The Irish standard., 1911-10-21

had time to change our positions We
heard the fellows come stamping
roughly into the cabin. Tho thin slabs
which divided US scarcely muf1ed
their loud voices.
"Well, old woman" exclaimed one IN
voice 90 gruff a. to seem almost as.
sumed. pretending to be alone, are
you, with all those dishes sitting out
on the table; Just been eaten off, too.
Have mt seen no strange party along
the road this morning. have YET"
Mary one," said Maria, and
knew from her voice she was standing
close beside the fireplace.
Are you Mrs. Bungay?"
Il reckon am. II It's any O. yer
business"
Don't git nifty, old woman, or we're
liable to give you lesson in polite.
ness before we leave" The leader
dropped the butt Of his gun with a
crash on the floor. Where is the lit.
tie sneak, anyhow"
What do you want of him?"
Want him to go long with us,
we're hunting some parties, and need
guide. They top us up the road d
bit he knew every inch O. these yerd
mountings."
There was q pause. as if Maria was
endeavoring to decide as to the hon.
esty of the speaker. Her final answer
proved the mental survey had not
proven satisfactory.
oval, reckon" she said calmly,
"as you uRs III be more likely ter
find him down bout Connersvills."
"Then whut's all these yere dirty
dishes doing on the tablet"
"Hed sum Yankee officers yere; they
just rode on down Their trail as you
uns cum UP"
Like HE'LL" calculated the fellow
with complete loss of temper. "See
here, old woman, we're too old birds
to be caught with any such chaff.
Well take look around the old she
bang ANYHOW, and while we're at it
you put something on the table for me
and my mates to eat"
The voice and manner were rough,
but I was impressed with a certain &C.
cent creeping into the mans speech
bespeaking education. More, in spite
of an apparent effort to make it so, his
dialect was not that of those noun.
tains.
Even as he uttered these last words,
throwing into them threat more in
the tone than the language. became
aware Of a thin FAY Of light pene-
trating the seemingly solid wall just
in front Of me, and bending silently
forward could dimly distinguish the
elliptical head Of Bungay as he applied
one eye to small opening he had
industriously made between the logs.
Grasping Mrs. Brennan firmly by the
hand so that we should not become
separated, I crept across the interven-
ing blackness, and reached his side.
Holy smoke, Cap" the little man
muttered in suppressed excitement, as
he realized my presence, otis goin'
ter be b'ilin' hot in thar mighty soon.
Mariar's steam Is a risin'."
bending down SO as to bring my eye
upon level with his, 1 managed to
gain some slight glimpse of the scene
within the cabin.
Mrs. Bungay stood with her back
to the fireplace, an iron skillet firmly
gripped in one hand. Her face was
red with indignation, and there was
a look in her eyes, together with a
defiant set to her chin, which prom
Used trouble. In front Of her, care
lessly resting on the table, his feet
dangling in the air, was a sturdy
looking fellow of forty or so, with
red, struggling beard covering all the
lower half of his face, and a weather
worn black hat pulled so low as al
most to conceal his eyes. His attire
was nondescript, as though he had
patronized the junkshop Of both
armies. In his belt were thrust a re-
volver and knife, while within easy
reach Of his hand musket leaned
against a chair. Two others of the
party, younger men, but even more
iOu6AIy OISS6tu luhH tu9U i0du0E,
were lounging between him and the
door.
Bungay chuckled expeotAntly.
20 Lord! If they only tit the Of
gal just little moro r!led,' he whis-
pered hoarsely, Jumping mp and down
on one foot in his excitement, they'll
hev Their fight Of their hf4."
DO you know the ts!lowsr' asked.
us that Red Lowrie?"
He shook his head
Never laid eyes on any Of 'em
afore, but ye bet they're no good.
Reckon they're part O his crowd"
The man who posed as the leader of
the party picked up the empty cof-
fee-pot beside him ard shook 1t.
Come, now. Mrs. BMngay." he COM
manded, II tell you we're hungry, so
trot out some hoecake and fill up this
pot, unless you want to reckon with
Red Lowrie."
The woman stood facing him, yet
never moved. could see & red spot