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

murmur OF voices was still spahly du-
dible, she begged in dumb show for
silence. Whereupon Tom shut his
mouth and did not open 1t again until
the sound of the voices had died away
and the fainter tappings of the ham
mers on the pipe-lin advertised the
retreat of the inspection party.
They're gone now" he said. short
ly. Let's get out of here before we
stif1e.''
But second time Ill chance inter-
vened Tom had a leg over the brink
and was looking for 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 AZ of fear had passed,
and she seemed less concerned about
the equivocal situation than 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 unimagina-
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.
Il hain't done nothin' to make you let
on like you hate me. have II"
II don't hate you," said Tom, frown-
ing. IF I did, 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; 1 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 II,
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 sensitive
nose toward the rift in the side of the
great boulder and yelped conclusively.
Dye reckon he climm up thar. Gaze
sar?" Pettigrass unfolded his long legs
and stood up on the fiat stone to at
tain an eye-level with the interior of
| the little cavern. Tom crushed Nan
into the larthest Granny. and fattened
himself lizard-like against the nearer
| side wall. The horse trader looked
long and hard. and they could hear
him still talking to the dog.
You're an old fool, Caesar-that's
| about what you are--and Solomon al
| lowed thar wasn't no fool like an old
one. But you needn't to swaller that
whole. old boy; I've knowed some
| young ones in my time-sometimes
gals, sometimes boys, sometimes both.
But thar amt no 'possum up yonder,
| Caesar; you've flew the track this time.
for certain. Come on. old dog: let's be
gettin' down the mountain"
| The baying dog and the whistling
man were still within hearing when
Tom swung Nan lightly to the ground
and dropped beside her. No word was
| spoken until she had emptied and re-
filled her bucket at the spring, then
| Tom said, with the pickering tang still
| on his tongue:
| Say, Nan, l want to know who IL is
that's going to kill you If he happens
to find you talking to me-"
She shook her head despondently. Il
cayn't new tell you that, Tom jeff"
I'D like to know why you can't"
Because he'd shore kill me then"
Then I'll find out some other way"
What differ does ii make to your"
she asked; and again the dark eyes
searched him till he was fain to look
away from her.
II reckon 1t doesn't make any differ
ence, II you don't want 1t to. But one
time you were willing enough to tell
me your troubles, and"
And I'll new do 1t naree mother
| time; never, never. And let me tell
you somethin' else, Tom-Jeff Gordon:
If you know what's good for you. don't
you new come anigh me again. One
time We usen to be boy and a girl
| together: you're nothin' but a boy yet
but I-oh. -Jeff-Tm a woman!"
And with that saying she snatched
| her bucket and was gone before he
| could find a word wherewith to match
it.