The Washington herald., 1920-09-20

uiHe orops OF remorse ana shame.
Coltrane talked TO him persistent
ly and reasonably. reminding him
OF the simple mountain pleasures
OF which he had once been so
fond, and insisting upon the gem
uineness of the invitation.
Finally he landed Goree by tell
ing him he was counting upon his
help in the engineering and trans
portation of large amount of
felled timber from a high noun
tainside to waterway. He knew
that Goree had once invented a
device for this purpose series
of slides and chutes-upon which
he had Justly prided himself. In
an instant the poor fellow. de-
lighted at the idea of his being
of use to any one had paper
spread upon the table, and was
drawing rapid but pitifully shaky
lines in demonstration of what he
could and would dc.
The man was sickened OF the
husl<s; his prodigsl heart was
turning again toward the noun
tains. His mind was yet strange
ly clogged. AMI his thoughts and
memories were returning to his
brain one by one. like carrier
pigeons over a stormy sea. Put
Coltrane was satisfied with the
progress he had made.
Bethel resolved the surprise OF
its existence that afternoon when
a Coltrane and a Goree rode ami
cably together through the town.
Side by side they rode. out from
the dusty streets and gaping
townspeople. down across the
creek bridge, and up toward the
mountain. The prodigal had
brushed and washed and combed
himself to a more decent figure.
but he was unsteady in the sad
die, and he seemed to be deep in
the contemplation of some veXing
problem. Coltrane left him in his
mood, relying upon the influence
of changed surroundings to re-
store his equilibrium.
Once Goree was seized with
shaking fit, and almost came TO a
collapse. He had to dismount and
rest at the side of the road The
colonel, foreseeing such a Condi-
tion. had provided a small flask of
whisky for the journey but when
II dS " Ulill IOItt
fused it almost with violence. de-
claring he would never touch it
again. BY and by he was recov-
cred. and went quietly enough for
mile or two. Then ne pulled up
his horse suddenly. and said:
Il lost $500 last night. playing
poker. Now. where did ! get that
money
'.TaEo 1, 49, v,z rho
mountain air will soon clear it up.
Wen go fishing. first thing. at the
Pinnacle Falls. The trout are
jumping there like bullfrogs Well
take Stella and Lacy along. and
have a picnic on Eagle Rock. Have
you forgotten how a hickory
cured-ham sandwich tastes. Yam
Cey. to a hungry fisherman"
Evidently the colonel did not
believe 'he story Of his lost
wealth: so Goree retired again
into brooding silence.
By la'e afternoon they had
travelled ten of the twelve miles
between Bethel and Laurel. Half
mile this side OF Laurel lay the
old Goree place: mile or two be
yond the village lived the Col
~ iOab " a. HtN SNtt y
and laborious. but the compcnsa-
tions were many. The tilted aisles
of the forest were opulent with
leaf aud bird and bloom. The
tonic air put to shame the phar-
macopeia. The glades were dark
with messy shade. and bright with
shy rivulet; Winking from the
ferns and lsureIs. ON the lower
Gfl
near foliage. exquisite sketches Of
the far valley swoOning in its opal
haze.
Coltrane was pleased to sec
that his companion was Welding
to the spell of the hills and woods
For now they had but to skirt the
base Of Painters Cliff: to cross
Elder Branch and mount the hill
beyond, and GCree would have to
face the sQuandered home OF his
fathers. Every rock he passed.
every tree. every foot of the road
way. was familiar to him. Though
he had forgotten the woods. they
thrilled him like the music of
Home, Sweet Home
They rounded the cliff. descend
ed into Elder Branch. and paused
NHtif 70 ret the nOTSeS Ollnk ana
splash in the swift water. on
the right was a rail fence that
Cornered there. and followed the
road and stream. Inclosed by il
was the old apple orchard of the
home place: the house was Vet
concealed by the brow Of the
steep hill. Inside and along the
fence. pokeberries, elders. sassa-
fras. and sumac grew high and
dense. At rustic of theil
branches. both Goree and Cot
trane glanced up. and saw a long.
yellow. wolfish face above the
fence. staring at them with pale.
unWiRhing eyes, The head quick
ly disappeared; there was a vlo-
lent swayine of the bushes. and
an ungainly figure ran up through
the apple orchard in the direction
Of the house, zigzagging among
the trees.
That's Garvey." said CaItrane.
the man YOU sold out to. There's
no doubt but he's considcra bly,
cracked. had to send him up
for moonShining once. Scveral
wears ago. in spite of the fact thar
believed him irresponsible.
Why. what's the matter. Yancey?"
Goree was wiping his forehead.