Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1911-02-10
CHAPTER XII.-(Continued.)

lOnSeQ agony OF suspense drove hin "
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
sreat 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,
Aor 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 Inspiring under the
cliff face Of the great rock. He came
on her suddenly at the end of the long
ment when-semi- tropical growth hav-
ing had two full seasons in which to
change the natural aspect of things
he was half bewildered with the I'M
wonted look of the place. But there
was no doubt about it; it was Nan in
the flesh, 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
to dazzle the eye and breed riot in the
brain of the boy man.
Did you know I 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 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, Man." he said
meaningly. Il came home-for good
nearly three weeks ago. My mother
has 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
Il want to talk to you-to tell you
something"
Air you a man now, Tom-Jeff, OF
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. I be-
lieve could muddy Sim Cantrelrs bacl,
for him now, at arm -holts."S
where's your preachers coat, Tom
Jeff? l was apowin' you'd be wearin
1t mex time we met up"
Il reckon there isn't going to be any
preachers coat for me, Nam that's
one of the things l want to talk to you
about. Let's go over yonder and sill
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 a bed of dry leaves at hei
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 tc
find footing in the new order.
"They-all up yonder in that .schoo
where you was at hain't got much
sense, it looks like to me-" was he,
comment. you're man growed now
Tom jeff, and if you want to play
cards or drink whisky, what-all bust.
ness is it O. their'n?"
you stand by your friends, right OF
al -
sheerest self graduation That's wha-
l like in you. You asked me a little
while back if I 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.
she began, in a half whisper that melt
ed the marrow in his bones. But 70,
was on'y boy then; and now 1 reckon
it's too late"
you mean that you don't care TO
me any more, Nan? I know bette
than that. You'd back me If I ha,
come up here to tell you that I'd kille,
somebody. Wouldn't you, now?"
He waited overlong for his answe,
There were sounds in the air: a metal
lie tapping like the intermittent drum
ming of a woodpecker mingled with
rustling of some small animal scurry
ing back and forth over the dea
leaves. The girl leaned forward, lis
tening intently. Then three men an
peared in the farther crooking of tn
spring path, and at the first glimps
of them she Slipped from the fiat ston
to cover behind Tom, trembling, shak
ing with terror.
Hide me, Tom-Jeff! Oh, hide m
Quick!" she painted. 'Lookee there
He looked and saw the three me
walking slowly up the pipeline whic
drained the barrel spring. They wei
too far away to be recognizable to hir
and since they were stopping momer
tarily to examine the pipe, there VIZ
good hope of an escape unseen.
Tom waited breathless for the DR.,
pitious instant when the tapping of Il
pipe-men's hammers should drown Il
noise of dash for effaeement. VIII,
1t came, he flung himself backwar
whipped Nan over his head and out
the line of sight as if she had be-
feather-light, and rolled swiftly aft
her. Before she could rise he had pic
ed her up and was dragging her to t
climbing point under the lip of t
boulder cave.
Up with you'll" he commanded, ma
ing step of his hand. Give me 70