The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-01-22

was"
An you'd better stop-quit quick.
or you'll be where he is. too"
The woman kept sullen silence.
You mOOnshiners are bad lot
that's all. warn you to quiet the
others down. or they'll be countin'
bars with Shorty. Let me see your
distillery."
Her slender figure stiffened slowly
and barred the doorway.
Did you hear me?"
Still no answer.
so the blood runs warm. Ell? You're
one Of those wild roses all thorns-?'
He grasped her wrist firmly Skin
like a lily-and reared in the wilder
ness-what if Shorty came back? Eth?
Is it WORTH"
"What?"
Say, kiss and"
He stepped back hurriedly afraid
of the glitter in her eyes. silenced by
the awful agony in her face.
i reckon the hangin OF Shorty will
square matters here-an' there amt
no use Of no more revenue officers
t@ckin our corn down" she said
slowly and bitterly.
You won't distill any more whisky
lhcn?"
i amt sayin' yes nor nO--but the
trail down is a sight cooler by night
than by day an there amt nobody
10 take you away in case of accidents
like happened to your friend today
Aimsie, he said this mornin' that he
might lug load down but not one
an anyway Dark Corner amt SO pow
erful big that it can hold you an me
together comfortably"
And SO he turned before her eyes
that burned like fiery sea; but later
when the wind sighed In the pine
bonghs denoting the first flush of day
break he crept back, puzzled by a
strange hacking sound
Inside through the chinks of the
rough wall he beheld the girl, ak in
hand, chopping pine. She had fash
Toned queer object which her fin.
l'ers touched lovingly. in a wonder
ing ritiful way fitting notch to notch
with strange haste. At last she
Strengthened, bent and showed it ever
so gently with her foot so that the
clumsy. crude thing rocked to and
fro while she fell above 1t arms
crossed in a paroxysm of uncontrolled
giicf
Say. Mary. amt you tired walkin
every day now in this awful heat?"
The man drew her tenderly into his
arms as the iron door changed to.
No, shorty, amt never tired when
You are at the end. An an Shorty,
think when we are back alone" She
paused. suddenly confused-"we won't
never be alone again will we though?
i'ut when we get back. and he grows
up so big an strong In the forest,
Shorty. an You teach him about the
birds an how to trap-well be hap.
py?"
but amt never comm back,
Mary"
She swallowed hard as she brushed
the dust off her boots. But you are,
ShOrty-why the birds wouldn't sing
no more. nor the sun wouldn't never
shine again In Dark Corner-nor-nor
could we do without you-Pappy," and
In the wonder OF the new name she
slipped closer within his arms, and
resting her head on his shoulder they
talked as though the cabin walls sur
rounded them and the sweet air was
tanning their cheeks. She told him
of all she had done and how she would
show him the little cradle the first
thing when h. came home.
That night she toiled up the trail
for the last time for many, many
weeks and each day that drew near
er came the date set for Shorty Bill
death. lie scarcely noticed day OIL
night so great and terrible was his
anxiety
The jailer got permit after that
which gave her the privilege of spend.
ing each night in his cell and leaving
at the first CLEAN of dawn.
A week passed and finally the last
day came. when all hope was aban.
doned and they parted quietly at day. |
break. She chung to him as a wound. |
ed animal clings to its dying mate.
and then with her son In her arms
turned sharply and left the prison.
The jailers and the revenue officers
came promptly two hours later. but
with reluctant hands they turned the
lock and entered
Shorty one said. we're sorry"
A sob was the only answer.
Brace up. Bill-don't give way
come"
They started to lift him to his feet
but with a trembling wall the body
stood rigid. hair flung over the worn
coat in cleaning mass.
"Aimsie was right wasn't a'fear
ed of death, but since since-the III.
tie stranger came-to Dark Corner
was a'feared. He needed him power.
full much-to-to teach him oho,,
birds and-to- trap A boy needs
Pappy more in the Blue Ridge than =
20 ,p,v-on'-ap' |