Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-04-17
CHAPTER !.
The First Wayfarer and the Second
Wayfarer Meet and Part on the
hjohway.

Waydrer Meet ana Fart on the
Highway.
A solitary figure trudged along the
narrow road that wound its serpen-
tinous way through the dismal. forbid
ding depths of the forest-a man who.
though weary and fOOtsOre. Jagged not
in his swift, resOlute advance. Night
was coming ON, and with 1t the no un-
certain prospects Of n storm.
He came to the pike" and there
was signpOst. A huge, crudely paint
ed hand pointed to the left, and on
what was intended to be the sleeve Of
a very stiff and untlinching arm these
words were printed in scaly white:
"Hart's Tavern. Food for Man and
Beast. Also Gasoline. Established
1898. Mile"
On the opposite side of the pike"
In the angle formed by a junction with
the narrow mountain road, stood an
humber signpost, lettered so indis-
tinctly that 1t deserved the compass
sion of all observers because Of its
humility. Swervng in his hurried pas
sage, the tall stranger drew near this
shrinking friend to the uncertain trav-
eler, and was suddenly aware of an.
other presence in the roadway.
A woman appeared, as If from no.
where. almost at his side. He drew
back to let her pass. She stopped be-
fore the little signpOst, and together
they made out the faint directions.
To the right and up the mountain
road Frogg's Corner lay four miles and
half away; Pitcairn was six miles
back over the road which the man had
Travelled. Two miles and half down
the turnpike was Spanish Falls, rail-
wav station, and sour ,Ailea alsove. the
crossroads wheye the man and women
stood peering through the darkness at
the laconic signpost repOsed the VII
lage of st. Elizabeth. Hnrt's Tavern
was on the road to st. Elizabeth, and
the man, with barely a glance at his
fellow traveller, started briskly off In
that direction.
He knew that these wild mountain
storms moved swiftly; his chance OF
reaching the tavern ahead Of the del
uge was exceedingly slim. His long,
powerful legs had carried him twenty
or thirty PAGES before he came to a
sudden halt.
What of this lone woman who trav-
ersed the highway? His first glimpse
Of her had been extremely casual
indeed, he had paid no attention to
her ut all. so eager was he to read
the directions and be on his way.
She was standing quite still in front
of the signpost, peering up the road
toward FrOgg's COrner-confronted by
a steep climb that led into black and
sinister timberlunds above the narrow
strip of pasture bordering the pike.
The fierce wind pinned her skirts to
her slender body as she leaned against
the gale, gripping her hat tightly
with one hand and straining under the
weight of the bag In the other. The
ends of veil whipped furiously about
her head, and. even in the gathering
darkness, he could see strand or two
of hair keeping them company.
Retracing his steps, he called out to
her above the gale:
"Can be Of any assistance to your
She turned quickly. He saw that
the veil was drawn tightly over her
face.
"No, thank you" she replied. Her
voice, despite certain nervous note
was soft and clear and gentle--the
voice and speech Of well-bred per-
son who was young and resolute.
"Pardon me, but have you much far
ther to go? The storm Will soon De
upop us, and-surely you Will not con-
slider me prcsumptuOus-1 don't like
the idea of your being caught out in
"What Is to be done about itf" she
INQUIRED, resignedly. II must go on
I can't wait here, you know, to be
washed back to the place l started
FROM"
He smiled. She had wit as well as
determination.
"If ! can be of the least assistance
to YOU pray don't hesitate to command
me. I nm a sort of tramp, you might
saw. and travel as well by night as
I do by day--sO don't feel that you arc
putting me to any Inconvenience. Arc
YOU by any chance bound for Hart'
Tavern? If so. l will be gldd 10 iat
behind and carry your bag
"You are very good, but l am no
hound for Hnrt's Tavern, wherever
that may be. Thank you, just th'
same. You appear to be an uncom
monty genteel tramp, and 1t isn't be
cause am afraid you might make or
with my belongings" She added tn
last by way of apology.
He smiled--nnd then frowned as II,
cast an uneasy look at the Dlacl
clouds now rolling orllnously up owe
the mountain ridge. .
"By Jove, we're going to eaten
good md hard" he exclaimed. bette
tukc my advice. These storms are Ter
rible. know, for I've encountere'
half dozen of them In the past week