The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-12-29

tiently. A silent figure passed him
unseeing, scratched thrice with tn,
point of knife on an unseen door
was admitted. The hidden watcher
rose and stole on noiseless feet around
the corner Of the silent shop and fel
his way along its wall. No window
Then came the uncertain steps OF still
another who sought the door OF the
rendezvous, stumbling along the un
even tagging.
David sank to his knees, and as ht
did so his fingers encountered an open
ing in the house wall, level with the
tagging. Bending lower, he peered in
nOisome Odor assaulted his nostrils
The opening was scarcely two feet
square; evidently the aperture through
which the blacksmith emptied the
dirty water from his forge. But con.
querlng his repugnance, he lay flat
and wriggled his shoulders in. A
wooden bucket, full of water, stood
before the opening, on the inside; this
he pushed noiselessly away and
peered i'm just as the attention OF
those within was drawn to the late
conner at the door.
There were four men now within
the shop, one unseen by the other
three.
lie now had his first sight Of Girty,
the last conner. David, his head level
with the stone floor OF the shop,
solved the puzzle OF Girty's noiseless
footsteps I'm the courthouse-not bare
footed. indeed, but shod with the ST.
deerskin trimmed with buckskin tas-
sells; the hunting shirt covering the
powerful shoulders and deep chest of
Il giant, Simon Girty was man of
sixty, seemingly, but his quick, bright
eyes, jet black, burned with the cold
fire of the Iidless serpent's that never
grows old.
The two IGnglishmen were silent be-
fore the malevolent challenge of his
gaze; not daring to be first TO speak.
Girty stood swaying unsteadily in the
light Of the forge. A stain Of the juice
of the tobacco was on his cruel lips.
'And who's this bag OF bones?" he
asked contemptuously of the British
agent.
"This, Captain Girty, is a gentle
man who has preceded me from Eng
land on the same mission rs myself
Mr.. Edward Scull."
thn ,,,,,,n nnI ~ .In ei, pf tho
third man. who until now had been
concealed by Cranmer's portly figure,
DaYid's teeth set and he tremhlcd con
vulsively, like n mastiff that sees his
enemy. Scull! The weaver who had
turned kings witness. the informcr
against David's father! A horrid dry
ness stuck in David's throat and he
shook with an ague. When he lifted
his head again, he saw that the three
men had seated themselves in front OF
the smoldering forge; for the night
had grown chill. Black shadows hung
In all the corners of the little room
and sat heavily upon the shoulders oi
the three men huddled about the
forge. Only the warm. red glow OF
the charcoal set up Al little sphere
of light and warmth. Girty was NUT
tering drunkenly To himself: "Sever
ut Blue Licks two on the Mau
NEE Scalps than n rcdSkir
thet long-ha'red gal :
"See here. my fine friend" sale
Scull sharply, "nevcr mind your
scalps. What is ii that we are here
for. eh?"
Girty reused himself. "Tell him
Cranmer."
The blufr and kindly-faced farme,
seemed out of place in that devir'
crew. But he began To speak cheer
fully.
"Well. Ned. I'm here to make yo,
I'm offer on the part of the king, Coo
bless hint You have seen my creden
tails. 1t was my intention to go direc
To the tribes in the country, takin!
plans of the garrisons with me, but
was TO count you with US before
set out on my trip To the North. Gu
comrade brings word from the grea
chief OF the Shawnees, TccumSeh
that he is desirous of forming |
league with his brothers OF the South
the Cherokees, the Chickasaws an,
the Creeks.
"You, Ned, are man whom Eng
land needs. l am empowered TO sa.
that If you will enter his majesty
service you will be generously re
warded. What success can you hop'
for in this pauper nation? But Eng
lapd is a rich and powerful patron.
am straightforward man, Mr.. Scull
and l. have no gift of argument
| but"
Scull held up a hand. commanding
pause. He> leaned backward an,
piled the bellows. upon the dying fire