Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-10-12

pearance suggested a Solomon among
cock-sparrows hopping along a pump
handle.
Bound for Corydon?"
ayes. Am l on the right tracer"
"Folly the path an the towns d bit
Of a mile ahead of ye-but if ye will
pity the sorrow of q foolish old blath-
erskite who can't build Il bit of q 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.
"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 q spark into the
finder and nursed it for a 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
son a day like this; but it's 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; anG
the girl added quickly, Because yor
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 had to learn a little
of their ways"
"Ye've come a long way?" asked the
old gentleman. "Thin ye'd best BIZ
sittin' down with us for a bit. Sure
the town will wait"
"Oh, do" added the girl impulsively
'"Tell us about the woods. Have. vol
seen any Indians? Father didn't wan
to come out here today for fear one
would pounce on u.s." She laughed {
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. "We came here from
New Orleans and haven't seen a single
real OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES one yet. Ooh ?
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.
I've seen only peaceful Indians OF
the road sc far" smiled the youn!
man. Il can't tell you any excitin!
tales"
Don't be Fostering the lad, Toi
%nette," chided the old man. "Tll b.
bound he's too tired to talk"
The notified rope within the crevict
felt the warmth of the fire, stirred, I'm
cOiled and glided noiselessly toward
the aperture, paused again.
you live in Corydon, sir?" asked
the young man. I'D like to find worl
therein a weaver by trade"
The old gentleman put his head OIL
one side in dubious reflection. "Smal
chance for a weaver, my lad" he an
swered, 'for every cabin has q loon
of its own. But yell find something
for"
His words froze on his lips as
tawny notified length flowed GU
from the c%revice, 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 whirlel
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 heaven !" cried the littl
old man weakly, and buried his face /
his hands.
The girl drew a deep breath !; an
the young nan suddenly realized tina
he was still strainlng her to his sid,
He released her as though she burne
his fingers; and his face crimsone
with shame.
II beg your PARDON" he said awl
wardly; "Pm sorry 1 was SO rough.
But the girls eyes shone like star
I'm not thinking of roughness," sh
said TREMENDOUSLY. "Tm just-thanl
full" She went over to her fatht
and kissed him.
"My boy" began the old man, or
arm around his daughters waist; an
ended: "Oh, If we were in Irelan,
where there ARE no bastes like that
The young man laughed. "They ste
to rattle here, thank Godl"
But the little old man waved h
modesty aside.
my name is Patrlce 0Bannon,"
said, "and proud I'll be to know your
sir"
"David Laurence" was the nnswe
you've already called me by mine
said the girl. "Pm Toinette."
David blushed fierily. 1.-THE
wasn't tlme-I had heard your faith
call you by name"
, "Never mind" laughed the girl.
owe you my life-names don't matt
now"
; you'll honor me by being my CUES
SIR went on Mr.. O'Bannon. "Sur
the fairies sent We here at this mi
ute"
, David became conscious Of his ra
ged clothes.
tVrhank Won. no. he said shut