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Show 5 . mm a ,,. j The Light in the Clearing j : A TALE of the NORTH COUNTRY in the TIME of SILAS WRIGHT 8 iVtr ID VIMr1 RAPUFT I 17 I Author of Ebn Holder., D'tl ud I. Dsirel of the) I; ty llV V 1N VF 0Anii,IJUrLlY. Blessed Isles. K eePng Up MVLb J.lulf. Etc., Etc V opjrrlsM by Irrinir ruz-h-"- K UNCLE PEABODY SPURNS BRIBE OFFERED BY GRIMSHAW ' i TO SEAL BART'S LIPS. Synopsis. Hurt on Hnynes, an orphan, goes to live with his uncle. PeHbody Hnynes, urn! his Aunt lVel on a fnrm on Kattleroad, In a neighborhood called Llckltyspllt, nhout the year 1826. He meets Sally Dunkelberg, about his own age, but. socially of a elnss above the Bnynesi-s. and la fascinated by her pretty face and fine clothes. Barton also meets Roving Kate, known In the neighborhood aa the "Silent Woman." Amos (irimshuw, a young son of the richest man In the township town-ship is a visitor at the Baynes home ami Roving Kate tells the boys' fortunes, predicting a bright future for Barton and death on the gallows for Amos. Barton meets Silas Wright, Jr., a man prominent In public affairs, who evinces much Interest in the boy. Burton learns of the power of money when Mr. Orlmshaw threatens to take the Bnynes farm unless a note which he holds Is paid. Now In his sixteenth year, Barton, Bar-ton, on his way to the post office at Canton, meets n strnnger and they ride together. They encounter n highwayman, who shoots and kills the tttrunger. Bnrtou's horse throws him and runs away. As the murderer bends over the stranger Barton throws a stone, which he observes wounds the thief, who makes off at once. A few weeks later Bart leaves home to enter Michael Hacket's school at Canton. Amns Orlmshnw is arrested, charged with the murder which Burt witnessed. CHAPTER IX Continued. 10 To my utter surprise he resumed his talk with me as the young man went uwuy. "You pee all ways are north when you put this lodestone neur the needle," he went on. "If It Is to tell you the truth you must keep the lode-stone lode-stone away from the needle. It's that way, too, with the compass of your soul, partner. There the lodestone Is selfishness, and with Its help you can mnke any direction look right to you and soon you're lost." He bound the last bundle and then we walked together toward the house, the senator carrying his sickle. "I shall introduce you to the president," presi-dent," he siiid as we neared our destination. des-tination. "Then perhaps you had better bet-ter leave us." I could not remember that I had ever been "Introduced" to anybody. I kuew that people put their wits on exhibition ex-hibition and often tiling down n "snag" by Way f demonstrating their fitness for the. honor, when they were introduced intro-duced in books. 1 remember asking rather timidly : "What shall I say when when you Introduce me?" t "Oh, say anything you want to say," I he answered with a look of amuse I nunt. "I'm kind o' scared," I said. "You needn't be he was once a B poor hoy Just like you." "Just like me!" I repeated thought- .i fully, for while I hud heard a good J deal of that kind of thing In our home, J it had not, somehow, got under my j , Jacket, as they used to say. I "Just like you cowhide and all the son of a smull freeholder In Klu- derhook on the Hudson," he went on. "But he was well fed in brain and body and kept his heart clean. So of course he grew and is still growing. Thnt's u curious thing about men and women. Bart. If they are In good ground and properly cared for they never stop growing never ! and that's a pretty full word Isn't It? We had come in sight of the house. I lagged behind a little when 1 saw the great man sitting on the small luaz.u with Mrs. Wright. I see vlv- 1 -"It I an Honor to Meet You, Sir, and , Thank You For the Right to Vote j W' When I am Old Enough." tdly. as I write, the full figure, the V ruddy, kindly face, the lurge nose, tho i gray eyes, the thick halo of silvered hair extending from his collar to the bald top of his head. He rose and Mid in a deep voice : "He sows 111 luck who hinders the reaper." Mr. Wright hung his sickle on a mall tree In the dooryard and answered an-swered : "Ths rilowman has overtaken the renj er. dr. President. I bid you wel-') wel-') u 'nr buiublv liune." "It is a pleusurc to be here and a regret to call you back to Washington," Washing-ton," said the president as they shook hands. "I suppose that means an extra session," ses-sion," the senntor answered. "First let me reassure you. I shall get away as soon ns possible, for I know that a president Is a heavy burden bur-den for one to have on his hands." "Don't worry. I can get along with almost any klud of n human being, especially es-pecially If he like pudding and milk as well as you do," said the senntor, who then Introduced me In these words : "Mr. President, this Is my young friend, Burton Baynes, of the neighborhood neigh-borhood of Llckltyspllt In the town of Ballybeen a coming man of this county." "Come on," was the playful remark of the president as he took my hand. "I shall be looking for you." I had carefully chosen my words and I remember saying, with some dignity, dig-nity, like one In a story book, although with a trembling voice: "It Is an honor to meet you, sir, and thank you for the right to vote when I nm old enough." Vividly, too, I remember his gentle smile as he looked down at me and said In a most kindly tone: "I think It a great honor to hear you say that." He put his hands upon my shoulders and turning to the senator said : "Wright, I often wish that I had your modesty." "I need it much more than you do," the senntor laughed. Straightway I left them with an awkward bow and blushing to the roots of my hair. As I neared the home of Mr. Hacket I heard hurrying footsteps behind me and the voice of Sully calling my name. I stopped and faced about. How charming she looked as she walked toward me! I had never seen her quite so Uxod up. "Bart," she suld. "I suppose you're not going to speak to me." "If you'll speak to me," I answered "J love to speak to you," she said. "ve been looking all around for you. Mother wants you to come over to dinner with us at Just twelve o'clock. You're going away with father as soon ns we get through." I wanted to go but got the notion all at once that the Dunkelhergs were in need of information ubout me and that the time had come to impart It. So then and there that ancient Olympus of our family received notice as It I were. "I can't," I said. "I've got to study my lessons before I go away with your father." It was a blow to her. I saw the shadow that fell upon her fuce. She was vexed and turned und rnn away from me without nnother word and I felt a pang of regret as I went to the lonely and de4.-rted home of the ' schoolmaster. At twelve-thirty Mr. Dunkelberg came for me, with u high-stepping DOrM In a new harness, and u shiny, still-running buggy. He wore gloves and a beaver hut und sat very erect 10d hail little to say. "I hear you met the president," he remarked. "Yes, sir. I was introduced to him I this morning," I answered a bit too 'proudly, and wondering how be hud board of my good fortune, but deeply gratified at Ids knowledge of It. "What did he have to say?" I described the Interview and the looks Of the groat man. Not mtieh more was said as we oped away toward the tltsap woods and the high hills. I was eager to get homo but wondered won-dered why he should he going with me to talk with Mr. (irimshuw and my uncle. Of course I suspected that It had to do with Amos, but how I knew not. He hummed In the rough going and thoughtfully tllcked the bushes with his whip. I never knew a more persistent hummer. Aunt Heel shook hands with Mr. Dunkelberg and then came to me and 'said: "Wal, Bart Baynes! I never was so glad to '- anybody In all the duys o' aaarS rawsrTv my lift- ayes! We been lookln' up the road for an hour eyesl Too come right Into the houso this minute min-ute both o' you." The table was spread with the things I enjoyed most big, brown biscuits bis-cuits and ti great comb of honey surrounded sur-rounded with Its nectar and a pitcher of milk and a plate of cheese and some Jerked meat and an apple pie. "Set right down an" eat I Just want to see ye eat ayes I do!" Mr. Orlmshaw came soon after we had finished our luncheon. He hitched his horse at the post and came In. "Good day," he said, once and for nil, as he came In at the open door. "Bnynes, I wnnt to hnve a talk with you and the boy. Tell me what you know about that murder." "Wul, I had some business over to Plnttsburg," my uncle began. "While I was there I thought I'd go and see Amos. So I drove out to Beekmnn's farm. They told me thnt Amos had left there after workln' four days. They gnve him fourteen shllltns an' he was goln' to take the stage In the mornin'. He left some time In the night an' took Beekmnn's rlne with him, so they said. There was a piece 0 wood broke out o the stock o the rifle. That was the kind o' gun that was used In the murder." It surprised me thnt my undo knew nil this. He had said nothing to me Of his Journey or Its result. "How do you know?" snapped Mr. tirlmshaw. "This boy see It plain. It was a gun with a piece o wood broke out o' the stock." "Is that so?" was the brusque de-tnnnd de-tnnnd of the money lender as he turned to me. "Yes, sir," I nnswered. "The boy lies," he snnpped, and turning to my uncle added: "Yer mnd 'canto I'm tryin' to make ye pay yer honest debts uln't ye now?" Uncle Peabody, keeping his temper, shook his head and calmly snld : "No, 1 ain't anything ag'ln you or Amos, hut It's got to he so that a man can travel the ronds o' this town without gottln' his head blowed off." Mr. Dunkelberg turned to roe and asked : "Arc you sure thnt the stock of the gun you saw was broken?" "Yes, air and I'm almost sure it was Amos that ran away with It." "Why?" "I picked up a stone and threw It at him and It grazed the left side of his face, and the other night I saw the scar it made." My aunt nnd uncle and Mr. Dunkelberg Dunkel-berg moved with astonishment as I spoke of the scar. Mr. Orlmshaw, with keen eyes fixed upon me, gave a little grunt of Incredulity. "Huh! Liar!" he muttered. "I nm not a liar," I declared with Indignation, In-dignation, whereupon my nunt angrily stirred the fire In the stove and Uncle Penbody put his hund on my arm and suld : "Hush, Bart! Keep your temper, son." "If you tell these things you may be the menus of sending an Innocent boy to his death," Mr. Dunkelherg suld to me. "I wouldn't be too sure ubout 'em If I were you. It's so easy to be mistaken. You couldn't be sure In the dusk thut the stone really hit him, could you?" I answered: "Yes, sir I saw the stone hit und I saw him put his hand on the place while he was running, I guess it hurt him some." look u uere. iiuynes, air. unm-sliaw unm-sliaw began In thnt familiar scolding tone of his, "I know what yon want an' we might Jest as well git right down to business first as lust. You keep this boy still an' I'll give yo five years' Interest." Aunt Deel gave a gasp and quickly covered her mouth with her hand. Uuele Peabody changed color as he rose from his chair with u strange look on his fuce. He swung his big right hund in the air as he said: "By tho eternal Jiimplu' " He stopped, pulled down the left sleeve of his flannel shirt and walked to the wuter pull and drank out of the dipper. "Say, Mr. Grlrnshaw, I'm awful sorry for ye," said my uncle as bo returned ; to his chulr, "but I've always learnt I his boy to tell the truth an' the hull truth. I know the danger I'm In. We're gettln' old. It'll be hard to start over ag'in nn' you cun ruin us if ye wunt to an' I'm us scared 0 yo us a DMQOO in u cut's puw, hut this i hoy bus got to toll the truth right out plain. I couldn't mu.zle him If I tried he's too much of u man. If you're seared o' the truth jou nius' know that Amos is guilty." Mr. ( Irimshuw shook his head with anger am; beat the Hoor with the end o? his cane. "Nobody knows anything o' the kind, Baynes," suld Mr. Dunkelberg. "of; course Amos never thought o' killing ' anybody. He's u harmless kind of a ', boy. I know him well und so do you. Under the circumstances Mr. Orlm- J shaw Is afraid thut Bart's story will , make It difficult for Amos to prove j his Innocence." Uncle Peabody shook bis beud with j a look of BnMMfa i Again (irimshuw laughed betweeo liN teeth as he looked at my mole lu his view every man had his price. "I see that I'm the mouse an' you're the cut," he resumed, as that curious laugh rattled In his throat "Look n' here, Baynes, I'll tell ye what I'll do. I'll cancel the hull mortgage." Again Uncle Peabody rose from his chair with a look In his face which I have never forgotten. How his voice rang outl "No, sir I" he shouted so loudly thst we all Jumped to our feet and Aunt Deel covered her face with her apron nnd began to cry. It was like the explosion ex-plosion of a blast. Then the fragments frag-ments begnn falling with a loud crash : "NO, Silt! YE CAN'T BUY THE NAIL ON MY LITTLE FINOKR OR HIS WITH ALL YKR MONEY-D MONEY-D N YOU !" It was like the shout M Israel from the top of the mountains. Shep bounced Into the house with hnlr on "s's 'yfgft v n I i tlnill "No, Sir! Ye Can't Buy the Nail on My Little Finger or His With All Yer Money Damn You!" end and the chickens cackled and the old rooster clapped his wings and crowed with all the power of his longs. Every member of thnt little group stood stock still and breathless. I trembled with a fear I could not have defined. Mr. Orlmshnw shuffled out of the door, his cane rapping the floor as if his arm had been stricken with palsy In a moment. Mr. Dunkelberg turned to my aunt, his fucu scarlet, nnd muttered an apology apol-ogy for the disturbance and followed the money lender. "Come on, Bart," Uncle Peabody 'ailed cheerfully, us he walked toward the barnyard. "Let's go an' git In them but'nuts." He paid no attention to onr visitors visi-tors neither did my nunt, who followed fol-lowed us. The two men talked together to-gether a moment, unhitched their horses, got Into their buggies and drove nwny. "Wnl, I'm surprised at Mr. Horace Dunkelberg tryln' to come It over us like that ayes ! I be," said Aunt Deel. "Wal, I ain't," said Uncle Peabody. "OK Orlmshnw has got him under his thumb thut's what's the matter. You'll find he's up to his ears In debt to Orlmshaw prob'ly." As we followed him toward the house, he pushing the wheelburrow loaded with sacks of nuts, he udded : "At last Orlmshaw has found some-thln' some-thln' thut he can't buy un' he's awful surprised. Too bud he didn't learn thut lesson long ugo." He stopped his wheelburrow by the steps and we sut down together on the edge of the Htoop as he udded: "I got mud they kop' pJcklB' on mo so I'm sorry, but I couldn't help It. We'll sturt up ng'in somewhere If we have to. There's a good many days' work In me yet." As we carried the bags to the attic room I thought of the lodestone and the cotnpuss and knew that Mr. Wright had foreseen what was likely to Imp-B4 Imp-B4 ii When we curoe down Uncle Pea body said to BO : "I feel sorry, awful sorry, for thai boy." tVo spent a silent afternoon father lng apples. After supper we played old sledge and my uncle had hurd work to keep us in good countenance We went tO bed curly and 1 lay long, hearing the autumn wind In the popple leaves and thinking of thnt great thlug which had grown strong within us, little by little. In the candle light. Bart encounters a nw peril as a result of his knowledge regarding re-garding the crime of whlc Amos Grlrnshaw Is accused. How Bart escaped from ths danger thst menaced him Is told in the next Installment (TO Hi. CONTINUED) |