The Arizona copper camp., 1919-03-15

SIIduu. 1uO tWO SLdlSSuSu were Ill
broadcloth and white linen and beaver
hats. They stopped as I approached
them.
swell, partner, we shall be leaving
in an hour or So" said Mr.. Wright as
he gave me his hand. sYou may look
for me here soon after the close of the
session. Take care of yourself and go
often to see Mrs. Wright and obey
your captain and remember me to your
aunt and uncle"
'See that you keep coming, my good
boy" said the president as he gave me
his hand, with playful reference, no
doubt, to Mr.. Wright's remark that I
was coming. man.
"Bart, I've some wheat to be
thrashed in the barn on the back lot"
said the senator as I was leaving
them. "You can do it Saturdays, if
you care to, at a shilling. an hour.
Stack the straw out of doors until
you've finished, then put it back in the
bay. Winnow the wheat carefully and
sack it and bring it down to the gran
ary and I'll settle with you when /
return"
I remember that number Of men
who worked in Grimshaw's sawmill
were passing as he spoke.
eyes, sir" / answered, much elated
by the prospect of earning money.
The examination of Amos was set
down for Monday and the people of
the village were stirred and shaken
by widest rumors regarding the evi-
dence to be adduced. Every day men
and women stopped me in the street
to ask what knew of the murder. !
followed the advice of Bishop Per.
kins and kept my knowledge to myself.
Saturday came, and when the chores
were done / went alone to the grain
barn in the back lot Of the senator's
farm with fail and measure and broom
ard fork and shovel and sacks and nv
! luncheon, in pushcart, with all OF
which Mrs. Wright had provided me.
. 1t was lonely place with woods
on three sides Of the field and road
on the other. kept laying down
beds of wheat on the barn floor and
beating them out with the fail until
the sun was well over the roof, when
] sat down to eat my luncheon. Then
swept up the grain and winnowed
out the chaff and filled one of my
sacks. That done, covered the floor
again and the thump of the fail eased
my loneliness until in the middle OF
tho OF +xu0 Of INV c0hOn1n0fQS
came and asked me to go swimming
with them. The river was not forty
rods away and a good trail led to the
swimming hole. 1t was warm, bright
day and / was hot and thirsty. The
thought of cool waters and friendly
companionship was too much for me.
/ went with them and stayed with
them longer than / intended. re-
member saying as / dressed that I
should have to work late and go with
out my supper in order to finish my
stint.
1t was almost dark when was put
ting the last sack of wheat into my
cart, in the gloomy barn and getting
ready to go.
A rustling in the straw where
stood stopped me suddenly. I heard
stealthy footsteps in the darkness.
stood my ground and demanded:
who's there?"
l saw form approaching in the
gloom with feet as noiseless as cats.
took a step backward and, seeing
that it was woman, stopped.
''It's Kate" came in a hoarse whis-
per as recognized her form and staff.
run, boy-they have just come out
O. the woods. I saw them. They will
take you away. Rum"
She had picked up the fail, and now
she put it in my hands and gave me
a push toward the door. ran, and
none too quickly, for had not gone
fifty feet from the barn in the stubble
when I heard them coming after me,
whoever they were. I saw that they
were gaining and turned quickly.
had time to raise my fail and bring 1t
down upon the head of the leader,
who fell as 1 had seen a beef fall un-
der the ak. Another man stopped be-
yond the reach of my fail and, after
a seconds hesitation, turned and ran
away in the darkness.
/ could hear or see no other motion
in the field. I turned and ran on
down the slope toward the village. In
moment I saw someone coming out
of the maple grove at the fields end.
just ahead, with a lantern.
Then heard the voice of the school
master saying:
"Is it you, my lad?"
EYES," I answered, as L came UP to
him and Mary, in condition Of
breathless excitement.
I told them of the curious adventure
I had had.
"Come quick" said the schoolmas-
ter. "Let's go back and find the man
in the stuhble.'
remembered that had struck the
path in my flight just before stepping
to swing the fail. The man must have
fallen very near it.-Soon we found