The Elk Mountain pilot., 1920-08-26


you call board and lodging to me. But
OF course l have sense to eat the legs
and live in the body. There were
many dead about who had their water
bottles, so had all I could wish. And
on the eleventh day there came a pa
troll of light cavalry. and all was WE'LL"
1t was by such chance chats as
these-hardly worth repeating in them
selves-that there came light upon
himself and his past. But the day was
coming when we should know all. and
how It came 1 shall try now to tell
you.
The winter had been dreary
one, but with March came the first
signs Of spring, and for week on
end we had sunshine and winds
from the south. On the seventh Jim
Horscroft was to come back from
Edinburgh, for though the session end
ed with the first, his examination
would take him week. Edie> and l
were out walking on the sea beach on
the sixth, and I could talk of nothing
but my old friend, for, indeed. he was
the only friend of my own age that
had at that time. Edie was very ST.
lent, which was rare thing with her,
but she listened. smiling, to all that
/ had to say.
"Poor old Jim!" said she, once or
twice, under her breath. Poor old
Jimi"
"And If he has passed." said I,
"why then, of course. he will put up
his plate. and have his own house. and
we shall be losing our Edie" tried
to make jest of 1t. and to speak
lightly, but the words still stuck In
my throat.
poor old Jim!" said she again. and
there were tears in her eyes as she
said it. "And poor old Jock!" she
added, slipping her hand into mine as
we walked. you cared for me lit
tie bit once also. didn't you, Jock7
Oil is not that a sweet little ship
out yonderT
1t was dainty cutter of about 80
tons, very swift. by the rake Of her
masts and the lines of her bow. She
may have been rather less than a
quarter of a mile from the shore-so
near that / could see tall man with
peaked cap, who stood at the quar-
ter with telescope to his eye, sweep
ing 1t backwards and forwards along
the coast.
'What can they want hereg" asked
Edie.
"They are rich English from Lon
don," said /. for that was how we ex-
planned everything that was above our
comprehension in the Border coun-
ties. We stood for the best part of
an hour watching the bonny craft, and
then, as the sun was lying low on
cloud bank and there was nip in
the evening air, we turned back to
West Inch.
AS you come to the farm house from
the front you pass up a garden, with
little enough In it. which leads out
by wicket gate to the road. On the
right of this gate, on the garden side,
was bit of a rockery, which was said
to have been made by my fathers
mother many years before. Well, as
we came in through the gate. my eyes
fell upon this stone heap, and there
was letter stuck In cleft stick
upon the top Of it. took step for
ward to see what 1t was. but Edie
sprang In front Of me, and, plucking
II OF. she thrust 1t into her pocket.
That's for me-" said she. laughing.
But ! stood looking at her, with
face which drove the laugh from her
lips.
"who Is II from. Elder I asked.
She pouted. but made no answer.
"Who is II from, woman" cried.
''Is 1t possible that you have been as
false to Jim as you were to me?'
"How rude you are. Jack !" she cried.
'T do wish that you would mind your
own business"
"There is only one person that 1t
could be FROM" cried. ut is from
this man De Lapp."
"And suppose that you are right.
Jack?
The coolness of the woman amazed
and enraged me. you confess It'll"
cried. Have you. then. no shame
leftr
"Why should l not receive letters
from this gentleman?"
because II Is lnfam0us."
"And whyr'
Because he is a stranger"
"On the contrary" said she. 'he IL
my husband"