Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-07-26
CHAPTER !.


Wayfarer Meet and Part on the
Highway.
A solitary figure trudged along the
harrow road that wound its serpen-
ttnous 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 it the no I'M
certain prospects of 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
q very stiff and unflinching arm these
words were printed in scaly white:
Harris Tavern. Food for Man and
Beast. Also Gasoline. Established
1898. 1 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 it's
humility. Swerving 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 mo-
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
a 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-
way station, and four miles above the
crossroads where the man and women
stood peering through the darkness at
the laconic signpost reposed the viii
lage of st. Elizabeth. Harris 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 at 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-confronte by
a steep climb that led into black and
sinister timberlands 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 a veil whipped furiously about
her head, and, even in the gathering
darkness, he could see a 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 a certain nervous note,
was soft and clear and gentle-the
voice and speech of a well-bred per-
son who was young and resolute.
pardon me, but have you much far
Their to go? The storm win soon be
upon US, and-surely you will not con-
slider me presumptuOus-I don't like
the idea of your being caught out in"
'sWhat is to be done about it2" she
inquired, resignedly. 81 must go on.
[ can't wait here, you know to be
washed back to the place I started
from"
He smiled. She had wit as well as
determination.
eff / can be of the least assistance
to you pray don't hesitate to command
me. am a sort of tramp, you might
say, and travel as well by night as
] do by day-so don't feel that you are
putting me to any Inconvenience. Are
you by any chance bound for Harris
Tavern? If so, I will be glad to lag
behind and carry your bag"
aYou are very good, but am not
bound for Harris Tavern, wherever
that may be. Thank You, just the
same. You appear to be an uncom-
monty genteel tramp, and it isn't be
cause am afraid you might make of
with my belongings" She added the
last by way Of apology.
He smiled-and then frowned as he
cast an uneasy look at the black