The Washington herald., 1913-12-17
HIS MOUNTAIN PAL.
ny JUNE GAHAN.
Coopyrisht. IslSl

Letter for you this trip. Mister
too"
Throw It down." Barty returned.
lazily. He was down at the waters
edge, mending break in his canoe.
He thought Jerry was joking. There
were never any letters for him, for
Barty Hamilton, OF Lower Black
EDDY. He had lived there in the old
red shack mp above the ruins Of the
timber mill for hve years now, and
Jerry knew he had never even asked
whether there was mail for him down
at the country store postoffics
Yet here was letter Enthusiastically
addressed to Mr.. Bartholomew Ham
ilton. and It was postmarked New
York. Jerry knew every mark on the
envelope after hiA six-mfle trip up to
the Eddy, and stiil there was nothing
to kindle romance or arouse suspicion
about It, excepting the faint sweet
fragrance that clung to its heavy
cream paper.
Jerry let the reins hang loosely on
the branco's back. leaning forward.
seemingly watching the flight of some
crows high in the deep blue sky over
head. And ALI at once he had his re-
ward. for he awaited q new sensation
and 1t came.
velope, took one glance at the double
sheet with its few lines of engraving.
and then began to "cuss," deeply and
richly beneath his breath. and he
crushed the cream white paper in his
hand.
Bad news, BartyT' asked Jerry. in
friendly fashion. whereupon Barty
rose to his full six foot one, and in
sinuated pointedly that Jerry Millward
was wandering from the route best
adapted to a person of his character.
and that his temperament required q
warmer climate without & return
ticket.
MY business is my own. I belong
to myself. 1 let people alone, and 1
want them to do the same to me, un-
derstand? What time is the next train
Eastr'
Amt no more out tonight Last one
left at 334'
Something in the genial, sympathetic
tone of Jerry's voice struck the loneliness
in Barty. He reached up his hand.
You've been mighty decent to me since
landed here. I'm going back where I
came from now. Take what you like up
at the shack
ITS a woman pulling you back. amt
it7' asked Jerry mildly. Lord, l know
the yank they can give. And it's all
right, too. Going to marry herr"
81 was, some day"
"They amt good walters"
Il couldn't bring her up here. could II"
Barty reached out both arms to the
splendid isolation OF the mountains. Il
hadn't lived right. Jerry. Too much
crowded in between sunset and sunrise.
and something snapped. / lost my grip,
and my faith in myself. in the man i
wanted to be. understand
There's lots OF them drift up here.
It's the last shore" Jerry agreed medl-
tatively. But when there's a woman
some place, even your mother, that thinks
you're straight, 1t keeps you from going
under. Even II you float up with the tide
II amt like going under, boy. You can
float right out again"
But he held up the envelope grim
ly. I've got her wedding cards.
so you're going to the devil, amt
you? And right down yonder'-Jerry
pointed with his whip to the valley road
he had Just traveled-''right down past
the clump OF red rocks there's the sweet
est, incest, little girl in the world wait
ing for you to wake UP.
You mean Miss Evans-Betty EvansT
you Nknow darn well who 1 mean"
flung back Jerry. as he started away.
And she's ten million times too good
for you. That train east leaves about
sun up. IL you want to catch it,