The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1915-08-04

search the whole landscape far and
near for traces of human beings. But
the woods were so dense that it was
like looking for a needle in a hay
stack. What he hoped to see, and
what he did presently see, was
smoke, a pale amethystine column Of
it rising near the base Of one of the
mountains. To find the fire, or the
remains of it, from which that smoke
was rising would not be very diff
cult. He took its bearings very
carefully. 1t was directly between
him and the smallest of three
barren cliffs which formed the first
upthrust of the mountain, and as
he judged about half a mile this
side of the cliff. At the base of that
cliff was rattlesnake den, and Tom
my was in the habit Of giving it a
pretty wide berth, for the snakes
sometimes wandered long distances
from their favorite lodges in search
of food and water, and a good woods
man like Tommy preferred that they
should do their hunting in peace.
"Just like a man who would bring
caulifiower into the woods to camp in
snake country" he thought; wonder
If can pick one up with these
glasses"
He focused his glasses on the base
of the cliff and amused himself for
some time in trying to discern a
snake. But either the distance was
too great or there was none in evi
dence, and he was about to give W
when suddenly a man walked casually
into the field Of his vision-and out
of 1t.
well, I'm jiggered," said Tommy
81 haven't found snake, but I've
found the next best thing. Now what
the devil is Professor Stilliter doing
in this part of the world?"
Again he lifted the glasses and
again saw the professor. He appeared
to be polishing something on the
sleeve of his Norfolk jacket. Now
and then the something flashed bril-
liantly in the sunlight. 1t might have
been a pocket mirror or great dia
mond. Whatever it was, Professor
Stilliter presently dropped it into his
pocket, forced his way into a dense
clump of bushes at the very base o.
the cliff and disappeared.
But Tommy was not to investigate
those bushes at the foot of the cliff
He was within a quarter of a mile
of them, walking swiftly and quietl!
along an old lumber trail. when sud
denly his quick ear caught a sounC
of footsteps and at the same momen
his quick eyes caught a glimpse o
something white that moved HI
stepped quickly into a thicket of al
ders, crouched low and to all intentl
and purposes was blotted out of e1
istence.
Along the train, his heavy baby fac,
streaming with sweat, came Professo
Stilliter leading by the hand a slim
and lovely girl who carried her hea,
like a princess. She was dressed II
a white garment that fell in unbrokel
folds from her shoulders to her feet
like a Roman toga. On her bare fee
she wore thin sandals, on her bar,
head a circlet of gold In which jewell
flashed. Her mouth had an expires
sion Of celestial gentleness an,
smoothness, but her eyes, half shield
ed by their lids and lashes, were with
out expression. She seemed to Ton
my like a girl. not of this earth. wall
> ing in her sleep. He had never see
face SO beautiful, so sweet or s
touchingly innocent.
Having passed Tommy's hidin
place, Professor Stilliter turned froI
the trail and led the heavenly visiol
to a sort OF natural seat that over
looked quiet pool from which Ton
my had often taken trout
She sat reflected in the pool. AN
looking straight ahead of her, and NO
seeing-if you know what [ near
Professor Stilliter had let go her han
and was tiptoeing on. abandoning he
apparently. but when he had gone
little way he turned and made cur
Gus passes In the air with his hands
and spoke suddenly In a voice of con
mand, the one word, "Wake!"
Expression and light came into tn
great eyes, and she looked about he
with kind Of startled delight. Ton
my for some reason or other wa
trembling from head to foot.
A stick cracked. She turned he
: head toward the sound. but Professo
Stilliter had made good his tiptoe
retreat. He was no longer in sight.
Then Tommy stu tram Hing VIII