Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-06-04
CHAPTER !.


CHAPTER !.
The First Wayfarer and the Second
Wararer Meet and Part 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 it the no un-
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
a very stiff and unflinching arm these
words were printed in scaly white
s'''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 junction with
the narrow mountain road, stood an
humber signpost, lettered so indls.
finctly that it deserved the compass.
sion Of all observers because Of its
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 II 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
a half away; Pitsairn 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 al
the laconic signpost reposed the VII
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 of 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 q
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-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 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 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 you p
She turned quickly. He saw that
the veil was drawn tightly over her
face.
mo, thank you," she replied. Her
voice, despite 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
ther to go? The storm will 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
"What is to be done about it?" she
inquired, resignedly. II must 60 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.
IF can be Of the least assistance
to you pray don't hesitate to command
me. I am q sort Of tramp, you might
say, and I 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 viii be glad to lag
behind and carry your bag"
''You are very good, but I 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 I am afraid you might make on
with my belongings" She added the
last by way of apology.
He smiled-and then frowned as he
cast an uneasy look ut the black
clouds now rolling or1inously up over
the mountain ridge.
by Jove, we're going to catch II
good and hard" he exclaimed. "Better
take my advice. These storms are ter.
rible. I know, for I've encountered
half dozen of them in the past week.
They fairly tear one to- pieces. You
are q stranger In these parts?"
Eyes. The railway station Is q few
miles below here. I have walked all
the way. There was no one to meet
me. You are stranger also, so It is