The Adair County news., 1922-08-29

dIUef their arrival at ReQ OAKS Wlen
Colonel Dale, Harry, Hugh and Dave
were on the front porch. The boy was
standing behind the box-hedge near
the steps and Barbara had just ap-
peared in the doorway.
'Well, what was the trouble?"
Colonel Dale had just asked.
HE tried to stab Grey unarmed and
without warning" said Hugh shortly.
At the moment the boy caught sight
of Barbara. Her eyes, filled with scOrn,
met his in one long, sad, whitening
look, and she turned noiselessly back
into the house. NOiselessly too he
melted into the garden, slipped down.
to the river bank, and dropped to the
ground. He knew at last what he had
done. Nothing was said to him when
he came back to the house and that
night he scarcely opened his lips In
silence he wentNto bed and next morn
ing he was gone.
The mystery was explained when
Barbara told how the boy too must
have overheard Hugh.
Hes hurt" said Dave, "and he's
gone home" o
"On foot?" asked Colonel Dale in
credulously. .....-
He can trot all day and make al
most as good time as horse"
"Why, he'll starve."
HE could get there on roots and
herbs and wild honey, but he'll have
fresh meat every day. Still, I'll have
to try to overtake him. Unjust go,
anyhow"
And he asked for his horse and went
to get ready for the journey. Ten
minutes later Hugh and Harry rushed
joyously to his room
"We're going with your they cried,
and Dave was greatly pleased. An
hour later all were ready, and at the
last moment Firef1y was led in, sad
died and bridled, and with a leading
halter around his neck.
Harry" said Colonel Dale, "carry
your cousin my apologies and give him
Firefy on condition that he ride him
back some day. Tell him this home is
his"-the speaker halted, but went on
gravely and firmly - whenever he
pieases."
"And give. him my love-" said Bar
bara, holding back her tears.
At the riVer-gate they turned to
wave a last goodby and disappeared
In the woods. At that hour the boy
far over in the wilderness ahead of
them had cooked a squirrel that he
had shot for his breakfast and was
gnawing it to the bones. Soon he rose
and at a trOt sped on toward his home
beyond the Cumberland. And with
him, etched with acid on the steel Of
his brain, sped two mages-Barbara
face as he last saw it and the face of
young Dane Grey.
The boys tracks were easily to be
seen in the sandy road, and from them
Dave judged that he must have left
long before daylight. And he was trav-
cling rapidly. At sunset Dave knew
that they were not far behind him, but
when darkness hid the lads tracks
Dave stopped for the night. Again
Erskine had got the start by going on
before day, and it was the middle of
the forenoon before Dave, missing the
tracks for hundred yards, halted and
turned back to where a little stream
crossed the road, and dismOunted, lead
ing his horse and scrutinizing the
! ground.
Hes seen us tracking him and he's
doubled on us and is tracking us. /
expect he's looking at us from some
where around here" And he hallooed
at the top of his voice, which rang
down the forest aisles. A war-whoop
answered almost in their ears that
made the blood leap in both the boys.
Even Dave wheeled with cooked rifle,
and the lad stepped from behind a
bush scarcely ten feet behind them.
''Well, by gum,' shouted Dave,
fooled US, after all"
A faint grin of triumph was on the
lads lips, but in his eyes was, wait
ing inquiry directed at Harry and
Hugh. They sprang forward, both of
them with their hands outstretched:
"We're sorryl"
A few minutes later Hugh was trans
ferring his saddle from Firefiy to his
own horse, which had gone a trifle
lame. On Firefiy, Harry buckled the
boys saddle and motioned for him to
climb up. The bewildered lad turned
to Dave, who laughed.
'It's all right"
Hes your horse, cousin" said
Harry. my father sent him to you
and saws his home is YOURS whenever
you please. And Barbara sent hel
love-"
At almost the same hour in the
great house on the James the old ne
gress was carrying from the boy'i
room to Colonel Dale in the library {
4 kingly deed that the lad had left be
hind him. 1t was rude scrawl on {
sheet of paper, signed by the boys
Indian name and his totem marks
buffalo pierced by an arrow. ~
'It make me laugh. have no use
/ give hole dam plantashun Barbara.
J Thus read the scrawli