The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-08-11
CHAPTER XIII.-(Continued.)

passing the Deer Trace gates loose
1ointed figure doomed black against the
palings, and the voice Of Japheth Pet
tigrass said:
why. howdy. Brother Silas,
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. reckon so; that's what makes
me say what does. There's heap .
sinners left round here, yit, Brother
Silas. There's the Major. for one. and
know you're always countin' me in
for another. 1 dunno but you might
snatch me as brand from the burn
In, II you could make out to try 1t one
more lap around the cou'se. / been
thinkin' right p'intedly about"
But the preacher had cut in with
curt Good night" 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'. / didn'l
see nothin' but a couple o. young fly
Always playin' possum in a hole in the
big rock. And I'll leave 1t to you IL
didn't call Caesar off and go my ways.
tes' like I'd like to be done by"
Yes; and then you came straight
down here and told my unclei" The
hand he had been holding behind him
came TO the front, clutching stone
snatched up from the metaling of the
pike as he ran. IF 1 should break your
face in with this, Japhe Pettigrass. il
wouldn't be any more than you've
earned"
Il tell Brother Silas on you, Tom
jeff? You show me the man at says
done any such low-down thing rs
that and I'll fragile fifty-dollar
hawsswhip out on his ornery hide
will, so. Say, boy; you don't certainly
believe that o. me. do ye?"
- "a
Japhe," quavered Tom. as near to tears
as the pride of his eighteen years
would sanction. But somebody saw
and told. and made 1t q heap worse
than it was"
WHO do you reckon II was told on
you? Was there ar ybody else in the
big woods that mornin'?"
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 / 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-
BILE about It none, IL was you"
The dinner at Woodlawn that night
was a stiff and comfortless meal. as il
had come to be with the taking on
OF four tined forks and the other con-
ventions for which an oak-paneled din
ing room in an ornate brisk mansion
sets the pace. Caleb Gordon was ia tn
oms deep in the mechanic al problems
OF the days work. as wes his wont.
Silas Crafts was distracted and silent.
Toms food chaked him, as It had need
under the sharp stress OF things: and
tho convalescent householder remain
ed at table only long enough to pour
the coffee.
Tom excused himself a few minutes
room. climbing the stair t. her door.
leaden-footed and with his heart ready
to burst.
rs that you. Thomas?" said the gen.
tie voice within. answering his tap on
the porel 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 sc.id, feeling uncon-
sciousiy for the childish phrase. mann
my, has Uncle Silas been telling vo,,
anything about me?"
Something, Thomas. but not a great
deal. You have had some trouble with
Doctor Tollivar."
Yes"
Il have known that FOR some little
time. Your uncle might have told ne
more, but l wouldn't let him. There
has never been anything between us to
break confidence. Tom. 7 knew Won
would tell me yourself. when the time
came"
Il have come 10 tel you Tonight
nanny. You must hear II all. from
beginning to end 1t goes back a long
way-b2clS to the time when you used
to let me kneel with my head in your
lap 20 say my prayers; when you used
to think / was good ."
The fire had died down to a few
glowing masses of coke on the crate
bars when he had finished the story OF
his wander!ngs In the valley of dry
bones Through II all. Martha Gordoo
had sat silent and rigid, her thin hands
lying c;asped in her lap. and her low
willow rocking chair barely moving at
the touch Of her foot on the fender.
But when Il was over: when Ton.
his voice breaking in spite OF his eff
forts to control II. told her that ne
could walk In the way she had chosen
for him oaly at the price n conscious
hypocrite must pay, she reached up
quickly and took him in her arms and
wept over him as those who sorrow
without hope. crying again and again,
20 my son Absalom. my son. my son
Absalomi would God I had died for
thee. o Absalom. my son, my SOM"
CHAPTER XIV.
Once in a lifetime for every young
ling climbing the facile or difficult slope
or the years there comes day of real
tZaffOl - sim of vision