Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1915-01-07
Sephersown nComyW Thursday January T. 1915

mac oroppeo lnto barry NlcneYenS camp
with the avowed idea of making trouble
for the hermit. Barty had talked 10 his
cats in the whistling cat language and the
creatures had charged the invader from
every side. scratching him until he bled,
ripping his clothes from his back, over
powering him oy their very numbers, un-
til he fled away into the woods. Prob
ably no one believed the tale but TO men
who listened TO the ruStling in the shad-
ows, and heard the calling OF whippoor-
will in the thicket, and watched the fire
lilies circling and flashing over the low
meadows, It seemed real and terrifying.
When, after leaving McGraw, the
stranger came TO the mouth of Russell.
Stream, he lifted the green canoe from
the water and slouched up 10 the camp
and storehouSe, where Finnish watch
man was sitting in the sun. The stranger
sat down and fell into conversation with
the Finn he ate dinner and supper THE
camp, and spent the evening toasting his
feet before the cookstove. During the
evening he managed TO learn great deal
about the lay OF the land round Russell
Mountain.
Near twenty years since was in these
paris" he said. There was time
when could travel this country with my
eyes shut, but man forgets deal in tl:At
length OF time"
That's So" said the Finn.
Eyes. But there's things man don't
forget in that time-no, not in all them
years. There's things you don't ever
forget, yes, thereis" The stranger shook
his fist at the stovepipe.
'Youknow, friend the stranger went
on; his voice had sunk to a Whisper
there's man in this world that re-
member all them years, yes. He done
me dirt once, so he did"
There was suggestion OF an untold
story behind the strangers easy manners
that reused the Finn'S curiosity but
when he showed his interest the stranger
became cold and silent. They had break
fast together the next morning, and then
the stranger went off through the dewy
grass up the tote road.
The Finn, watching him from the cool
shade OF the cabin, wondered about many
things as he wiped the breakfast dishes.
The stranger followed the old path,
slipped of TO the right on the third cut
off, and after seven miles OF uphill going
Struckinto the Russell Mountain tote road.
| Gradually RS Stlted stride swung into the
natural gait OF man bred to the woods
but plainly he was moi used 10 il, for he
painted and pulled, and stopped TO rest in
an old lumber yard. Presently from in
side his shirt he drew revolver, ex-
amined it and carefully loaded it. Then
he put il into his coat pocket, where il
would be easy TO reach. AS his coat
swung back it revealed a long sheath
knife in his belt.
The tote road tops The ridge that leads
up Russell Mountain, and runs along
banked terrace that drops steep four
hundred feet to brawllng stream in the
valley The stranger looked down
through the cuttings, dotted with solitary
hcmlockS and bircheS, and saw the silvery
gray roof OF Barty Nicneven's camp.
Ii stood beside the brook that boiled
white among the rocks. Something
moved below him, and at first he stared
in nervous fear; then he saw that The
moving object was a cat. Another crea-
ture darted across theroad into the under
brush Startled by a rustling close at
hand, the stranger turned and caught a
glimpse of yet another cat disappeariugin
the brick-red needles of dried pine tops
and slashiugs.
81 vumr' he muttered, and rubbed his
brow with his coat sleeve. ''l yum -
lie was strangely i'll al ease.
He touched the revolver n his co II
pocket and began cautiously 10 slip
through the brush along the maze OF be-
wIIdenng roads that converged at the
camp He moved slowly, and stepped
on bare earth and messy rocks, in order
TO make no noise.
"Well, Barty, boy" he chuckled to
himself, you done me dirt, but my time
is coming !"
On the valley road, in the shadow OF
the great ridge, where the peaked noun
tains sIanted together and met each other
by the rushing stream, he paused, awed
in spite OF himself by the towering height
Of the spruce-topped hills His foot
steps could not be heard on account Of
the roar OF the brook; crouching low. he
slipped from bush TO bush AS he enter
ed the ancient yard, he saw man inside
the old cabin.
From every side. along the brook, be-
fore and behind, cats stared al the in
truder. An uneasy fear had crept into
his mind; but as he became familiar with
his surroundings, his awe wore away.
HIS hand grasped the revolver in his
coat pocket He stepped into the door
way.
AS the shadow fell across the room,
Barty Nlcneven turned. He was an old
man and he stared at the stranger as II
he could not trust his sight His face
grew paIer and paler; III his eyes was
the despair OF the hunted. He stepped
back across the room.
"Go 'wayP he gasped, and thrust out
his hands before his face. "Go way
from here %
"We-e-e-eIl, Bany," drawled the
stranger.
Glad to see me, amt you,, Barty, like
kneu vou'd he 2D