Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1910-11-18
CHAPTER XIII.-(Continued.)

with his own thoughts. AS they were
passing the Deer Trace gates a loose
jointed figure doomed black against the
palings, and the voice of Japheth Pet
tigrass said:
why, howdy, Brother Sila
Thought ye'd gone back to South Ire
.degar. When are we comm out to Lit
tie Zoar ag'in 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
tigrass? The Lord will deal with you,
one day"
Yes, 1 reckon so; that's what makes
me say what / does. There's a heap D
sinners left round here, yit, Brother
,Silas. There's the Major, Tor one ana
I know you're always countin' me In
for another. l dunno but you might
snatch me as a brand from the burn
in, If you could make out to try 1t one
moro lap around the cou'se. l been
thinkin' right p'intedly about
But the preacher had cut in with a
curt Goodnight" 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 thar halt
a 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' yer
he began. but Tom broke in with gasp
ings of rage.
",Japhe Pe~ttigrass, what did you
think YOU saw last Wednesday fore
moor 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 se~rvigrous over nothin'. l didn't
see nothin' but a 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,
les 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 a stone
snatched up from the metaling of the
pike as he ran. IF 1 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
l done any such low-down thing as
that, and I'll FRAGILE a f~fty-dollar
hawsswhip out on his ornery hide
will, so. Say, boy; you don't certainly
believe that O. me, do ye?"
81 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 a heap worse
than 1t was"
who do you reckon 1t was told On
you? Was there anybody else In the
big woods that m%ornin'?"
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 l put her up in tina
hole"
when you find out who that fellel
is that Mans skeered of. you can lay
your hand on the man that told Broth
er Silas on you. But 1 wouldn't trou
BILE about it non if l was you"
The dinner at Woodlawn that nigh
was a stiff and comfortless meal, as /
had come to be with the taking or
of four-tined forks and the other con
yentions for which an oak-paneled din
ing-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 wont
Silas Crafts was distracted and silent
Toms food chaked him, as it had nee
under the sharp stress Of things; AM
the convalescent householder remain
ed at table only long enough to pou
the coffee.
Tom excused himself a few minute
later, and followed his mother to he
room, climbing the stair to her door
leaden-footed and with his heart read.
to burst.
as that you, Thomas?' said the gen
tie voice within, answering his tap o.
the ponel. Come in, SON; come In an
sit by my fire. It's right chilly to
night"
Thomas Jefferson entered and place
his chair so hat she could not see hir
without turning, and for many minute
the silence was unbroken. Then \
began, as begin he must, SOM tin,
and in some way.
NANNY" he said, feeling uncon
sciously for the childish phrase, man
my, has Uncle Silas been telling yo
anything about me?"
Something, Thomas, but not a grea
deal. You have had some trouble wit
Doctor Tollivar."
Yes"
ct have known that for SOM nttl
time. Your uncle might have told n
more, but I wouldn't let him. Thel
has never been anything between Us ,