, 1916-12-21

ava iluSC VI
nav responded to that laughing chal-
lenge.
The youth said Good morning"
Bound for Corydon7" inquired the
OLD gentleman affably. His undoubted
years were somehow discounted by
an almost elfin quickness of glance,
and his hobbling gait, his whole Id
pearance suggested a Solomon among
cock-sparrows hopping along a pump
handle. "
Bound for Corydon?"
Yes. Am l on the right tracer
Folly the path an the towns a bit
OF a mile ahead of ye-but If We will
pity the sorrow of a foolish old blath-
erskite h can't build a bit of a fire
TO save his sowl, yell not push on till
We've got the finder going And he
thrust his flint and steel into the young
mans hands with an air of comical
dismay.
"oh, do" said the girl. Fathers so
stupid"
The young man took the flint and
steel with a laugh and knelt down to
obey. He r~earranged the twigs with a
careful hand, struck a spark into the
finder and nursed it for a GREATNESS
moment; hen a tiny flame crept I'D
the pile of brush and the three looked
at one another In triumph.
Not that we're needin' fire at all,
at ali" said the little old gentleman,
ION a day like this; but it's always
a comfort In the woods"
you build a fire like a woodsman.r
observed the girl admiringly, though
of course you aren't one
He flushed, for he knew that his
rags were an unusual dress for the
buckskin-clad men of the forest; and
the girl added quickly, Because you
aren't carrying a rifle"
NO, I'm no woodsman,' he admit
ted, grateful for her tact, but I've
come a long distance through the
woods and have mad to learn u little
of their ways"
we've come a long way?" asked the
old gentleman. Thin ye'd best he
sittin' Town with us for a bit. Sure,
the town will wait"
"Oh, dor added the girl impulsiveIy.
Tell us about the woods. Have you
seen any Indians? Father didn't want
to come out here today for fear one
would pounce on u.s. She laughed a
ripple more musical than that of the
brook, and, tucking the skirts of her
Amazon habit beneath her, settled her
self On the ledge of limestone rock.
Tel us about Indians she went on
comfortably. "We came here from
New Orleans and haven't seer a single,
real paint-and-feathers one yet. Ooh 20
she laughed in mock terror.
The fire cracked merrily up the face
of the rock and a draft of its warmth
swept into the crevice of the stone.
The dusky thing lying within stirred
pleasantly.
1--WE seen only peaceful Indians on
h road so far smiled the young
man. Il can't tell you any exciting
tales"
Don't be FOSTERING the lad, Toi-
nette," chided the old man. I'll be
bound he's too tired TO talk
The mottled rope within the crevice
felt the warmth of the fire. stirred. I'M
coiled and glided noiselessly toward
thV uBtAluItr DuuStu dBdlu-
You live in Corydon. STRIP asked
the young man. I'D like to find work
therein a weaver by trade"
The old gentleman put his head on
one side in dubious reflection. Small
chance for a weaver, my lad" he an
swered, flor every cabin has a loom
of its own. But yen find something
for"
His words froze on his lips as a
tawny notified length flowed out
from the %crevice, built itself up with u
quick, sinuous twist into a coil of liv-
ing death. But, with a lightning quick
ness, the young man had seized his
oaken staff from the ground.
Don't move, Toinettei" he cried /;
and on the words the cudgel whirled
above his shoulders and struck the
venomous head like a ~thunderbolt. A
long left arm swept down and plucked
the girl from the spot where the ugly
folds curled and flattened among the
rocks.
"Merciful heaven" cried the little
old man weakly, and buried his face in
his hands.
The girl drew a deep breath; and
the young man suddenly realized that
he was still straining her to his side.
He released her as though she burned
his fingers; and his ACE crimsoned
with shame.
81 beg your pardon" he said awk-
wardly; I'm sorry L was so rough
But the girls eyes shone like stars.
"Tm not thinking of roughness," she
said TREMENDOUSLY. I'm just-thank-
full She went over to her father
and kissed him.