The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1913-02-07
IN DARK CORNER
Wife's lnfIexibIe Fidelity and Cum
ming Saves Husband from
the Gall0WS.
BY GEORGE s. RoLANDs.

The woman's voice rang out clear.
sharp. insistent, and as the notes
drifted through the hazy summer air
man pulled upon the reins Of his
horse quickly.
Hello, Mary didn't see you"
Il reckon 1t is time you did-makin'
me run. tired as l am, down that path
of turning stones" She paused ex-
tending her young brown arms. grasp
ing the tops Of the seat and 30 lifting
herself easily up beside him.
Il let you go round the bend, Jim,
cause / was speculatin' as to the like
ly chances of your givin' that revenue
officer with that burden Of his lift
down"
The man shifted slightly 80 as to
give her more room, and his face as
he turned 1t to the woman's was flush
ed deeply. Il toll him, Mary, If he got
me a load Of EN- I'd do it maybe. See
ing chances is slim,~I reckon they'll
be a long time before askin' an the
walk amt none too 'vigoratin'."
They both gazed down the broken
mountain path, edged sharply by
bushes and tall grasses. Wild flowers
and ferns flung their sweet odor on
the hot dust and shriveled In the
heat. Below moved a tiny spot. Two
men staggered and toiled beneath the
weight of a great body whose very
inertness and laxity taxed their
strength cruelty.
so they got him." the woman
breathed, her eyes suddenly dark and
flashing.
"Yep-one gone-but JEFF went too
in the doin'."
Shorty makes two"
Shorty amt gone yet"
Nope"
Silence settled, broken only by the
creaking of the leather harness, the
heavy breathing Of the man and the
almost imperceptible signing of the
girl.
Say, do you reckon it'll be soon
yes?"
4I can't tell, Mary. amt heard as
yet Was it one or two?"
"One sneakin', good-for-nothin' reve
nue. officer, only one" she said almost
regretfully. He was spyin' and what
ought a spy to get? But, Shortly
The man sighed. That's 1t, what'l
he get?"
Dark corner an the cabin 7 IL be
gone. Are you sure there amt nc
chance-not one?"
Say, Mary, what er you cringin
fer? You amt scared O. death-no
you amt scared O. nothin'."
But the woman's eyes that held the
purity of the southern skies in colol
filled slowly and under the limp sun
bonnet her lips trembled. One brown
hand twisted her apron stringent
". wal, you see-up ter now
amt been afraid O. nothin', but now
now that things is changed therel
be a little stranger in Dark Corner
an, an'-itIl be powerful lonesom
without his Pappy."
They both paused. the man letting
the reins fall lax and the woman al
lowing her hands to stretch out a
though in dumb appeal. You see
we had such nice times in Dark Col
ner. Shorty an l used ter tramp tn
hills in springtime, each one tryin' t
. find the robins nest first or the will
rose peekin' thro' some hedge-I kin
o. planned to"
The man brought his whip dow
sharply upon the horses back. touch
ing its foaming TANKS again an
again, and as it reared on its haunche
In anger he swore a loud oath an
sent the wagon rumbling and tumblin
down the steep grade at dangerou
pace. Towards the bottom only b
slackened his mad race-beside tw
bent figures, dust-covered, hatles!
: staggering on in the binding hea
) One of them waved and instantly tn
} cart drew up alongside of them.
t "Enjoyin' the exercise, Mr.. Revenu
Officer? It's a nice warm day, ain
1t? An you passed the last stretch G
, water two miles gone already"
He grinned horribly at the exclam,
ton of dismay that escaped the men
lips. Now l want yer to understan
that amt bein' unsociable-nor VI
: friendly at all, but it's like walkin' te
He'll to get to town-but II this won
D an can do 1t. you can"
2 But she isn't walkin'."
) mot today-but she has for sixt
4 long others an she amt whimpere
either"
why don't you stay in Dark Co
\ ner, where you rats belong?"
Jest for one reason, Mr.. Officer
she's trainin' to walk SOS when 20
q all get to He'll her roadll be easie
q than yours by practice"
: And with a sharp crack Of the viii
: they trotted on.
That night the woman fell exhaus
t ed upon the steps Of her little cabil
e It had seemed endless, the journe
the dingy prison, the hours Of hop
e less despair and planning. the empt
r promises, the farewell at dusk, an
8 the long climb home. A round whit
O moon had dipped across the crest
a wooded hill and threw its light fu
upon her tired, exhausted figure; ar
SO It was that the man saw her frs
T. one arm flung in defiance across Il
the threshold of her home, and upc
the warm night air he heard her &C
u aloud in pitiful anguish. Because
this his voice held a note of gent
!. ness when he spoke that was rare.
81 beg your pardon"
a..