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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1933-08-31, Page 6PAGE S'IX v. n 1, S In a second they had disengaged and rushed tothe edge of the Fall. In the quiet they could Still -hear the scrambling hurry of the fugitive far below them, Nothing was to be seen, however, save' an array of startled sheep on the hill -side, mute witnesses of the murderer's escape, The two men turned and eyed each other; the one grim, ,the other sar- donic: both dishevelled and sus- picious. "Weil ?" "Weer?" A pause and, careful scrutiny. "There's blood on your coat," "And on yours." (Together they walked back into the moon -lit hollow. There lay the murd- ered sheep in a pool of blood. Plain it was to see whence the marks on their coats came. M'IAd'am touched the victims head with his foot. The movement exposed its throat. With a shudder he replaced it as it was. The two men stood back and eyed one another. "What are yo' doin' here?" "After the Killer. What are you?" "After the Killer?" "How did you come ?" "Up this path," pointing to the one behind him. "Hoo did you?" "Tip this." 'Silence; then again: 'I'd ha' had him but for yo'." "I did have him, but ye tore me aff," A pause again. "Where's yer gray dog?" This time the challenge was unmistakable. "I sent him after the Killer. 1',Vheer's your Red Wull?" "'At hame, as I tell't ye before." "Ye' mean yo' left him there?" SI Adams' fingers tw?tched. "He's wheer I left him." James Moore shrugged his should. ere. And the other began: -When did yer dog leave ye?" "When the Killer came past." "Ye wad say ye .missed him then?" "I say what I mean." "Ye say he went after the Killer Xoo the Killer was here," pointing to the dead sheep. "Was your dog here, too?" 'If he had been he'd been here stili," • "Onless he went over the Fall 1" "That was the Killer, yo' fule." "'Or your clog." "There was only one beneath me. +I felt him," "Just so," said MiAd'am, and laugh- ed. The other's brow contracted: 'An' that was a big un," he said slowly. The little man stopped his cackling, "There ye lie," he said, smoothly. "He was small," They looked one another full in the eyes, "That's a matter of opiniqn," said the Master, 'It's a matter of fact," said the other, The two stared at one another, sil- ent and stern, each trying to fathom the other's soul; then they turned again to .the brink of the Fall, !Beneath them, plain to see, was the splash and furrow in the shingle marking the (Killer's line of retreat. They looked at one another again, and then each departed the way he had come to give his version of the story, "We mucked it atween us," said the, Master, '"If" Th' Owd Un had 'kept wi' me, I should ha' had. him." And— "I tell ye I did have him, but James 'Moore pulled me aff. Strange, too, his dog not bein' wi' him 1" OHIAPTER X11X tAn immense sensation this affair of the Scoop created in the Daleland. It spurred the Dalestnen into fresh en- deavors, Tames Moore ,and M'iAdam were examined and re-examined as to the minutest details of the matter, !The= whole country -side was placard- ed with huge 'bills, offering £1100 re- ward for the capture of the criminal dead' or alive, 'While the vigilance of the watchers was such that in a single week they bagged a donkey, an old woman, and two amateur tdetectives. Is W'astrehcdale the near escape of slo the Killer, the collision betw Janes Moore and M'Adam, and 0 !Bob's unsuccess, who was not wont fail, aroused intense excitement, which was mingled a. certain anxi as to their favorite, For when the Master had reach home that night, he had found the already there, and he must h wrenched his foot in the pursuit run a thorn into it, for he was ve lame. Whereat, when dt was repor at the ,Syl:vester Arm's, M'iAd'amwin ed at Red Wuil and "muttered, '", forty foot is an;ugly tumble."A week later the little man call at Kenmuir. As he entered the ya David was standing outside the- k schen window looking very glum miserable. On seeing his father, ho ever, the boy started forward, all ale "'What d'yo' want here?" he cri roughly. '"Same as you, dear lad," the lit man giggled, advancing. "I come a visit," "Your visits to IKenmiur are usual paid by night, so I've heard," Dav sneered, The little man affected not to hea "So they dinna allow ye indoors the Cup," he laughed. "They kno yer little ways then, David." ""Nay, I'm not wanted in there 'David answered bitterly, but not loud that his father could hear. Ma gic within the .kitchen heard, howeve but paid no heed; for her heart hard against the boy, who of:lat though he never addressed her, ha made himself as `unpleasant in a tho sand little ways as only David M Adam could. At that moment the Master ca stalking into the yard, Owd•Bob•pr ceding hits; and as the old dog re ognized his visitor he bristled invo untarily. At the sight of the Master M'Ada hurried forward. "I did but come to ask after th tyke," he said. "Is he gestin' over hi lameness?" James Moore looked surprised then his stern face relaxed into a cor dial smile. Such generous anxiety a to the welfare of (Red Wrath's rival wa a wholly new characteristic in th little man, ""1 tat' it kind in yo', M'Adani," h said, "to come and inquire," 'Is the thorn oot?" asked the littl anan with eager interest, shooting hi head forward to stare closely at the other. " It came oot last night wo' the poulticin'," the Master answered, re turning the other's gaze,•calm and steady. "I'm glad o' that," said the little man, still staring. ,But his yellow, grinning face said as 'plain as words, What a liar ye are, James Moore," The days passed an. His father's taunts and gibes, always becoming. more bitter, drove David almost to distraction. he longed- to makeitup with Mag- gie; he longed for that tender sym- pathy which the 'girl had always ex- tended to him when his troubles with his father were heavy on him. The quarrel had lasted for months now, and he was well weary of it, and ut- terly ashamed.•For, at.least, he l'ad the good grace to acknowledge that no one was to blame for it ,but him- self; and that it had been fostered solely by has ugly pride. At length he could endure it no longer and determined to go'to the girl and: ask forgiveness. It would:be a .bitter ordeal to him;'always unwill- ing to acknowledge 'a .fault even to himself, how; much harder would it be to confess it to this strip of a girl. .For a time :he thought it was almost more than he could do,.Yet,, like"his father, once set upon a course, noth- ing could divert him. So, after a' week of doubts :anti determinations, of cow- ardice and courage, he:pulled himself together and off he set. An hour it took him from the Grange to the ,hriclge over the 'Wast- rel -an hour which'had wont to be a nuarter. Now as he walked onupthe pc from the stream,'very slowly, THE SEAFORTH NEWS: 'heariteieilig •himself for - his ',penance; he w'as aware of a strange disturbance in the yard above'hios: file noisy cack- ling 'orf hens,., the snorting •of pigs d'ts tuibed, and above the rest the CO 6f a little child ringing 'out in shrill ,dis- 'I-le set to r�lihbing, and sped up 'th'e slope' as fast as his long leges could carry 'him. As he (took 'tile gate in his stride,',he slaw t:he white.clad figure of Wee Anne fleeing with unsteady, tod- dling -Steps, herfair Bair Streaming out (behind, .and one bare 'arm striking wildly' !back at a great pursuing Sony. David shouted as he !cleared the gate, ,but the brute paid Bra, heed, end was; almost touching the ftnugi'tive when Owd ,Bob came galloping round 'fla the confer, and in 'a second had shed between pursuer and pursued, So close were the two that as he swung round an the startled sbw,` his'tail brushed the` baby to the `ground; and there she lay kicking her fat legs to heav'enand cei'ling ,on all her ,gods, (David, leaving the old .dog to secure. the warrior pig, ran round to her; but he ,was anticipated. The whole matter had barely occupied a minute's time sen and Maggie, rushinlgtfrom the kitchen w'd. now had the child lin her' arhis . and to,was�'hurryling (back with her to, role with 'house. • etY: "'Eh, ma pet, are yo' hutted, dear- ie?"!David '•could hear Cher 'asking tear - ed fu'l'ly, as he crossed the yard and es - old tablished 'himself in the door, ave ""Wel'(," said the, its 'bantering tones, or "yo'm a nice 'wench to ha' charge o' ry oor !Anne!" ted I11 ,was a sore 'sub'ject with ,the girl, k- and well he knew it. !Wee Anne, that h, golden -haired imp of m'isc'hief, was forever evading hert- sister-mother's ed eye and 'attemp'ting to ininf late her - rd, self, More than once she had only it- been. saved 'frons serious hurt by the and watc'h'ful devotion of IO'wd 'Bob, who w- always found time, despite his many rt. labors, to keep a guardian eye'oas his ed well -loved lassie. In the previous win- ter she bad been lost on a bitter night Ile off the Muir Bike; once she had on climbed into afield with the highlandbull, add barely escaped with 'her life, IY while the gray dog <held 'the ,brute in id check; but a little while before she had been rescued from .drowning by r, the Tailless Tyke; there had been wi' numerous other mischances; and now w the present mishap. 'But the girl paid' no heed to her tormentor in her joy ,' at (finding the child all unhurt. so '" T!heerl yo' bain't so much'as scrat- g- ted) ma precious, is yo'?" she cried, r, "Rin. oot aging then," and the baby was toddled joy'ful'ly .away. e) Maggie rase to her feet and stood d with face averted. David's eyes dwelt u 'lovingly upon her, admiring the pose of the neat head with its thatch of pretty brown *lair; the slim figure, rale and slender ankles, peeping 'modestly e- from beneath cher print frock. c- "Ma wordl if yo' dad should hear 1- tell o' hoo his !Anne—" he broke off into a long -drawn 'whistle. m Maggie ,kept silence; !but her 'lips quivered, and the flush deepened on e her cheek. s "'I'm fear'd I'll ha' to tell hits," the boy continued, "'Tis but ma duty, "Yo' may tell wham yo' dike what yo' like," the girl replied coldly; yet there. 5 was a tremor in her voice, s "First yo' throws her in the e stream," David went on remorseless- ly; "then yo' chucks her to the pig, e and if it had not, bin for me—" "Yo' indeed!" she broke in conten't- e ptuottsly. ""Yo'! "twos 'Owd "Bob resk s ied her. Yo'd nowt to do wi' it, 'cept ookin' on—'bout what yo're ,fit for." "I tell yo'," David pursued stub- bornly, "an' it had not bin for me yo' wouldn't have no sister by noo.' She'd be lyin', site would, pore little lass, cold as ice, pore mite, wi' no breath in her. AAs' when yo' dad coons home there'd be no wee Anne to rim to him, and climb on his knee, and yammer to him, and beat his face. An' he'd , say, °'What's gotten to oor Annie, as I left wi' yo'?" 'And then yo'd have to Reil him, 1 never' took no manner o' fash after her, dad; d'reickly yo' back was turned, d--' " The ,girl sat down, buried her face in her apron, and indulged in the rare luxury of tears. "Yo're the cruellest mon as iver was, David MIAklam," she sobbed, rocking to .and fro. IHe was at her side in a moment, tenderly beading aver her,\ "Eh, Maggie, .but I am sorry, lass." She wrenched away from beneath his hands, "I hate yo'," s'he cried ,passionately. 'He gently removed her hands from before her tear -stained face. "I was nob''but laffin, Maggie," he pleaded; "say yo' forgie me," "I don't," she cried, s'trugglin'g. "I think yo're the haefullest man as iver lived." Tile moment was critical; it was a time for heroic measures, "No. yo' don't, lass," he remonstrat- ed; and, releasing her wrists, lifted the little drooping face, wet as it was, like the earth after a spring shower, and, 'holding .it between his two big hands kissed it' twice "Yo' coward!" she cried, a :flood of warn red crimsoning her cheeks; .and she struggled vainly to be free. tCYo' used to let me," he reminded vanattasuuesiarJamas ,THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 1933 her in aggrieved tones, "1 nivel- diff' she cried, more .indig- itairt thaa, truthful Yes, yo' .did, w'lien we ,.was little ins; that is, yo' rotas anus for kiss'in' and I was allus agin it. And noo," with whole-soale!d bitterness, "I may- n't so ,much as,keek at yo' over a stone 'wall." !However that might be, he was 'keedciug at her from closer' range naw; and in :that position—for hs held her firmly still—she could not help 'nut keck back. ,He looked so hand- some --humble for once; penitent, yet reproachful; his own eyes a little moist; and, withal; his old audacious self,—that, despite herself, her anger grew less' hot. "Say yo' forgie me .and ,1'11 let yo' go." • "I don't, nor ,niver shall," she ans- wered firmly; but there was 'less con- viction' in her lheart than voice. "Iss' yo' • do, l'as's," he coaxed, and kissed her again. 1SIhp Struggled faintly. "Hoo daur yo'?" she cried through her 'tears. Birt he Was not to be mo'v- ed. "Will yo' noo?" he asked. She remained du'nilb, andhe kissed her again. "Inrpidence'1" site cried. "Ay," said he, closing her mouth. "'I wonder at ye, David," she sa s u rren d erinig. bins off; for all chance there swats of arresting him,You could still hear fiigllatly m the. ,Sylvester Arris and elsewhere theas- sertion, delivered 'with the Sallie dog - Melo certaiii'tyas ,of obcl, "Ilt's, the ter- ror, I tell yo'!" and that irr'ita'ting, in-' evitable "reply: "Ay; but whesr's, •the proof?" While often;. at the same. mo- nseti�h,. in a house mat far away, a little lonely man was sitting before a low - 'burnt fire, racking to and fro, biting his nails, and muttering to the great dog whose head lay between his 'knees: "I'f`we' had 'but the proof! I'd give ma right hand aff my arni gin we hod the 'proo'f to -(morrow." Long Kirby, who was always for war when 'some one else was to do. the fighting, , suggested that 'David should -,be, requested, in the name of the Dalesnten, to ,tell M'Adam that he must m'a'ke an end to Red ' Null. Batt ;Jim ivi'aso•n quashed the proposal, re- marking ,truly enough that there was too much had blood as it was between father and son; while Taas prop- osed with a,sneer that the, smith should the his own. agent in ,the mat- id, After that Maggie •,in'ust needs' give in; and it was well ,understood, 'though nothing delfinite, had been said, that the boy and girl were courting. And in the. ,Dade the un'anim'ous opinion was that the young couple would make "a graldely pair, 'surely." 'MNAd,ain was the last person to hear the news, long after it had 'been coniinon knowledge in the village. 'It was in the Sylvester Arms he first 'hedrd it and straightway feta into one. of those .foaming frenzies character- istic of him. "The dochter o' .Moore o' Kenmuir, d'ye say? sic a do'clvter o' sic a mall! The cio'chter o' the' •on'e man in the w'arld that's harmed me aboon the rest! I'd no ha' believed it gin ye'd no tell't Inc. Oh, David, 'David! I'd no ha' thocht it even o' you, ill son as ye've aye 'bin to rale. I think he might have waited ,till his auld dad was gone, and he'd no had to wait lang the noo," 'Then the little man sat down and burst into tears; 'Gradually, however, he resigned himself, and the more readily when he 'realiaed that David by his act had exposed 'a fresh wound into which he might plunge his .b'ar'b- ed shafts. And he availed himself to the full of his new opportunities. Of- ten and often David was sore pressed to restrain himself. "Is't true what they're sayin' that Z\Iaggii Moore's nee better than she should be?" the little man asked one evening with anxious interest, "'"They're not sayih' so, and if they were"twat be a lie," 'the bay answer- ed angrily. • M'Adam leant back in his chair and nodded his head, "Ay, they tell't lie that gin o.ly man knew 'twad be David ,M'IAdarn." !David strode across the room. 'No, rip nrair o' that," he shouted. "Y'ought to be 'shamed, an owd mon like you, to speak so o' a lass." The little man edged close up to has son, and looked ,up into the fair flushed face towering above hint, • "David," .he said in smooth soft , tones, "I'M 'sltonished ye dinna strike yer auld dad.." He stood with his hand's cl'a'sped,'behdnd his back as if , daring the young giant to raise 'a fin- ger against him. 'Ye maist might noo," he .con'tinue'd suavely. "Ye anaun be sax inches taller, and a goo'd fotir stone heavier. Hooiver, ai'bl'in's ye're wise to wait, A'ni'ther year twa I,11 be an auld man; as ye say, and feebler, and W.ullie here'dl be gestin' on, 'while you'll be in the grime a' yer strength. !Then I think ye .might hit me wi' safety to yer person .and honor to yourself." ,He stood back a pace, smiling. "Feyther," said 'David, huskily, `one day yo'll drive rave too far." • !Whether it was this remark of Taniewas's which stung the big man into action, or whether it was that the intensity of his hate gave him unusual, courage, anyh'o:w, a few days later, IM'Adam caught hifit lurking . in the granary of the 'Grange. The little man may not have guess- ed his murderousintent; 'yet the blacksmith's white-faced (terror, as 'he 'crouched away in the darkest corner, could hardly have escaped ''remark; tivo•trgh—and I{irby may thank his stars for it—the (treacherous glean of a gun,barrel, .ill -concealed behind him, did. "Hullo, Kirby!" said M^Adam cord- ially, "yell stay the night wi' me?" And the .next thing the big pian heard was a giggle an the far side of the door, lost in the clank of padlock and rattle of chain, ''Then—through a crack—"Good-night to ye. !Hope ye''ll be comfie." And 'there he stayed that night, the following day .and next night—thirty-six hours' in all, with swedes for his hunger and dew off the thatch for his thirst. Meanwhile the struggle between David and hes father seemed coming to a head, 'The little marl's tongue wagged more bitterly than ever; now it was never at rest—searching out sores,' stinging, piercing. Worst of all, he was continually dropping innuendoes, seemingly inno- cent enough, yet with a world of sub- tle meaning at their 'back, respecting ifaggie. The leer .and wink with which, when David came home from Kentmuir at nights, he would aslc the sinf'ple• question, "And was she kind, David—eh, eh?" made .the lboy's blood •boil within him. !And the more effective the little man saw his shots to be, the more persistently he plied them. And .David retaliated in lcind. It was a war of re- prisals. There was ,no peace; . there were no truces in which 'to `bury the dead before the opponents set to slaying others. And every day brought the combatants nearer to that final struggle, the issue of which neither cared to contemplate. 'There cause a Saturday, 'toward the end al the spring, Jong to be rem'em- bered by more than David in the Dale. For that"young man the day started sensationally. Rising before cook - crow, and going to the window, the first thing he saw in the misty dawn was the gaunt, gigantic !figure of Red Wull, hounding up the hill from the Stony Bottom; and in an instant his faith was shaken to its foundation: The dog was travelling up at a long slouching trot; and as he rapidly ap- proached the house, David saw tliat his flanks were all splashed with red mud, his tongue out, .and the foam dripping froin his jaws, as though he had come far and fast. !He slunk up to the house, leapt on to the sill of the unused back -kitchen, some, five feet from the ground, push- ed with his paw at the' cranky old !hatclvment, which was its ,only cover- ing; and, in a second, the boy, strain - ng out of the win'do'w 'th'e hatter to ee, heard the rattle of the board's as the dog dropped within the house. For the moment, excited as he was, David held his peace, Even 'the :Black Killer took only second place in his houghhs that morning, For this was (To Be 'Conti'nued.) OHIAIPTE'R XX !The spring was passing, marked throughout with the bloody trail of s the Killer. The adventure in the S'caop scared trim for a while intoIn- nocuousness; then he resumed has gave again with redoubled zest, It seemed likely hewould harry the diis- t trict till some l'uc'ky accident carried A DOLLAR'S WORTH Clip this coupon and mail it with $1 for a six weeks' trial subscription to THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR o Published byBxnC,HIasNhNE 0?e8slA.aare Somers - In it YOU will find the dally good news of: the world Irom Its 000. special writer,; as well as debartments devoted to women's. and oblidrens. Intermits, sports, music, finance, edseation, radio, etc You will be glad to welcome into your home so fearless nn advocate of pence.. and prohibition. And don't: miss Snubs. Our Dog. -- and the Sundial and the other features. , TNR CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, Back- Bay Station, Boston, Mass, Please send me a Rix weeks' trial subscription. I enclose one dollar • r.' ry 'M. (Town): (Nemo, Meese print) (Address) (State). imewommeosissoigesAelem PROFE'SS'IONAL CARDS Medical DR: H, HUIGH ROSS, Physician' and Surgeon. Late of London Hos- pita!, London, E'ngland,' Special attention to diseases of the eye, e,ar, 'nose and throat. Office' and acini- hence behind Dominion Bank. Office ' Phone No. 5; Residence Phone 164, DR. F. J. BURROWS, .Seaforth, Office and residence, Goderich stree't,. east of the United Church. Ooslomar for the County of Huron. Tele'p'hones. No. 46. !IDR. F. J. R. FlOIRISTER—Eye, Eft Nose and Throat. Graduate in Medi- cine, University of Toronto 1897, Late Assistant New York 'Ophthal- mic and Aural Institute, Moorefield's, Eye, and Golden Square, throat hospi- tals, London, England. At Comm- ercial Hotel, Seaforth, 3rd Monday M. each month, from 11 a.m. to 3 .p,as. DIR. W. C. SPIRIOIAT,—Graduate of . Faculty of Medicine, University. of` Western Ontario, London. Member of College of Physicians and Sul-• geons of Ontario. Office in rear of Aber'lia'rt's drug store, Seaforth,, Phone 90. Hours 1.30-4 p.m., 7.30' -9 p.m. Other hours by appointment.. Dental DR. J. A. MLTINN, Successor to Dr, R. R. Ross, graduate of 'North- western University, Chicago, Ill. Li- centiate Royal College of Dental Sur- geons, Toronto. `Office over Salt's hardware, Main St., Seaforth. -Phone 151. DR. F. j. BIEOH!ELY, graduate Royal College of Dental Surgeons, Toronto, Office over W.' R. Smit'h's grocery,. Main St., Seaforth, P'hon'es, office 1851W,, residence 185J. Auctioneer. IGEORIGtE ELLIOTT, Licensed (Auctioneer for the County of Huron. A'rra'ngements can be made for Sale Date at The Seaforth News. Charges 'moderate and satisfaction°. guranteed, WATSON AND REJDPS REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCCE AGENCY (Succssors to James 'Watson) ,MAIIN ST., SEAFORTH, ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in First-Claea, Companies, THE McKILLOP Mutual Fire Insurance urance Co, HEAD OFFICE-SEAFORTH, Ont: OFFICERS Geo, R. McCartney, Seaforth' - Pres. James Connolly, Goderich - Vice -Pres.. Merton A Reid, Seaforth-lSec, - Treas.. AGENTS: W. E. Hinchley, Seaforth; John. Murray, R. R. 3, Seaforth; E. R. G.. Jarm'outh, Rrodhagen; James Watt,. Birth; C. IF. Hewitt, Kincardine;,: Wm. Yeo, Hblmes'vilde. DIRECTO'RS: William Knox, Lond'esboro; George Leonnhardt, Brod'hagen; James Con- nolly, Goderioh; Alex. Broa'dfoot, No.; 3, .Seaforth; Robert Ferris, Blyth;,' ,George McCartney, No. 3, "Seafort!h;. J'o'hn Pepper, Brtecefield; James Shol-- dice, Walton; Thomas Moylan, No. 5,. Seaforth. Parties desirous to effect insu'ranc. or transact other business, will be promp'tl'y arterided to by ap'plica'tions to, any of the above named officers ad- dressed to their respective post officers, Asthma '+Can be Cured. Its suffer- ing is as needless as ,it is terrible to - endure. Atter its many years' of re- lief of the 'm,ost stubborn cases no, su!ffe'rer can doubt the .perfect effect- iveness of I)r. J. D 'Kell'ogtgSs, As- thma Remedy. ;Comfort of body and' peace; of mind return with its use and nights of sound .Sleep .come back for good:' IA+sk your druggist; he can smpPf3" YOU. 'Don't keep money in the bank Or" anywhere else if you . have bills to ray. Pay them: This will ptit; people back to w oris,. hastenprosperity's• return: 1