The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1924-01-17


The act was purely involuntary, but Z
sight met his eyes that instantly droys
every other consideration out OF hi,
mind-from behind = log man was
giowering al him.
He ducked out OF sight in a flash
and the woodsman stopped 10 his tasL
--carelessly; without so much as the
flick OF an eye 10 betray that he had
seen anything at all-but he had
caught distinct view OF a SLOUGH hat,
a rough flannel shirt. open at the col
lar, glare OF dark eyes that smol-
dered In face dark and scowllng and
covered with stubble OF black beard
the desperate OF the festival.
Texie's startled whisper. as she had
fastened the bandages about his Shout
der the evening before. flashed across
his thought. The face behind the log
and the face OF his memory rose 10 his
mind as distinct as a reflection In
Whispering spring. Unbelievable
though II was-agalnst all reason In
the light Of that terrible letter-he
saw the resemblance she had fancled
vague. half intangible. but none the
less n resemblance.
With the tail OF his eye on the log.
the woodsman went on with his work,
apparently absorbed In II. really with
no other thought than TO put as great
length OF fence row as possible be-
tween himself and that scowllng face.
and In as short time as was prudent.
The moment he thought himself out
OF sight, he took out rail OF the fence,
crawled through the opening and. with
every caution known to woodcraft.
crept back through the underbrush to-
ward the log. The broken outline OF II
at last came into view through a clump
OF hazel. He raised his head ever so
little and lay listening. Not false
note disturbed the soft purr OF nature;
the pulse Of the woods beat normal.
He dropped his head; crawled up to
the log The leaves were flattened and
still warm. but the man was gone.
He searched the moss and leaves un-
I'll he found the trall-the scrape OF a
boot In spot OF moist ground at the
foot OF an oak. After that II was easy.
There we're two sets OF tracks. To his
surprise one set led back toward the
cliffs above the homestead. He fol-
lowed II. AZ point along the blufrs
that commanded the nearest view Of
he cabin under the crimson rambler
he mussed leaves and broken weeds |
beneath ciump OF bushes at the very |
brink OF the rocks showed where the |
renegade had concealed himself. Three |
matches. with which he
rad probably lighted his pipe. indicat-
Vi that he had remained some time.
Jack glanced down at the tiny cabin.
he barn-lot. turned and followed the
rail- back under the trees.
Past the log II led. away 10 the
forth. down the fnce OF the wooded
'lun and into the narrow road that
dreaded Eagle hollow. lie followed II
Within sight OF the rude howell at the
ead OF the hollow into which Loge
selden and his sister had lately
moved: stopped: studied the place
ritically for a moment: finally turned.
limbed the blum and. with an I'M
feeling OF hidden eyes
pom him. returned to his task at the
ence.
The forenoon was gone by the time
= finished II. As he trudged back.
he corner where he had found the
elbow orchid drew his eye lrresistibly.
Raking away the dead leaves he dug
up. being careful to leave enough
nll about the roots 20 prevent their
'ithering. and carried Il In his hands
NJ through the trees and up among
10 tumbled ramparts OF Black rock.
In the tiny nower bed at the foot
: the sandstone pinnacle where the
,ree names were carved. he followed /
az place In the rich leafmold and
e the orchid with thu others-ali Of
,em doubtless having come there at
rerent times Ia the same way; rose I
his feet and stood deeply ponder
x. as his SRze rested on the three
,mes carved In the rock. That bar
nx resemblance. In spite OF him. I
culd crccp back into his thought =,
The bold frnaknsss OF the mans /
ice settled 20 a deeper thoughtful I
ssS be looked down az the new or v
Nd among the old. frcsh and plquant {
when he dug Il oct OF the fence :
'rner. glanced toward the red-roofed /
'ttage. and set bis feet 70 the rough !
,th that led down 60 the failo~ yard
=