Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1916-11-30


vor of brogue.
But it was not so much the friendli-
ness in the old gentleman's voice that
made the young man smile, as it was
the smile that lighted up the eyes of
the girl. Her dark hair made a silken
frame about her pink cheeks and
smiling lips; her eyes-sapphire blue
and clear as the sky-danced with
smile of divine friendliness. And
then, too, she crinkled her eyelids all
around them. An iron image would
have responded to that laughing chal-
lenge.
The youth said "Good morning"
"Bound for Corydon?" inquired the
old gentleman affably. His undoubted
years were somehow discounted by
an almost elfin quicl1ness of glance,
and his hobbllng gait, his whole APP
pearance suggested a Solomon among
cock-sparrows hopping along a pump
/ handle.
Bound for Corydon"
ayes. Am / on the right tracer"
"Folly the path an the towns bit
of mile ahead Of ye-but If We will
pity the sorrow of q foolish old blath-
erskite who can't build a bit of fire
to save his sowl, yen 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.
ooh, do" said the girl. Fathers so
stupid"
The young man took the flint and
steel with laugh and knelt down to
obey. He rcarranged the twigs with a
careful hand, struck a spark into the
finder and nursed it for q breathless
moment; then a tiny flame crept up
the pile of brush and the three looked
at one another in triumph.
"Not that we're needin' fire at all,
at ALL" said the little old gentleman,
ION a day like this; but tits always
a comfort in the woods"
"You build a fire like a woodsman,"
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 rife"
"No, I'm no woodsman," he admit
ted, grateful for her tact, "but I've
come a long distance through the
woods and have had to learn little
Of their ways"
"Ye've come long way?" asked the
old gentleman. "Thin ye'd best be
sittih' down with us for a bit. Sure
the town will wait"
"Oh, do" added the girl impulsively
"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 q
ripple more musical than that of the
brook, and, tucking the skirts Of hel
Amazon habit beneath her, settled her
self on the ledge of limestone rock
"Tell us about Indians" she went or
comfortably. eve came here from
New Orleans and haven't seen q single
real paint-and-feathers one yet. Ooh +
she laughed in mock terror.
The fire cracked merrily up the face
of the rock and q draft of it's warmth
swept into the crevice of the stone
The dusky thing lying within stirred
pleasantly.
"Fve seen only peaceful Indians OF
the road so far" smiled the young
man. II can't tell you any exciting
tales"
Don't be Fostering the lad, Toi
nette," chided the old man. 'Tll b.
bound he's too tired to talk"
The mottled rope within the crevic,
felt the warmth of the fire, stirred, I'm
coiled and glided noiselessly TOWARD
the aperture, paused again.
"You live in Corydon, sir2" asked
the young man. ''Id like to find worl
therein a weaver by trade"
The old gentleman put his head OF
one side in dubious reflection. "Smal
chance for a weaver, my lad" he an
swered, "for every cabin has loon
of its own. But yen find something
for"
His words froze on his lips as
tawny notified length flowed ou
from the crevice, built itself up with
quick, sinuous twist into a coil of liV
ing death. But, with a lightning quick
ness, the young man had seized hi
oaken staff from the ground.
Don't move, Toinette" he cried
and on the words the cudgel whirle
above his shoulders and struck tn
venomous head like a thunderbolt.
long left arm swept down and plucke
the girl from the spot where the ugl
folds curled and flattened among tn
rocks.
"Merciful heavenW cried the littl
t old man weakly, and buried his face |
e his hands.
q The girl drew a deep breath; an
l. the young man suddenly realized tn,
he was still straining her to his sid
It He released her as though she burne
d his fingers; and his face crimsone
II with shame.
N GGT hoe, ,vo11T pordon - ba caid aryl