Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1911-02-17
CHAPTER XIII.-(Continued.)

with his own thoughts. AS they were
passing the Deer Trace gates loose
Jointed 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 Tre-
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."
Eyes, I reckon so; that's what makes
me say what does. There's heap o
sinners left round here, yit, Brother
Silas There's the Major, for one, and
know you're always countin' me in
for another. / dunno but you might
snatch me as brand from the burn
in. If you could make out to try it one
more lap around the cou'se. been
thinkin' right p'intedly about"
But the preacher had cut in with a
GU Good might" and was gone, with
his broad shouldered nephew at his
heels; and the horse trader went on,
Pettigrass was cropping for the gate
latch when hand fell on his shoulder,
and 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'. l didn't
see nothin' but couple o. young fly
Always playin' possum in hole in the
big rock. And I'll leave it to you If 1
didn't call Caesar off and go my ways,
jes' like I'd like to be done by"
Yes; 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 should break your
face in with this, Japhe Pettigrass. it
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 as
that, and I'll FRAGILE a fifty dollar
hawsswhip out on his ornery hide-I
will. so. Say. boy; you don't certainly
believe that o. me- do ye?"
II 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 mornin'?"
Yes; there were three men testing
the pipeline. We both saw them. and
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. if was you"
The dinner at Woodlawn that night
was stiff and comfortless meal, as it
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 brick mansion
sets the pace Caleb Gordon was faith
oms deep in the mechanical problems
of the days work, as was his won't.
Silas Crafts was distracted and silent.
Toms food chaked him, as 1t had need
under the sharp stress of things; and
the convalescent householder remain
ed at table only long enough to pour
the coffee.
8 Tom excused himself few minutes
later. and followed his mother to her
room. climbing the stair to her door,
leaden footed and with his heart ready
to burst.
is that you, Thomas?" said the gen.
tie voice within, answering his tap on
the poneL 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
spS6oAAs 90 IVAN Aic must some time
and in some way.
Nanny" he said, feeling uncon-
sciously for the childish phrase mann
my, has Uncle Silas been telling YOU
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 me
more. but, wouldn't let him. There
: has never been anything between us to
break confidence, Tom. I knew YOU
would tell me yourself, when the time
came"
Il have come to tell you tonight,
NANNY. Hou must hear it all, from
beginning to end. 1t goes back long
way-back to the time when YOU used
to let me kneel with my head in your
lap to say my prayers; when you used
10 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 wanderings in the valley of drv
bones Through 1t all. Martha Gordon
mad sat silent and rigid. her thin hands