The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-07-15

girl had another trembling NJ when
she heard them, and Toms wonder was
fast lapsing into contempt or some-
thing like 1t.
"Oh-h-h!" she shuddercd DO you
reckon they saw us, Tom -Jem2"
Il shouldn't wonder" he whispered
back unfeelingly we could see them
plain enough"
Hell kin me, for shore, Tom Jeff!."
Toms lip curled, The wolf does not
mate with the jaclSal. Not all her
beauty could atone for such spiritless
crlnging, Love would have pitied her,
but passion Is not moved by qualities
opposite to those which have evoked Il.
Then you know them-or one OF
them, at least" he said "Who is he?"
She would not tell; and since the
murmur of voices was still spainly au-
dible, she begged I'm dumb-show for
silence. Whereupon Tom shut his
mouth and did not open II 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
stlne"
But a second time I'll chance inter-
vened. Tom had a leg over the brink
and was locking for a soft leaf bed TO
drop into, when the baying Of a hound
broke on the restored quiet OF the
mountain side. He drew back into
hiding.
The girls ague ht of fear had passed,
and she seemed less concerned about
the equivocal situation than a 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 unimagna-
bic. 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.
what makes you so cross to me,
Tom-Jeff?" she asked, when he drew
back with an impatient exclamation.
81 hain't done nothin' to make you let
on like you hate me- have II"
Il 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 pipeline !
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 It, |
old boy?" Pettigrass came up, patted |
the hound, and sat down on the fat
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, Cae-
iar?' Pettigrass unfolded his long legs
md stood up on the fiat stone to at
ain an eye-level with the interior Of
he little cavern. Tom crushed Nan
nto the larthest Granny, and flattened
himself lizard-like against the nearer
tide wall The horse trader looked
ong and hard, and they could hear
lin still talking to the dog,
You're an old fool, Caesar-that's
bout what you are-and Solomon al
owed thar wasn't no fool like an old
me. But you needn't to swaIler that
whole, old boy; I've knowed some
oung ones in my time-sometimes
,als, sometimes boys, sometimes both.
But thar amt no 'possum up yonder.
'aesar; you've flew the track this time,
or certain. Come on, old dog; let's be
ettin' down the mountain"
The baying dog and the whistling
nan were still within hearing when
'om swung Nan lightly to the ground
nd dropped beside her. No word was
poken until she had emptied and re-
He'd her bucket at the spring, then
'om said, with the pickering tang still
n his tongue:
Say Nan, want to know who it is
aats going to kill you if he happens
} find you talking to me-"
She shook her head despondently. Il
lyn't new tell you that, Tom-Jeff."
lhe " hllOW why you can I.
Because he'd shore kill me then"
Then I'll find out some other way"
what differ does it make to you?"
le asked; and again the dark eyes
,arched him till he was fain to look
way from her.
81 reckon it doesn't make any differ
ice, if you don't want it to- But one
me you were willing enough to tell
e your troubles, and" ]
"And I'll new do it naree mother
me; never, never. And let me tell +
~ somethin' else, Tom-Jeff Gordon:
you know what's good for YOU don't =
u new come anigh me again, one
me we usen to be a boy and a girl
gether; you're nothin' but a boy yet,
1t I-oh, Tom -Jeff-Tm a womanm 9
And with that saying she snatohed
r bucket and was gone before he 4
uld find a word wherewith to match z
GrJA T1nrNT1 NyTTT ~