American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-05-30
CHAPTER !.
The First Wayfarer and the Second
Wayfarer Meet and Part on the

Wayfarer Meet and Part on the
Highway.
A solitary figure trudged along the
narrow road that wound It's sernen-
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 II the no I'M
certain prospects of a storm.
lie came to the pike" and there
was a 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 unninching arm these
words were printed In scaly white
"Hart's Tavern. Food for Man and
Beast. Also Gasoline. Established
179S. | 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 It deserved the compass
sion of all observers because of its
humility. Swerving in his hurried pas
sage, the tall stranger drew neal this
shrinking friend to the uncertain trav-
eler, and was suddenly aware of IN.
other presence In the roadway.
A woman appeared, MS If from no.
where, almost at his side. He drew
back to let her pass. She stopped he
fore the little slgnpost, and together
they made out the faint directions.
TO the right and up the mountain
road Frogg's Corner lay four miles and
a hnlf away Pitcairn was six miles
bacS over the road which the man had
Travelled. Two miles and n half down
the turnpike was Spanish Falls, a rail-
way station, and four miles above the
crossroads where the man and women
stood peering through the darkness nj
the laconic slgnpost' reposed the viz
lage Of st. Elizabeth. Harris Tavern
was on the road to ST. Elizabeth, and
the man, with barely a glance ut 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.
uEt WAS fAtfNAllliSlN Ntlhls MS lbIS
powerful legs had carried him twenty
or thirty pnces before he anne 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 tc
her at all, so eager was he to read
the directions and be on his way.
She was standing quite still in from
Of the slgnpost, peerlng up the road
toward Frugg's Corner-eonfronted b!
n steep climb that led into black ant
sinister tlmberlands above the narrow
strip of pasture bordering the pike.
The fierce wind pinned her skirts t,
her slender body MS she teamed ngnins
the gale. gripping her hat tight!
with one hand and stcainlng under tn
weight OF the bag In the other. Tn
ends Of a veil whipped furlouSlv nhou
her head. and, ven In the gathering
darkness, he could see n strand or tw,
or hair keeping them company.
Retraclng his steps, he called "a I,
her above the gale:
"Cau | he Of any assistance to You?
She turned quickly, He saw tina
the veil was drawn tightly over he
face.
mo, thank YOU" she replied. He
voice, despite a certnin nervous note
was soft and clear and gcntle-th
voice and speech OF n well-hred PEI
son who was young and rcsolu'e.
pardon me, but have you much fai
ther to go? The storm viii soon b
upon us. ~and--surtly you will not COT
slider me presumptuous-l don't Xix
the ldea of your being caught out in
"What Is to he done about it?" sh
inquired, resignedly, Il must so o.
I can't wait here, you know, to b
washed back to the place l Starte
from"
He smiled. She had wit as well u
determination.
"If | can be Of the least assistnnc
TO you pray don't hesitate 10 comman
me. | am n sort of tramp, you migl
say, and | travel as well by night O
/ do by day-so don't feel that you al
putting me to any Inconvenience. Al
you by any chance bound for Hart
TAVERN II so. l will be glad TO Ia
behind and carry your bag"
"-ou are very good, but l I'm NJ
bound for Harris Tavern. wherev,
that may be. Thank you, just Il
same, You appear to be an uncor
monty genteel tramp. and II isn't b
cause | am afraid yoC might make o
with my belongings" She added Il
last by way Of apology.
: Tie smiled-and then frowned as |
/ easi an untasy look s& AP alaS