other con-
ventions for which an paneled din
tng-room in an ornate brick mansion
sets the pace. Caleb Gordon was faith
oms deep in the mechanical problems
of the days work. as was his won't.
Silas Crafts was distracted and silent
Toms food chaked him, as it 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 minutes
later and followed his mother to her
room, climbing the stair to her door,
leaden-footed and with his heart ready
to burst.
Is that you, Thomas?" said the gen
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 he
began, as begin he must, some time
and in some way.
Nanny" he said, feeling uncon-
.sciously for the childish phrase ..nan-
my, has Uncle Silas been telling vo,,
anything about me?''
Something, Thomas, but not gro,
deal You have had some trouble ey,,ith
Doctor Tollivar."
yes"
Il have known that for some little
time Your uncle might have told rs
more, but I wouldn't let him. There
has never been anything between us r.
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 it all. from
beginning to end. It goes back a lon.
way-back to the time when you uses
20 let me kneel with my head in you
zap 70 say my prayers: when you uses
70 think was good. :"
nre had died down to a few