The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-02-24
THE D
ISL SIT DRY
AT The Witching Hour.
i BY Martin mccullough WlIILni,s

.r.neoply set, WIN DIAck laSheB1
items various, chIld's foot,
a berry-stasnel set of taper
dngers matched by adorable
lips, likewise stained. And there
you are. Keith was three and
twenty, a good tall fellow Just now
far from happy. He had been
struggling up from the depths OF a
first rejection. Molly Manners had
thrown him there-hard. Now he
blessed her as a mIsft patron
saint. Suppose she had not so
thrown him, and this fairy goddess
had happened?
He had been tralnping sturdily
all afternoon. Now, with the sun
westerning sharply, he had begun
70 think Of supper and bed.
Camping was all well with COM
pany and preparedness, but sleep
ing on bare earth and an empty
stomach did not appeal to him.
Thus evidently his ileartache WIS
by way Of easing itself normally,
even without tho magic. Plus the
magic. 1t ovaporated Ike dew in
sunshine, leaving In its stead
throbbtng anxiety lest this creature
Z OF delight vanish before he found
courage TO approach her.
The berry thlcket ran along the
edge Of the woods, with tall trees
gfinging their shade athwart It. Up
in the trees a PAR Of bluejays had
been playing at hide and seek,
chasing each other and making
7hideous calls. Suddenly the calls
grew sharper-the birds with
risen crests ana vibrant wings
darted at tho thicket. swooped a
second above 1t, rose a few yards
struck downward again at It's very
heart, then fluttered away in wild
excitement, scoldIng their loudest.
THE magician looked at them
thoughtfully. Maybe you sec
SNAKE" she said. Then with a
talf-shriok and a stumble back
ward. II see him too-a cotton
mouth! Q dear Lord. help me!
don't want to die that way!"
Aahen faced, she yet snatche1l
stout dead branch, and stood very
straight. Keith thought he had
never seen anything 80 fine. Fear
was writ large In very lineament-
but not thought OF blanching-
she would stand her ground.
Where Is the Bnake?" he called
hushedly, fearing to startle her
further. Right thereby that
tall weed-he was on vine, has
dropped down-and will come
after me-"
HE will mott" Keith lnterposed,
springing III front OF her. Inyol-
unfairly she caught his arm, cry
ing: Lock out! You don't know
the danger. II he strikes you
you de-"
Keith peered in the vino recess.
ses with trained huntsman eyes
there he saw dinlly thickish sinu-
I bus body striped copper-bronze
pale yellow and and black tho
black an narrow lines between the
colors. He knew the reptile In
books that It was sluggish. ven
omous. treacherous. II only he
had his revolvcr-.fooiishly no had
left It behind. lie had only his
alpenst6ck and stout knife
either meant close quarters. He
stood measuring the distance for
a stroke, noting the while the slow
glide Of the reptile toward tho
gSrl. AS fe made to launch blow
at II a bullet from behind clipped
the snakes head nearly off, then a
!! set. drawing voice. said evenly:
Reckon next time you go black
berryin' NJ rs .Tinoy. you won't be
! 50 tlprity about lottin me go too"
(, end cod, indeed | won't Phil"
Miss JIncy answered, her color
coming hack III food. "You are
certainly the right man in the right
J place Just now. BuL.-you SEQ
wasn't in such dreadful danger.
This gentleman" smiling at Keith,
"wouldn't have lot him bite me,
even II he had had to spoil his nice
stick"
"It he had reckon somebody
would a-spoGled him." PHI said
I truculcntly. Then changing mood
and tone instantly: rs your name
Keith? Thought SO. I've got
letter here from Sam Jayson tellin'
+ mo to look out you don't get snake
\ bit nor carried away by varmlnts.
Heaps and heaps Of varmlnts, you
know-wildcats 'coons. 'possums
and foxes, not name the willapus-
Z wallapus. Ever hear about it?
It's new to most folkB--they say 1t
{ got loose from a circus somewhars
up North and stopped over here on
its way back to the gulf"
Shame on you. Phil! You know
there's not thing"
Miss Jincy said reprowngly. tin
stoad OF trying to frIghten a
stranger you might introduce him
As you won't-1'm Jincy Leavall,
MIR. Keith. And I live over yon.
der. /" nodding toward red, roof
barely showing above the hedge
rows. "Phil there-he is Phil
Dancy-keeps bach .on beyond.
You can stay all night with him,
but invite you both to supper at
our house. You look hungry-and
Phil is never any other way this
time Of the day"
"You said somethine!" Phil
flung back airiIy: Keith, I'm
glad TO see you.S l want to find out
Show TO run away from girls and
\ have good times all by myself"
"Ftnd another teacher, please"
Keith flung back; Il only thought
Iiknew how-the last half hour has
shown mo better"
sYou two don't need to pick
quarrel over me-" Miss Jlncy said
TRANQUILITY: sally Ford and Ruth