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


too skeeredi"
Jumping to catch the lip Of the cav
ern's mouth, he assembled cat-like, and
moment later he had drawn her up
after him
I'D like to know what got the mat
ter with you all at once" he said. Sc
verely, when they were crowded to-
gether in the narrow rock cell; and
then. without waiting for her answer:
You stay here while I drop down and
keep those fellows away from this side \
of things"
But 1t was too late. The men were
already at the thanksgiving, as an in
distinct murmur of voices testified. The
girl had another trembling fit when
she heard them, and Toms wonder was
fast lapsing into contempt or some
thing like It.
"Oh-h-hl" she shuddered. DO you
reckon they saw us, Tom-Jeff?"
Il shouldn't wonder" he whispered
back unfeelingly. I'VE could see them
plain enough"
He'll kill me. for shore, Tom jeff"
Toms lip curled. The wolf does not
mate with the jackal. Not all her
beauty could atone for such spiritless
cringing. Love would have pitied her,
but passion is not moved by qualities
opposite to those which have evoked 1t.
"Then you know them-or one of
them, at least" he said. ''Who is her"
She would not tell; and since the
murmur of voices was still spainly au-
dible. she begged in dumb show for
silence Whereupon Tom shut his
mouth and did not open 1t again until
the sound of the voices had died away
and the fainter tappings of the ham
mers on the pipeline advertised the
retreat of the inspection party.
They're gone now" he said. short
| ly. Lets get out of here before we
| stifie."
But a second time Ill chance inter-
vened. Tom had a leg over the brink
and was looking for a soft leaf bed to
drop into. when the baying of a hound
broke on the restored quiet OF the
mountain side. He drew back into
hiding.
The girls ague Mt of fear had passed.
and she seemed less concerned about
the equivocal situation than girl
should be; at least. this is the way
Toms thought was shaping itself. He
tried to imagine Ardea in Mans place,
but the thing was badly unimagina-
"A
never run and cover and beg to be
hidden at the possible cost of her good
name. And Mans word did not help
matters.
What makes you so cross to me,
-Jeff?" she asked, when he drew
back with an impatient exclamation.
Il hain't done nothin' to make you let
on like you hate me, have II"
Il don't hate you" said Tom, frown-
ing. IF I did, shouldn't care" Just
then the hound burst out of the laurel
thicket on the brow of the lower slope.
running with its nose to the ground,
and he added: That's Japhe Petit
grass dog; hope to goodness he isn't
anywhere behind it."
But the horse trader was behind the
dog; so close behind that he came out
on the continuation of the pipeline
path while the hound was still nosing
among the leaves where Tom had lain
summing himself and telling his tale of
woe.
Good dog--seek himl What is It.
old boy?" Pettigrass came up, patted
the hound, and sat down on the fiat
stone to look on curiously while the
dog coursed back and forth among the
dead leaves. Find him, Caesar; find
him, boyl" encouraged Japheth; and
finally the bounded pointed a sensitive
nose toward the rift in the side of the
great boulder and yelped conclusively.
Dye reckon he climm up thar. Gaze
sar?" Pettigrass unfolded his long legs
and stood up on the fiat stone to at
tain an eye-level with the interior Of
the little cavern. Tom crushed Nan
into the larthest Granny, and fiattened
himself lizard-like against the nearer
side wall The orse-trader looked
long and hard. and they could hear
him still talking to the dog.
you're an old fool, Caesar-that's
about what you are-and Solomon al
lowed thar wasn't no fool like an old
one. But you needn't to swaller that
whole, old boy; I've knowed some
young ones in my time-sometimes
gals, sometimes boys. sometimes both.
But thar amt no 'possum up yonder.
Caesar; you've flew the track this time.
for certain. Come on. old dog; let's be
gettin' down the mountain"
The baying dog and the whistling
man were still within hearing when
Tom swung Nan lightly to the ground
and dropped beside her. No word was
spoken until she had emptied and re-
Hlleu neT bucket at the spring. lnen
Tom said. with the pickering tang still
on his tongue:
Say. Nan, want to know who II Is
that's going to kill you if he happens
to find you talking to me-"
She shook her head despondently. 81
cayn't new tell you that, Tom-Jeff."
I'D like to know why you can't"
Because he'd shore kill me then
'Then I'll find out some other way
What differ does it make to your
she asked; and again the dark eyes
searched him till he was fain to look
away from her.
Il reckon It doesn't make any differ
ence, II you don't want II to. But one
time you were willing enough to tel
me your troubles, and"
And I'll new DO it naree mother
l time; never. never. And let me tel
r you somethin' else, Tom-Jeff Gordon:
> II you know what's good for you. dom
you new come anigh me again. One