Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1911-02-16
CHAPTER XII.-(Continued.)

ionSeu 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 I'M
Gle was preparing to return to his
charge in South Tredegar With no
particular destination in view, it was
only natural that his feet should find
the familiar path leading up to the
great boulder under the cedars. He
mad 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
mad 1t that Tike Bryerson had been
hunted out by the revenue officers; and,
Tor reasons which he would have found
IL olfncult to declare in words, Tom
hao been shy about making inquiries
FOR this cause an apparition could
scarcely have startled him more than
ala the sight of Nan filing her bucket
AT the trickling barrel-spring under the
CHI race OF the great rock. He came
on her suddenly at the end of the long
chmo up the wooded slopes at a mo-
ment when-semi-tropi growth hav-
ing hao TWO full seasons in which to
change the natural aspect of things
ne was half-bewildered with the I'M
wonted look of the place. But there
was no doubt about it; 1t was Nan in
'he hesh, little fuller in the figure,
something less childish in the face.
out with all the fascinating, wild-crea-
ture beauty of the child-time promise
10 oazzle the eye and breed riot in the
brain of the boy-man.
Did you know 1 was coming? Were
you waiting for me, Nan?" he dubbed.
gazing into the great black eyes as ca
gerry as freed dog plunges into the
nrst 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, Nan" he said.
meaningly. Il came home-for good
nearly three weeks ago. My mother
mas been sick. Didn't you hear of it?"
She shook her head gravely.
say, Nan; hope you haven't got to
hurry home" he interposed. when she
stopped to lift the overlooking bucket
i want to talk to you-to tell Won
something"
AIR you man now, Tom-Jeff or
en'y boy like you used to be?" she
asked
I'm big enough to be in nv own
way good deal of the time. he
lleve l could muddy Sim Cantrelps back
Tor him now, at arm-holts."
where's your preachers coat, Tom
oeH! was allowin' you'd be wearin'
1t mex time we met up"
1 reckon there isn't going to be any
preachers coat for me, Nan: that's
one of the things want to talk to Won
about. Let's go over yonder and sit
down in the sum-"
The place he chose for her was a fiat
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 bed of dry leaves at her
rect, told her what had befallen: how
he had been turned out of Beersheba.
and what for; how, all the former
thlngs having passed away, he was
torn and distracted in the struggle 10
find footing in the new order.
They-all up yonder in that school
where you was at hain't got much
sense, 1t looks like to me-" was her
comment. You're a man growed now
Tom-Jeff, and If you want to plav
cards or drink whisky, what-an bust
ness is it O. their'n?"
You stand by your friends, right or
wrong, don't you, girl?" he said. in
sheerest self graduation. That's what |
l like in you. You asked me a little |
while back if was a man or a bow. 7 !
believe you could make man of me.
Nan, If you'd try"
If you'd said that two year ago"
she began, in half whisper that melt |
ed the marrow in his bones But Won
was on'y boy then; and now I reckon
it's too late"
You mean that you don't care for
me any more, Nan? know better
than that. You'd back me if I had |
come up here to tell you that I'd killed |
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 woodpecber mingled with a |
'ustling of some small animal scurrv
ng back and forth over the dead |
caves. The girl leaned forward, lis
ening intently. Then three men ap-
,eared in the farther crooking of the
pring path, and at the first glimpse
f them she slipped from the fiat stone
o cover behind Tom, trembling, shak-
ne with terror.
Hide me, Tom-Jeffl Oh, hide me
uick!" she painted. 'Lookee there!"
He looked and saw the three men
'alking slowly up the pipeline which
rained the barrel-spring. They were
20 far away to be recognizable to him,
nd since they were stopping momen-
Irtly to examine the pipe. there was