The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-01-02
The Writer
Chap
BY CHARLES SLOAN REID
(CopyriRht.l

X W joe McCall StOod looking DOWN
- upon Sarey's bowed head. There
was deep trouble In his heart. He
loved with that kind of steadfastness
and whole-heartedness which never
has but one object for its lavish
ing in lifetime. Sarey was
slender, and prim as little white
pine of the mountain. In her
hair were little waves which cast
off the last sun rays of the day In
ripples of gold
"Hev ye fell for that writer
chap, Sarey?" Joe asked. "Shorely
yuh ain't?'
Sarey was silent.
81 finished the cabin today, an 1
got order out for the furniture. I
reckon It'll be here next week."
Still Sarey was silent. Joe was
looking away across ravine to the
head of another where the mountain
road swung inward to clear the sharp
declivity at that point. There sitting
upon rock, was the writer chap he
had come to Scaley two weeks be-
fore, for rest. he had said. He had
brought few books, and some writ
ing materials, although he had told
Sarey that everything about the hills
was so romantic. he could not find time
for writing, only for gazing and feel
ing. The writer evidently was rich.
He seemed to have plenty of money
at all times. bills of large denomina-
ton; and he had jewels galore. His
fingers fairly reeked with rings of
rare brilliance.
Sarey presently raised her head, and
her eyes were filed with tears. "Joe,"
she exclaimed In tremulous voice.
"he is so e-and-and-don't you
see, Joe-Pm a eetle afraid-?"
81 see. Sarey. He's fine folks, rich |;
and you got dreams-you got dreams.
Lord, Sarey, if you should make a
mistake? I'D follow that chap to
the ends Of the earth, and pull him
to pieces in little scraps"
"Oh, Joel / know how you love
me; and love you-'fore God / do,
Joe But been listenin' to them beau
tiful stories he tells. They're so sweet,
an there's regular music In his words,
they're so soft"
"Soft an purrin like a bobcats,
I'm afraid, Sarey."
''You make me shudder, joe"
"Well, If | could make yuh shud-
der enough before it's too latei What's
thet you got round yuhr neck, Sarey?"
Shame-facedly Sarey tried to cover
the bare part of her neck with her
hands. Joe came forward q step
and thrust his finger beneath a neck.
lace about her throat, the loop of
which had been concealed beneath the
upper part of her dress, through the
opening at the neck.
From the writer chap, reckon.
Sarey?"
mo, no, he amt give 1t to me
he's jest lent it to me-"
"He told yuh 1t would look so purity
round yuhr neck, | reckon?"
Eyes, Joe; he told me that. How
did you guess?"
well, Sarey, girl like you thet
has got the roses droopin' from envy
of the color in your cheeks, and the
violets plum meek and lowly beside
the beauty of your eyes is liable to
have things like thet said to EN-
whether the man thet says em means
anything b. 1t or not. An remember
Sarey. I'll be on his track If he takes
yuh, or If he leaves yuh with broken
heart. If he treats yuh square, I'll
drop his trail In year or two. I'll
wait around for SPELL Never any
tellin' what will happen-an', Sarey,
yuh might want to come back to me
some day. Eff yuh do, I'll be waitin'
Thet's all | can say"
Joe now turned his attention once
more to the figure across the ravine
Evidently the writer was watching
the tableau in the yard before old
81 Pelfrey's cabin. Presently Joe's
gaze wandered beyond the figure of
the writer, attracted by the approach
of two men on horseback who were
rounding the curve In the road just
beyond the point where the other man
sat. Presently these travellers came
upon the writer chap, and one of them
suddenly dismounted The writer
sprang to his feet. but his wrist was
quickly seized by one of the men
while the other slid down from his
horse. A moment later the group con-
tinued down the road >to where II
rounded the base of the ridge, and
turned upward toward the cabin.
Sarey's back was turned toward the
approaching men. Joe Mccall, reading
from the actions of the group, al
most held his breath in anticipation
of an unusual scene which apparent.
ly was about to be enacted 1t was
almost a scream which issued from
Sarey's throat, when she turned about
to find her fathers boarder apparent
ly prisoner.
Pardon, Miss" said one of the
men; "we want TO find this mans
belongings. And reckon you'll turn
over that pearl necklace, too?"
Joe almost snatched 1t from Sareys
neck, and tossed II to the man. 1t
required but few moments to dis
close the character of the writer chap.
a thief of large prowess. few mo-
ments later as the officers rode away
with their prisoner Sarey came meek
|, into Joe's arms.
'Joe," she whispered. I'll was sech
fool But I'll never be 1t again
never-never-never swear 1t, Joe p