The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1919-10-09

narrow road that wound its serpen.
unous way through the dismal. forbid.
+ ding depths OF the forests man who
T though weary and footsore. lacged no,
I'm his swift. re-olute advance. Nigh,
was coming on. and with II the no IN
certain prospects Of a storm.
lie came % the pike" and there
was signp~et. A huge. cr1dely paint
ed hand pointed 20 the left. and on
what was intended 20 be the sleeve az
very stir and unfiinching arm these
words were printed Ia scaiy white
"iiart's Tavern Food for Man and
Beast. Also Gasoline. Established
1ToS. I Mile"
ON the opposite side Of the pike -
IN the angle formed by p junction with
the narrow mountain road. stood an
humber sigupost lcttered so ind,s
tinctly that o. deserved the commas.
sion Of an Observers because OF its
humility. Swervine On IFS hurried pas-
sage. the tall stranger drew near this
shrinking friend to the uncertain trav-
eier ana was suddenly aware OF nm
other presence in tho roadway.
A uorrr appeared as n from no
where almost at hls side. He drew
rr. fn i.r Door PASS. She stopped be-
.orr th- lrle sicuposf ia together
-tey maie olt fhe faint directions.
To the r'rht and up the mountain
-oad tro-es Corner lay four miles and
hrIf away; Pitcairn was six niles
harf over fhe road which the man had
travelled. Two miles and "a half down
the turnT De- was Spanish Falls. a rail-
way ~tlf'on. and four miles above the
crossroads where the man and women
stood peering through the darkness at
the laconic signpost reposed the VII
lage Of 81. Elizabeth. Harris Tavern
was on the road 10 st. Elizabeth. and
the man. with barely a glance al his
fellow traveller. started briskly OF In
that direction.
He knew that thes~ wild r,.,u.-,,
storms moved swiftly: his chance Of
reaching the tavern ahead Of the del
uce was exceedingly slim. His long.
powerful legs had carried him twenty
or thirty PAGES before he came 10
sudden halt.
What Of this lone woman who trav-
eTscd the highway His first glimpse
OF her had been extremely casual
indeed, he had paid no attention 10
her at oil. so eager was he 10 read
the directions and be on his way.
She was standing quite stilI in front
OF the signpost. peering up the road
toward Frogg's COrner-confronted 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 10 |
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 furIousfy 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 Won =,
She turned quickly. He saw that
the veil was drawn tightly over her
face.
'No. thank you." she replied. Her
Toice. despite a certain nervous note.
Tns soft and clear and gentle-the
'oice ana speech OF a well-bred per-
Ton who was young and resolute.
Pardon me. but have you much far.
her 10 gO1 The storm will soon he
lpon Us. and--surely you win not con-
ider me presumptuous@T don't like
he idea OF your being caught out in
What Is 10 be done about It?" she
inquired, resignedly. II must 20 on. ,
can't wait here. you know, to he ,
Tashed back TO the place started
rom"
He smiled. She had wit as wen as
eterminntion.
IF can be OF the least assistance
, you pray don't hesitate to command /,
10. i am sort OF tramp. you might
~. and travel as well by night as
do by day-sO don't feel that You are
hitting me TO any inconvenience. Ara
pa by any chance bound for Harris !.
avern? If so. win be glad to lac
ehind and carry your bag"
you are very good. but I am M,
'und for Harris Tavern. wherever y
at may be. Thank you, lust the =
me- You appear to be an uncom-
only genteei tramp. and IL isn't he
use i am afraid you might make of .
III my belongings" She added the 81
81 by way of apology.
He smiied-and then frowned az no Sc
st an uneasy look at the black o'
buds now rolling orainously up over
E mountain ridge. OF
by Jove. were going to catch n n'
cd and hard" he exclaimed. BETTER
re my advice These storms are ter Iu
lie know. for I've encountered w
II dozen Of them In the past week. -