The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1916-01-05

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He said he had nothing" she STAN
mered as he helped her to rise. HE
said he had nothing How true 1t isr'
Edgerton gently lifted her to his skin,
then stepped In beside her He. too,
was watching the water for the pos
sible emergence of a CHASTITY face.
Annabcl began trembling as with
the ague. "Edgerton. He said il was
all lie-about his property-and so
II was Everything is lie except
this"
she chung to him.
When Bill Atkins with an air of i'm
penetrable mystery invited Wilfred
Compton to ride that might Keep him
from his bride several days the young
man guessed that Wilcox had been
found. Lahomn. divining as much,
urged Wilfred to hasten. assured him
that she enjoyed the publicity and stir
ring life of the Mangum hotel and ex-
pressed confidence that should she
need friend Mizzoo would help her
through any difficulty. SO Wilfred
rode away with Bill. and Wilcox was
not mentioned.
Bill was evidently in deep trouble.
and when Wilfred and he had let them
selves down into the stone corridor,
whose only entrance was a crevice In
the mountain top. he understood the
old trapper's deep despondency-
| Wilcox was there. and Brick declared
| his intention of giving himself up. He
announced his purpose before greetings
| had subsidized Bill called him an old
fool. used unpruned language. scolded
rather than argued. Wilfred. on the
other hand. delayed events by request
/ in. full particulars of the last few
weeks.
Hes told me all he's been up to-"
| Bill objected there's no call to travel
over that ground again. What l
brought you here for, Wilfred, is to
show him how foolish he'd be to let
himself be taken when he's free as the
wind"
81 tells my tale" declared Brick,
land them as has heard it once can
take it or leave it." He was discursive,
circumstantial. and it was long time
before he led them I'm fancy to the door
of the boathouse and showed them Red
Feather and Gledware disappearing
forever beneath the surface of the lake.
There waited" he said. expecting
first one head. then the other, to come
to light but nothing happened. Seem
ed like | couldn't move. But Edger-
ton he began rowing towards me with
Annabel. she happy despite herself.
and when | see it wouldn't do to tarry
no longer | cuts loose the old deaf
boatman and unstops his mouth. Well,
sir. he lets out a yell that would a done
credit to bobcat fighting in the traps
had to run for it. Fellows from the
clubhouse took after me thinking I'd
been numbering somebody. | skinned
them Ozark hills, and | skinned myself
But Brick he says. When you turns
loose bobcat expect scratches says
he"
Don't tell about how you hid in the
hills waiting for night train" Bill
pleaded.
81 tells it ALL Brick was infleyible.
you are here. I'm here. and it's Il safe
place. We may never be so put again."
"a safe place. Bill snarled. Yes
ii is a safe place. But you've lost your
nerve. Was a time when you'd have
stood out creation in q hole like this.
But you've turned to salt. you have a
regular Bible character-giving up to
the law, letting them clap you in jail,
getting yourself hanged. very likely!
And all because you've lost your nerve.
See here, Brick, stand 'em out! I'll
steady you through thick and thin. I'll
bring you grub and water"
you couldn't do nothing" Brick re-
turned contemptuously. You're too
old. As for that, / amt come to the
pass of needing being waited on, l
guess. 1t amt dangers that subdues
me- It's principles. Look here!'
He walked to the crossbar that was
set in the walls to guard the floor from
the unknown abyss. II found out they
was Il hole in the rock just about five
feet under the floor. | can take this
rope and tie one end to the post and
let myself down to that little room
where there's grub enough to last a
long siege. where there's bedding and
common Injuries, as tobacco and the
like. / amt been smoked out. Into the
open | goes, free and disposed and my
hands held up according"
When he had finished the last morsel
of his story and had warmed some of
1t over for another taste there came
an ominous silence. broken at last by
the querulOus voice of Bill. arguing
against surrender.