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

'e O
longed agony of suspense drove him to
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 un-
Gle was preparing to return to his
charge in South Tredegar. With no
particular destination in view, it was
only natural hat 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 it,
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 like Bryerson had been
hunted out by the revenue officers; and,
for reasons which he would have found
II difficult 10 declare la words, Tom
had 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 trucking barrel spring under the
cliff face Of the great rock. He came
on her suddenly at the n Of the long
climb up the wooded slopes, at a mo-
ment when-semi-tropiQll 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; it a Nan in
the flesh, a little fuller in the figure,
Gnmafhinu 1nCa AL;ll;.l T. 49,
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 BOWMAN.
Did you know I was coming? Were
you waiting for me, Nan?" he bubbled,
gazing into the great black eyes as ca
gerly as a 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, Man," he said,
meaningly. Il came home-for good
nearly three weeks ago. My mother
has been sick. Didn't you zeal of it?'
IN shook her head gravely.
a Map; l hope you haven't got to
hurry home" he interposed, when she
stopped to lift the overlooking bucket.
Il want to talk to you-to tell you
something"
Air you a man now, Tom-Jeff, or
on'y a boy like you used to be?" she
asked.
I'm big enough to be in my own
UNIV a UnnJ Iool 80 a. 49, -
lieve could muddy Sim Cantrell's 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 to talk to yor
about. Let's go over yonder and sit
down in the SUM-"
The place he chose for her was a fla
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 luxuri.
ously on a bed Of dry leaves at hel
feet, told her what had befallen; how
he had been turned out of Beersheba
and what for; how, all the formel
things having passed away, he wa.
torn and distracted In the struggle t,
find a footing in the new order.
"They-all up yonder in that schoo
where you was at hain't got mucf
sense, it looks like to me-" was he
comment. You're a man growed now
Tom-Jeff, and If you want to play
cards or drink whisky, what-all busi
ness is it O. their'n?"
"YDu stand by your friends, right O.
wrong, don't you, girl?" he said, il
sheerest LIBERALIZATION. That's wha
l like / you. You asked me a littl,
while back If I was a man or a boy;
believe you could make a man of me
Nan, if you'd try"
IF you'd said that two veal ago,
she began, in a half whisper that melt.
ed the marrow in his bones. But yo,
was on'y a boy then; and now 1 reckon
it's too late"
You mean that you don't care TO
me any more, Nan? 1 know bette,
than that. You'd back me If 1 ha
come up here to tell you that I'd kille,
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
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-Jeff! Oh, hide me
Quick!" she painted. "Lookee there!'
He looked and saw the three mel
walking slowly up the pipeline which
drained the thanksgiving. They wer'
too far away to be recognizable to him
and since they were stopping momen
tarily 70 examine the pipe. there va