The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-01-10

Kenneth was relieved. The furtive
looks were explained.
II am glad to hear that you do not
look upon me as an outlaw or"
Lord bless you," cried Striker.
there amt nobody as would take you
fer an outlaw. You amt cut out fer
renegade. We know 'em the minute
we lay eyes on 'em. II you turn out
to be a scalawag, I'll never trust my
eyes ag'in."
The young man laughed. "In any
case. you are very good to have taken
me In for the night. and shall not
forget your trust or your hospitality"
He turned abruptly to the girl. "Did
you know my father, tooT
She started violently and for the
moment was speechless, a curious ex-
preston In her eyes.
YES" she said, at last, looking
straight at him: Yes, l knew your
father very WELL"
Then, you must have lived in these
parts longer than l have suspected"
said he. II should have said you
were newcomer"
Mrs. Striker made q great clatter
Of pans and skillets at the stove. The
girl waited until this kindly noise SUBJ
sided. rl
II have lived in this neighborhood
since was eight years DID," she said.
quietly.
Striker hastened to add: Some
thin like ten or 1even years-1even.
reckon, amt it7"
Eleven years." she replied
Gwynne was secretly astonished and
rather skeptical. He would have tax
en- oath that she was twenty-two-or-
three years old, and not nineteen as
computation made her.
"She amt lived here all the time"
volunteered Eliza, somewhat defens-
lively. "She was to school in st. Louis
fer two or three years an"
The young lady interrupted the
speaker coldly. please, Eliza!"
Eliza, looking considerably crest
fallen. accepted the rebuke meekly
IT Jest thought he'd be interested"
she murmured.
"She came up the Wabash when
gan Striker, not profitlng by his wife's
experience. He might have gone on
at considerable length If he had not
met the reproving. violet eye. He
changed the subject hastily. "Well.
/ guess we're about as full as it's safe
to be, so now's your chance, Zach
ariah."
He pushed back his stool noisily
and arose. Taking up the two candle
sticks, he led the way to the sitting
room. stopping at the door for a word
of instruction to the negro. "You en-
put your blankets down here on the
to bed"
"Zachariah will wash the dishes and
-" began Kenneth, addressing Mrs.
Striker, who was already preparing to
cleanse and dry her pots and pans.
She interrupted him.
HE won't do nothin' Of the kind.
don't let nobody wash my dishes
but myself. Set down here. Zach
ariah. an help yourself. When you're
done, you en- go out an carry me in
couple of buckets O. water from
the well-an, that's all you can do"
II guess I'll 60 out an take a look
around the barn an pens." said Phin-
cas-, depositing the candles on the
mantelpiece.
He took up the lantern and lighted
the tallow wick from one Of the can
dies. Then he hshed 4 corncob pipe
from his coattail pocket and stuffed
1t full Of tobacco from 4 small buck
skin bag hanging at the end of the
mantel.
Hep yourself to tobaccer II you
keer to smoke. There's a couple O.
fresh pipes up there-jest made 'em
yesterday-an' 1t amt ag'inst the law
to smoke in the house on rainy nights.
Manys the time I've sot on the door
step here enjoyin' q smoke with the
rain comm down SO hard it'd wash
the tobaccer right out O. the pipe, an
twice er maybe 1t was three times 1t
oiled over an'-What's that you say?"
II did not say anything, Phineas,"
said the girl shaking her head mourn
fully. 81 am wondering, though,
| where you will go when you die"
"Where 1 en- smoke 'thout runnin'
the risk O. takin' cold, more'n likely"
replied Phineas, winking at the young
man. Then he went out into the
windy night, closing the door behind
him.
N..A1-rn ~