The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1924-02-14
CHAPTER xI-contlnued.


hickory sapling and there swelle'
out a wild burst OF reckless melod,
that clothed the hickory with musi
a. the opening buds clothed the crab
spple tree with beauty.
II thought 40, oil warcoat." III,
man muttered. glancing up. "Yot
know where she is. don't y'ur
He stepped softly toward the crab
apple tree-the Wild song burst in this
hickory ceasing the instant he moved
and peered In through the gnarlec
limbs and tangled twigs.
Snugged down among some driftec
dead leaves he found II. the treasure
that inspired the cardinals song-a
roughly built. deep little nest, and
shining above It's edge. a dark glossy
crest, some long tall feathers. a short
heavy, reddish bill and round gilt.
tering eye. black as a dewberry.
He let the limb he had bent aside
swing slowly back into place and
stole away.
"Aiw'ys two" ran his thought
"a pair; mates-it's natures way.
Pheasants and cardinals and folks
they're all the same-though birds
and beasts alw'ys run true, while
folks-sometlmes-oh, we'll"
He walked away toward the west.
coming at length 10 where the up
lands ended abruptly In the line OF
wooded bluffs that fell steeply TO the
deep and winding scar OF Eagle
hollow. and the exact point where
the double trail had run plainest
the day before-a fact that had
doubtless brought him Just there.
He bent a critical look upon the lout-
ish trail: carefully crossed II; stepped
out under clump OF haw trees at the
very brink OF the BLUM and stood keen
ly searching the woods in every direc-
ton.
Below him and a short distance
farther down the hollow an old desert
ed cabin OF mud-daubed logs squatted
against the blum few yards back
from the Eagle Hollow road The
place had a reputation in the Flat
woods. II was the uncanny howell Of
dead Henry Spencer. a woodchopper.
who. on winter night years before.
while In a drunken frenzy. had muir
dered his wife and infant daughter
with an az. then had wandered out
half naked and frozen to death In the
snow.
What bad once been yard and tiny
garden was now overrun with weeds
80 rank that storms and snow could
no longer break them down. A fallen
oak had but just missed the cabin.
and lay 30 close 10 one corner that
some wild cucumber vines OF the
season before had crossed to the
ruined roof and still hung In brown
and dead festoons stretched from the
fast decaying clapboards to the
funEous warted branches.
A pair OF chimney swallows, true |
prophets of summer. darted In and
put Of the crumblIng chimney. A
ysllow-hammer Hoped down out of |
he woods. lighted upon the dry and
sounding comb-board and drummed a
challenge to all and sundry other yell
was II love call TO
bis mate In the dead limb OF a syca-
more down at the creek across the
-oadr
The sound drew the eyes OF the
nan. At the moment one OF the swal-
ows rose above the roof As he fol-
owed It's flight. the chlmneys and
rabies OF the red-roofed cottage, near
y q mile away down the hollow, came
within his range OF vi
don. His brows drew together; he
ripped the shotgun; turned and
'trode through the fringing branbles
Jack among the trees.
Half q mile farther up the hollow.
Il the point where he had left OF fol-
owing the double trail the day be-
'ore. he picked his way down the
oagh and stony side OF the wooded
'iun to the road lie was just In the
'et Of stepping out from the rringing
rces to cross II when the soft swish
4 bush a short distance above
saght his quick ear.
Remembering that sinister face be-
Ind the log. he threw the heavy shot
run to instant readiness and stood
lead still. his eyes searching every
raj and twlg along the hillside.
There came soft football. the
ushcs swayed. parted. and a young
roman stepped out into the compare
lively open glade where he stood-s
iri that he had never seen. flushed
nd breathing hard
shs saw him on the instant. and her
ace went white. she dsrted In among
as bushes again. stopped. came slow
, lack. stood studying him. He was
8 closely studying her-plainly. even
hahbsiy dressed: her faded sunbon-
1T swry. her hair disheveled by the
rsmblss. but. In spite Of all. comedy.
nd rudy with health.
She made q quick effort 20 adjust
he sunbonnet; spared hssty touch
o the disheveled hair and raised her
yes. He noticed they were blue.
~Ycu don't chance & be Mr.-BiS
xck-r
The woodsmsn studied her from un-