The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-03-13


She Had Come Over Prepared for Toll.
hanging to be done BY Kenneth and
his servant In a less crowded hour,
after supper, she suggested) ordered
to remove to the attic such
Of the discarded articles of furniture as
could be carried up the pole ladder, the
remainder to 60 to the harm; left In
not to touch the rolls of
carpet until she could measure and cut
them into sections, and then went away
with the promise to return early in
the morning not only with shears and
needle, but with Hattie, as well, to
sew and lay the carpets-a Brussels"
of bewildering design and ''ingrain"
for the bedroom.
when you come home from the of
fee at noon. Kenny, don't fail to bring
tacks and hammer with you," she in
structed, as she famed her flushed
face with her apron.
but i. am not going to the Office" he
expostulated. 81 have too much to see
to here"
TT isn't customary for the man of
the house to be anywhere around at a
time like this" she informed him,
firmly. "Oh, don't look SO hurt. You
have been fine this afternoon. don't
know how / should have got along
without you. But tomorrow it will be
different. Hattie and will be busy
sewing carpets and-and-well, you
really will not be of any use at all
Kenny. So please stay away
Four or five days passed, each with
Its measure Of bitter and sweet. By
the end of the week the carpets were
down and the house In perfect order
He invited her over for Sunday dinner
A panied, embarrassed look came into
her eyes.
Il was afraid you would ask me to
come" she said gently. II don't think
1t would be right or fair for me to ac-
cept your hospitality. Waltz I know
what you are going to say. But 1t isn't
quite the same, you see. Mother has
been very kind and generous about let
ting me come over to help you with the
house-and suppose she would not
object II were to come as your guest
at dinner-but have feeling in here
somewhere that 1t would hurt her If
came here as your guest. So 1 sha'n't
come. You understand, don't your"
"Yes," he said gravely, and reluctant
ly. II understand, Viola"
Earlier in the week he had ridden
out TO Isaac Stains. The hunter had
no additional news to give him. except
that Barry. after spending a day with
Martin Hawk. had gone down to Attica
by fiatboat and was expected to return
to Lafayette on the packet Paul Re
we're. due on Monday or Tuesday.
Lapelle's extended absence from the
town was full of meaning. Stain ad-
vanced the opinion that he had gone
down the river for the purpose of see-
ing Williamsport justice of the peace
whose record was none too good and
who could be depended upon to per
form the contemplated marriage cere-
mony without compunction II his
palm was satisfactorily creased"
"If we could only obtain some clear
and definite idea as to their manner Of
carrying out this plan," said Kenneth.
II would be the happiest man on earth.
But we will be compelled to work In
the dark-simply waiting for them to
act."
well. Noll Hawk hain't been able
to fnd out Just yet when er how they're
goin' to do IT." said Stain. "All she
knows rs that two or three men air
comm up from Attica on the Paul Re
we're and air goln' to get OFF the boat
when 1t reaches her pas place. Like
as not this scalawag of justice will
be one of 'em, but that's guesswork.
That reminds me to ask. did you ever
run acrosst feller in the town you
come from named Jasper Suggs?"
Jasper Suggs7 1 don't recah the
name"
well, she says this feller Suggs
that's been stayin' at Martins cabin fer
a week er two claims to have lived
there some twenty odd years ago.
Guess you must ha' been too small to
recollect him. She says he sort of
brags about bein' renegade durin' the
war an fghtin' on the side of the In
jins up along the lakes. He's nasty
customer. she says. Claims to be re-
lation of Simon Girty's-nephew er
like that"
Does he claim to have known any
Of my family down thereT inquired
Kenneth, apprehensively.
From what Mol says he must have
knowed your pa. Leastwise, he says
the names familiar He was sayin'
only day or two ago that he'd like to
see picter Of your pa. He'd know If
1t was the same feller he used to know
soon as he laid eyes on it"
Kenneth pondered moment and
then said: "Doyou suppose you could