Mountain advocate. (Barbourville, Ky.) 1904-1935, 1915-11-19

job sturdily Flooding his way In long,
resolute strides through the woods
toward the mill, a heavy sack upon his
shoulders and q life swinging at his
side.
That day chance had II that no one
else had come to mill and Bob Nc
Greegor had persuaded the boy to
drink from the "leetle blue kag" until
his mind was ripe for mischief. While
the mill slowly ground out his meal
Jeb McNash sat on a pile of rubbish
ia the gloomy shack, nursing his
knees in interlocked fingers. Old Bob
drank and stormed and cursed the in
crtia of the present generation. Tie
lads lean fingers tautened and gripped
themselves more tensely and his eyes
began to smolder and blaze with a
wicked light as he listened.
we looks like a right standup sort
of boy. Jeb." growled the old fire.
eater who had set more than few
couples at each others throats. An
| reckon hits all right too, fer fell
Ter ter bide his time. but hit pears ter
me like ther men of these days don't
do rothin' but bide thar time
II won't bide mine no longer than
what has ter" snapped the boy.
"Ansc lows ter tell me when he finds
cat Nho hit war thet got my pap.
1arta all needs ter know"
GA Bob shook his head knowingly
and laughed in his tangled beard.
Il reckon Anse Havey'll take his lei
sure. He's got other fish to fry. He's
a.;l'ukin' bout bigger things than yOre
grievance, SON"
III, boy rose. and his voice came
very quietly and ominously from sud
l"uly whitoned lips. What does We
mean ny tibet. Uncle Bob?"
"Ncbby | don't mean nothin' much.
ra,l crpin mcbby | could give we
pretty good idee who kilt yore pap.
M,%.y cuurr ten ye bout Teller
a ,clilr tact hain't fur removed from
on Nilt hissclf-thet went snoopiE
r,J.t ;hrr ridge Their same day y0re
LAP di,d with rife gun 'crost his
Elbow and his pockets strutty with
Catridgcs"
who war he?" came the tense de-
maud with the sudden snap OF rifle
lire. Nv no war thet feller?"
Old Bob filled and lighted his pipe
with fingers that had grown unsteady
from the ministration of the "leetle
hlua Rag" He laughed again in
drunken fashion.
"Ef Bad Anse Havey don't low ter
tan We. son." ha artfully demurred, Il
racEOL nit wouldn't hardly be becomin
,Cr me ter name his name.
The hoy picked up his battered hat.
Give re NY grist.' he said shortly
lie stood by. breathing heavily but
filcntly while the sack was being tied.
then, putting it down by the door, he
wheeled and faced the older man.
Now we're a.goin' ter tell me what
! neris ter know" nc said quietly. or
Im a-soin' ter Kill We whar We stands. y
urcle Bob laughed He had meant
al tn while to impart that succulent
bt Of information, which was no infor-
nation at all. hut misunderstanding sus-
uirila. lie hal held eff only to infu-
riata and euveacm the hoy with the
cumulative force of climax.
lit warnt nobody but" After a
pause he went on. but old Milt Nc
Lria:s own son, Young Milt."
"rhers all" said Jeb sOberly; I'm
o1Iceged ter ye"
lie went cut with the sack on his
LJulders ard the rife under his arm,
Lut when he Lad reached a place In
the woods where blind trail struck
ha,. he deposited his sack carefully
uudor a ledge OF Overhanging rock, for
. tha clouds we're mounting and banking
how IN threat or rain and II was not
lis own -.lcIl, SO he must be careful
OF its safety
Then he crossed the ridge until he
cane TO point where the thicket
grew down close and tangled To the
road lie had seen Young Milt going
west alcnG that road this morning and
by nightfall he would be riding back
The gods Of chance were playing into
bis hands.
SO he lay down, closely hugging the
earth, and cooked his rifle. For hours
he crouched there with unspeak able
patience. while his muscles cramped
ard his feet and hands grew cold I'M
. der the polting of a rain which was
I strangely raw ard chilling for the sea
s.n. The sun sank in an angry bank
. " thurtCr.heads and the west grew
/ lurii. The Grenching downpour blind
/ Cl him ard trickled down his spine un
der his clothes. but at last he saw the
figure he awaited riding a horse he
knew 1t was the same roam mare that
( Fad Anse had restored to Milt Me
Briar
When young Milt rode slowly by
fifty yards away, with his r:ount at a
walk ard his reins hanging. he was
+ untroubed by any anxiety. because he
was In his own territory ana was al
heart fearless The older hey from
/ TriGulatiOn felt his temples throb and