Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1911-02-11
CHAPTER xII.-(Continued.)

ono week OF January when the pro-
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 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
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
sunted out by the revenue officers; and,
nor reasons which he would have found
II difficult to declare in 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 trickling barrel-spring under the
cliff face of the great rock. He came
on her suddenly at the end of the long
climb up the wooded slopes, at a mo-
ment tropical growth hav-
ing had two full seasons in which to
change the natural aspect OF things
he was half bewildered with the un-
wonted look of the place. But there
was no doubt about 1t; it was Nan in
the flesh, a little fuller in the figure
something less childish in the face
but with all the fascinating, wild-crea-
ture beauty of the child-time promise
nd rfO ,,
brain Of the boy-man,
Did you know was coming? Were
you waiting for me, Nan?" he dubbed,
gazing into the great black eyes as ca
gerly as a freed dog plunges into the
first pool that offers.
How could I be KNOWN to it?" she
asked. taking him seriously, or appear
ing to. II 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 hear of 1t?
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.
Il want to talk to you-to tell you
something"
Air you man now. Tom-Jeff, or
on'y boy like you used to be?" she
asked.
I'm big enough to be in my own
way a good deal OF the time. be-
lieve could muddy Sim Cantrells back
for him now, at arm-holts."
where's your preachers coat, Tom
Jeff? l was allowin' you'd be wearin'
IL mex time we met IN"
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 you
about. Let's go over yonder and sit
down in the sun"
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 a bed of dry leaves at her
feet, told her what had befallen; how
he had been turned out OF Beersheba,
and what for; how, all the former
things having passed away. he was
torn and distracted in the struggle to
find footing in the new order.
''They-all up yonder in that school
where you was at haint got much
sense, 1t looks like to me-" was her
comment You're a man growed now,
Tom-Jeff, and If you want to play
cards or drink whisky. what-all BUSH
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
like in you. You asked me a little
while back II 1 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 year ago"
abe began. in a half whisper that melt
ed the marrow in his bones. But you
was on'y a boy then; and now 1 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 II I had
come up here to tell you that I'd killed
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 a
rustling Of some small animal scurry-
ing back and forth over the dead
leaves The girl leaned forward. lis
tening intently. Then three men an.
peared in the farther crooking OF the
of them she slipped from the fiat stone
to cover behind Tom, trembling, shak.
ing with terror.
Hide me. Tom-Jeff! Oh. hide me
quicki" she painted. 'Lookee therel'
He looked and saw the three mer
walking slowly up the pipeline which
drained the barrel-spring. They wer,
too far away to be recognizable to him
and since they were stopping momen.
tarily to examine the pipe, there wal
good hope Of an escape unseen.
Tom waited breathless for the pro
pitious instant when the tapping of tn
pipe-men's hammers should drown tn
noise OF a dash for effacement. Whel
It came, he flung himself backward
whipped Nan over his head and out o
the line OF sight as II she had beer
feather-light, and rolled swiftly afte
her. Before she could rise he had pick
ed her up and was dragging her to tn
climbing DOfnt under the liD of tn