The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1917-09-06
Lost on the
Mountain Side
By ETHEL HOLMES

ing along a road in Tennessee.
Yes; ] reckon ! got one for you,
Susie said the man, looking over .
bundle Of letters he carried in his hand
Not finding II, he dlvcd down into his
bag and pulled out its contents. which
he examined carefully.
well, now, that knocks me out" he
said, with troubled and puzzled ex-
preston on his face. when | sorted
the letters for my route at the post
office sure saw one for you"
and IT'S gomez cried the girl IN a
frightened tone.
"Wait tin ! look 'em over again.
He examined every letter again and
with the same result as before. lie
scratch he'd his head In thought.
II stopped a: the tavern for some
thing to warm me and threw my bag
down on a chair"
"Oh, sam. Was there any one in
the room with your
Let me see. There was a lean. hun
cry looking man in spectaclcs"-
"And red beardy'
Pears to me he had red beard"
The girl turned and ran away from
the postman. who followed her with
his eyes till she was out of sight
Susie Barker, the girl In question.
ran tiu sha CANA IN tho tavorn rhora
she stopped and asked the landlord
which wnv tho man with n rod hoarJ
had gone lie had Jeported Immediate.
" after the postman had gone I'm tho
direction OF the Cumberland platcau
tho. base Of which voe I'm, n milo ais'
tant Susie set our nj n run but she
could not keep such n mace and soon
settled into hurried walk. A short
distance from the foothills she saw the
man she was after ascending the Hill
She knew the trails leading up TO the
plateau and struck into one that was
shorter than that the man was taking.
She had not gone far before the two
paths crossed. Sitting down on
stone. she waited for him to come TO
her
"Uovdy" she said IN tho stranger
when he came up.
"Howdy," replied the man. scrutiniz.
ing the girl. "Y're not lost. are W"
"wen / dunno. come M bver to
find gal know. and thort she lived
purity nigh this place. but 1 don't find
her somehow. | amt used to these
mouutings I meyer come Mn this wovr
She looked exhausted and troubled.
She was very plainly dressed, but was
rather comely for a rough country giri.
"Is there anything can do for youf,
he asked
"Nothin', unless YOU can put me ON
the track 70 find my friend I'm lookin'
for But mebbe you're a stranger I'm
these parts yerself."
The man looked uneasy. He had
good reason to shake the girl. but did
not exactly know how TO 60 about IT,
You're right there, | don't see how
I can help you. since I'm not familiar
with the country about here"
The girl looked about her with trou.
blcd glances The man started TO
90 on.
"Yer not goin' TO leave a pore cal
out liver on this lonely hillside. air
y'f' she said. looking at him reproach.
fully.
II don't see how | can help it," said
the man. Il don't know where Won
want 10 go, and I've got 10 get ON N.Y.
self"
~ y mind my goin' on with W"
she asked pitifully.
We'll, don't see how can do that"
was the reply. "seein' that III have to
walk a great deal faster than you can"
"rry me-"
The man looked perplexed. He
couldn't very well leave a girl who was
lost on the mountain side. and I'm the
business in which he was engaged She
would be an obstacle to him. Indeed
he could not very well accomplish II
without getting rid OF her.
II haven't time 70 bother with YOU"
lie said crabbedly. IAN you got TO do
Is to go down the mountain aud you'll
lind plenty Of persons TO tell YOU how
TO get home"
With that he started on. but, hearing
a sob, turned and saw the girl with her
hands to her face, shaking conyul.