The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-08-04
CHAPTER XII.-(Continued)

the mountain. His mother was sitting
up. and was rapidly recovering her
strength. His father had gone back to
his work in the iron plant. and his I'M
Gle was preparing to return TO his
charge in South Tredegar. With no
particular destination In view, 1t was
only natural that his feet should find
the familiar path leading up to the
great boulder under the cedars. He
had not visited the rock of the spring
since the summer day when he and
Nan Bryerson had taken refuge from
the shower in the hollow heart of Ii,
nor had he seen Nan since their part
ing at the door of her fathers cabin
under the cliff. Rumor in Gordonia
had 1t that Tike Bryerson had been
hunted out by the revenue officers; and,
for reasons which he would have found
1t difficult TO declare in words, Tom
lad been shy about making inquiries.
For this cause an apparition could
scarcely have startled him more than
did the sight of Nan filling her bucket
at the trickling handspring under the
cliff face of the great rock. He came
on her suddenly at the end of the long
climb up the wooded slopes. at a mo-
meat when-semi-tropi growth hav-
ing had two full seasons in which TO
change the natural aspect of things
he was half-bewildered with the I'M
wonted look Of the place. But there
was no doubt about it; IL was Nan in
the flesh, little fuller in the figure.
something less childish in the face,
but with all the fascinating. wild-crea-
ture beauty OF the child-time promise
TO dazzle the eye and breed riot in the
brain of the boy-man.
/ did you know 1 was coming? Were
you waiting for me, Nan?" he dubbed.
gazing into the great black eyes as ca
gerly as freed dog plunges into the
first pool that offers.
How could 1 be KNOWN to it?' she
asked. taking him seriously, or appear
Ing to. Il new knowed school let out
this time O. year"
It's let out for me, Nam" he said.
I meaningly. Il came home-for good
nearly three weeks ago. My mother
has been sick. Didn't you hear of it?''
She shook her head gravely.
Say, Nan: hope you haven't got 70
hurry home" he interposed, when she
stopped to lift the overlooking bucket
"@he W eaih " !ou-lo tel yOu
something"
Air you a man now, Tom-Jeff, or
on'y boy like you used 10 be?" she
asked.
I'm big enough to be in my own
way good deal of the time. 1 be-
lieve / could muddy Sim Cantrelrs back
for him now, at arm -holts."
where's your preachers coat. Tom
jeff? l was allowin' you'd be wearin
1t mex time we met up"
Il reckon there isn't going to be any
preachers coat for me. Nan; that's
one of the things L want 10 talk to you
down in the SUM-"
The place he chose for her was a fat
stone half embedded in the up climb
Ing slope beyond the great boulder
She sat facing the path and the spring
listening. while Tom, stretched luxur-
ously on a bed of dry leaves at her
feet, told her what had befallen: how
he had been turned out OF Beersheba
and what for; how, all the former
things having passed away, he was
torn and distracted in the struggle Ii
find a footing In the new order.
'Theyall up yonder in that school
where you was at haint got much
sense, it looks like to me-" was hel
comment. You're a man growed now
Tom-Jeff. and II you want to play
cards or drink whisky. what-all bust.
ness Is II o. their'n?"
You stand by your friends, right oil
wrong, don't you. girl?" he said, In
sheerest self graduation. That's what
like in you. You asked me a little
while back II I was man or a boy:
believe you could make man of me
Nan, IL you'd try"
IF you'd said that two year ago.
she began. In a half whisper that melt.
ed the marrow in his bones. But Vol
was on'y boy then; and now / reckon
it's ZOO late"
You mean that you don't care 70,
me any more. Nan? l know better
than that. You'd back me If I hat
come up here to tell you that I'd killet
somebody. Wouldn't you. now?"
He waited overlong for his answer
There were sounds in the air: a metal.
lie tapping like the intermittent drum.
ming of a woodpecker mingled with I
rustling OF some small animal scurry
Ing back and forth over the deat
leaves The girl leaned forward. lis
tening intently. Then three men ap
peared in the farther crooking of tn,
spring path. and at the first glimps,
OF them she slipped from the fiat ston,
to cover behind Tom, trembling shak
ing with terror.
Hide me, Tom-Jef! Oh, hide me
ouick!" she painted. 'Iookee there,'
He looked and saw the three mer
walking slowly up the pipeline which
drained the barrel-spring. They wer,
too far away to be recognizable to him
and since they were stopping momen
tarily to exami1e the pipe. there wa
good hope Of an escape unseen.
Tom waited breathless for the pro
pitious instant when the tapping of tn
pipe-Eien'G hammers should drown tn
noise of dash for effacement. Whel
It came, he flung himself backwa I'd
whipped Nan over his head and out O
the line of sight as If she had beer
feather-light. and rolled swiftly afte
her. Before she could rise he had pick
ed her up and was dragging her to tn
climbing point under the lip of tn
boulder cave.
up with you," he commanded. max
ing step of his hand. Give me you
foot and then climb to my shoulder
suick!" But she drew back
"Oh, 1 can't!" she gasped. TIN
too skeered!"
Jumping to catch the lip Of the cav
ern's mouth, he assembled cat-lil1e. an
moment later he had drawn her u
after him.
I'D like to know what got the mat
ter with you all at once" he said, Sc
verely, when they were crowded To
gether in the narrow rock cell; an
then. without waiting for her answer
You stay here while drop down an
keep those fellows away from this sid
of things"
!, But 1t was too late The men wer
already at the barrel spring, as an in
! distinct murmur of voices testified. Tn
girl had another trembling fit whe
she heard them, and Toms wonder wa
fast lapslng into contempt or some
thing like It.
OIL III" she shuddered. DO yo
reckon they saw us, Tom jeff"
cla tt $50