The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-02-26
CHAPTER I
The Fugitive and the Pocket Eye.

The Fugitive and the Pocket Eye.
That dam on the RacQuette SO In
creased the prosperity and size Of the
small settlements on either shore Of the
river that bridge became necessary.
1t was built. The two communities
separated by flowing water had long
been at war with each other. The
bridge drew them together into one
village. Their petty jealousies van~
1shed. 1t was unregenerate Colonel
Spenlow, the miller and local Repub-
1ican boss, who gave the new place its
truthful and euphonious name. He
called II Amity Dam, thus visiting on
its inhabitants certain curious PEN
atty for the sins Of their fathers.
They were soon known as Amity Dam
mers.
Long after that the little village was
the home Of a far-famed mystery out
of which came a murderer convicted
IN the face Of unexampled difficulties
and against the testimony Of three
.eye-witnesses. 1t was, moreover, for
time the home Of number of remark.
able characters related to the mystery.
One Of them was the boy Shad Morry-
son whose courage and shrewd intut-
ton served the state and put him on
the road to fortune.
Shad was discovered on bright
June day In 1896. He lay asleep on
q bed of moss under group Of pine
trees. Two fishermen who had come
ashore for>luncheon found him. No
body knew exactly when he was born
Ia matter Of slight Importance.
Shad's life began the day he was dis
covered. 1t is likely that he had been
eating and drinking little more than
sixteen years.
The fishermen came upon him sud-
denly. He lay sprawled on his back
with an ancient, long-barreled, muz-
zle-loading shotgun at his side. He
was pale thin lad In ragged clothing.
Both big toes protruded from holes In
his boots. The fishermen aroused him.
he sat up and rubbed his eyes and
stared In confusion at the strangers
hooking down at him. The odor Of fry
ing bacon came to his nostrils. Kindly
faces were before him.
II guess must be dead" he wing
pered.
They saw to the heart of the boy
fwhen he asked from the lifting cloud
OF his slumber:
us God here?"
One of the men put his hand on the
boys shoulder and gave him a gentle
shake as he said:
"Wake up, young man. You're still
dreaming. You're not dead yet. Come.
Lunch Is most ready"
Still 1t was fact that the old Shad
Morryson, known to few people in
the forest township Of Blair. was dead
that the water at his feet was in
effect the River Jordan. Moreover, II
would seem that God was really there.
swell, / kind O. expected to be dead
when / woke up" said the boy as he
arose. 'sIf I amt, I'm glad Of 1t. ]
want to i've"
What q pitiful look Of dropping dis
couragement and supplication was in
the figure of the lad as he arosel
"What's the matter? Are We lost p
one Of the strangers asked.
run away from home"
"What's your name and where do
you liver
"Don't dast tell ye."
"Are you hungry?"
"Starvin'. Amt had nothin' to eat
for days but one partridge an a chip
muck"
swell, you're In luck! Here's sand
witches and bacon and eggs and fish.
The fish are frying"
AS he spoke the fisherman was I'M
doing packages Of food from the pack
basket.
The boy trembled with eagerness as
he saw it. His face quivered.
''Oh, mister, can / have sandwich
now?" he asked.
you bet. Take two"
The boy devoured them. He ate
like hungry dog just returned from
the chase.
II feel better already" said the boy
''I'll go an wash. I'm dirty. l amt
fit to eat with nobody. not even my
SELF"
He hurriedly undressed on the river
bank. The fishermen observed that
the back Of his shirt was slashed and
bloody, the skin Of his back ridgeu
red and swollen.
my Cd, boyl What has happened
70 your back?" one of the men In
Quired.
docs 1t look bad?" the boy asked
"Badl I should think that some one
had used 1t for a chopping block"
swell, they did. My dad gifts mad
awful easy when he's drunk. He ain'i
always SO mean. I guess I'm purity
mean myself. l don't take no interest
In the work. What's the use? n
!, don't do no good. He got home an
ketched me fishln' when l should a
been hoein' potaters."
Shad swan around a moment, came
3 e Of the water. dressed himself hur
~ |dly and sat down with his new
friends. They were afraid he would
SAT ton snuch ond nounrollod him kr