Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-04-24
c.p, n...s by The Bobbs-Merrin Co.
CHAPTER XVI
Spurs and EIyina Sand.

NHeH tne MiilOfu stage came In
from the city next forenoon Jack War
hope was there to meet it. SO was
I.oge Belden. He had doubtless
learned Of the abrupt departure OF
Hopkins the evening before.
He shuffled up to the post-office win
dow after the mail was worked. Zeke
threw him out a letter. He stared at
it hard; thrust 1t into his pocket I'M
opened: Immediately left the post Of
flee and walked rapidly up Eagle HoI-
low road
Jack had expected there would be a
letter for Pelden--had counted on IT
That's what had brought him to the
post Office. He hurried back to the
homestead: crossed the barn lot !:
sprang up the rouh path that led to
the top of the cliff; spared a moment
to glance keenly about and darted In
among the trees.
Once In the seclusion of the woods,
he ran at top speed, well back from
the brow Of the bluffs, as far as the
GER; picked his way out to the edge of
the cliffs and peeped down at the road.
Loge Belden was just coming into
sight.
AS he came even with the cabin he
stopped; glanced in every direction /;
whistled. The whistle was answered
from within the cabin-another fact
the woodsman had counted on. Belden
vaulted the fence, ran up the yard an(
pushed open the door. Jack crept VI
to the corner of the cabin where the
chink was out between the logs.
Belden had just opened his letter !;
Black Bogus was stopped over him.
Belden, as he read, suddenly uttered a
low exclamation
"Tnight," he muttered-"at mid
night"
He swore merrily.
II knowed e hadn't reneged-I
knowed e hadn't"
Hold STILL" growled the other.
Huh !" he went on-"t'night-mid-
highland clean sweep-expects t.
be with us imself." He glanced at
the envelope IVY, he's in town
what the
Belden took the envelope, stuffed
the letter clumsily back in it and put
1t In his pocket.
"Wonder what e meant" he mutt
tered, ''by cautionin' us s. dern p'inted
pitcher not t hurt the CALF she's
thar. If she's thar-where else would
she be? Says we mustn't hurt 'er, even
If we hat t. cut out an leave the
swag." He glanced away in the direc-
ton Of the squalid cabin up at the
head Of the hollow; a black look
crossed his face, and the man at the
chinkl wondered If he was thinking Of
that scene at the pallet under the win
dow the night before. Wonder what
e thinks we air." he went on. Don't
hurt 'er-if she's thar-h-l" p
The two outlaws hunted their pipes,
lounged down on the two boxes and
smoked for some moments in thought
full silence. Belden suddenly straight
ened; slapped his hand down on his
knee. @& .a
Must take some nerve" he chuckled,
1T murder man, an then preach lis
funeral"
Black Bogus drew hard on his pipe;
pulled out the smoke slowly; shrugged
his heavy shoulders. y
"Nerve-huh-he don't give up the
spoon t nobody when it comes t.
nerve he don't" sss He as
Nearly an hour the two sat smoking
and Internationally discussing. their
plans. no detail Of which escaped the
listener II q "
Belden was the first to leave. Black
Bogus waited several ndnutes before
following; finally slipped out, with far
greater caution than Bsiden had
shown; stopped low through the weeds
and only came out into the road when
some distance above the yard. at y
point where the bushes grew dense
along both Sides. asaA Ha.t Ap
The woodsman waited till he was
well out Of sight and sound before
creeping from under the wild cucum-'
Der vines and stealing through the
bushes up the hill He had found out
what he wanted to know. !. a s4S,.s ibss
I The Landscape lay before him in all
Its midday spiendor. Mrs. Curry had
doubtless Just mended the ,fires in the
kitchen stove at the red-roofed cot
tage. for white wood smoke curied up
from the, chimney But the, air was
evidently too Light and stu to bear
II up. for 1t drifted lazily away, to set
tie in a long bank Of airy fuf1ness
that draped itself above the orchard
trees like the veil Of goddess lost
out Of the Skies Above the homestead,
and farther away over the bottoms.
swift-winged swallows !, skinned the
air; dozen or SO blackbirds Hoped
down out of the woods and stopped
long enough In the big elm for short
concert. 4H
Down by the road gate GrayIock lift
ed his head, whinnied, came trctting
up the bagn-lot and the man set his