Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1930-12-12

and where they would come out II his
prediction and his fears came true.
With the SILVER still In his blood. he
turned and found Odd standing close
behind him, also facing the stiffness
and mystery of the valley, his nose
shifting the air, and his eyes-as the
mans had been a moment before
filed with a steadlness and tenseness
of look which had In 1t a somber and
volceless foreboding.
At the touch Of Hepsibah's hand the
strain seemed to leave Odds body.
It'll bear watching day and night,
but specially in that hour Of darkness
which comes just before the crack o.
dawn. Not now, but soonl"
When Jeems went ahead of his IA
Their and uncle to Lussan's place, he
did not burden himself with unneces-
sary habiliments Of either peace or
war He wore his old suit Of brown
homespun cloth, with Indian-made moe
casins and legglngs Of doeskin. and on
his head was a frontiersman's cap
with an eagle feather in it. From I'M
der this cap his blond hair fell with
its ends touching his shoulders, and
with only his bow for a weapon his
slim young body was free and buoyant
and much handsomer than 1t had been
the previous day with its carefully
chosen raiment and warlike accoutre-
mentS.
He was filed with exultation min
gled with a determined eagerness. He
knew he would fight If Paul Tache
was at Lussan's place, and what was
going to happen in that fight was as
definitely fixed in his mind. He was
on his way to elevate himself to su-
preme heights in the opinion of Marie
Antoinette Tonteur-after he had
given her the piece Of velvet.
No one was ahead Of him when he
arrived at Lussan's place. 1t was nine
o'clock, and the sale was not until
eleven. Half of young OK was spitted
on 4 long iron bar and slowly roast
ing over a red-hot mass Of hickory
Goals. The outside Dutch oven was
filled with huge baking Of bread, and
benches were set with pewter and
snow-white dishes Of poplar wood.
Lussan was a famous maker Of whisky
and flip and beer, and three barrels
were ready, hoisted on chunks Of wood
with their spigots down, waiting for
the willing hands of his friends and
neighbors to turn them.
Jeems hunted out the pillow and
kettle and loom which his father
wanted to buy. While occupied in this
way, he came upon table piled with
a hotchpot of articles, and his heart
gave a pump when he saw number
Of books printed in English. His mind
was filled with the thought Of his
mothers joy If he could take these
treasures home to her. There were
five of the books. Malvern Dale,
Evelina, Telemachus, Eloiza. and Jo-
seph Andrews, a thrilling list Of titles
1t seemed to him, and as quickly as he
could he approached Lussan upon the
subject Of their worth and purchase.
Seeing no merit in printed English and
small chance for their sale, and being
as we'll a free-hearted man and al
ready warmed by his own excellent
beer, Lussan gave them to Jeems.
Overjoyed by this unexpected wind
fall of fortune, Jeems began to watch
anxiously for the coming Of his father
and Uncle Hepsibah and for the APP
pearance Of the seigneur Tonteur and
whoever might be with him.
He placed himself where he could
see down the road that came from the
Tonteur seigneurie, and when at last
he heard the auctioneer's voice bel
lowing forth his announcement that
the sale was about to begin, he felt
a somber sinking of his hopes. They
livened instantly when three figures
on horseback appeared at the end Of
the half mile of road. The foremost
rider was Tonteur, the second Paul
Tache, and in the third saddle rode
a slim, wide-hatted little person who
was none other than Marie Antcinette