The Night Riders

e of the pretty toll-taker, went over to a neighbor's to see the housewife about weaving a rag ca

w just how much carpet chain would be needed, so that her

e dirt lane. Fallow fields stretched out on either hand, unrolling rich, varying shades of yellow and brown, reaching away in undu

ere gradually softened and subdued by distance and the October mists until they fi

ent's pause, and a glance of maidenly precaution around, she agilely climbed the rail fence that

he sensitive ear at every turn. The drowsy air seemed haunted by vague faint-spirited voices whispering tenderly of the past summer's joys, while in sharp contrast, now and men

leaves, drifting into rich mosaics, changing with each pas

ed by underbrush and cedar bushes, and lined with gray, lichen-clad boulders, jutting out boldly in fantastic shapes on either hand. Overarching trees and vines shut out the

t a little way along its rim when, on glancing through an opening between the bushes, she caught sight of her neighbor, Steve Judson, coming up the dry, rocky bed of

omething in his manner-a certain cautiousness of movement and an alertness of bearing-caught her attention and aroused

Sophronia stood concealed. After a cautious glance around, he drew from under his c

slowly around as he did so, then crossed over to the opposite side of the ravine, where, after plac

ficiently deep for its purpose, the jar was placed in it and covered with dirt. Some fallen leaves and loose pebbles were next s

when Steve had arisen to his feet, he turned and w

carefully, and with such an air of secrecy, waited until he had been los

e, a dilapidated log cabin perched on the top of a rocky hill that gr

, which was a favorite theme, but when it came to the driving of a needed nail in a loose plank, or repairing a break in a fence, he seldom had the time or inclination to engage in s

had not missed a court day since early boyhood, and no farm work wa

message she might wish to send her father, and to see to the bringing

tin' out a sack pattern. I'm as lost as if I was in

oo much trouble to see about the

ant host, who was of a most obliging disposition, and ever read

admonishingly, in a shrill treble, as her husband rode off. "Men air sech f

me, and she once more shortened the distance, ch

up there?" she asked herself as she stopped

zed longingly up the ravine. A daughter of Eve, the impulse of investigation was strong upon her. If she only dared to venture farther up the shaded recesses to the spot where Ste

ty, and finally, almost before she realized the fact, she was standing beneath the

fficulty moved the large flat rock that had been placed to mark the spot. Near by she found a sharp-pointed stick

screwed down on a ring of rubber, and within was a roll of somethi

e thwarted at such an early stage of her investigation, so grasping the jar tightly between her knees, she made

nd of small denominations-ones, twos and fives. As Sophronia carefully fingered the bills, noting their

was a larger amount of money than she had ever imagined he would possess. How had h

ed for a person in Judson's situation. How came he with such booty, for booty it must be, since he had never been kno

lid off, and the conten

smoothing out the paper, she slowly read the reward offered by the President of the Turnpike Corporation, for any informatio

rs, and this money was the larger part of the spoils he had received. He certainly could not have accumu

came over her. Whether it was ill-gotten gain, or not, the money certainly was not hers, and she had no

d dropping the roll in the jar, screwed on the lid and reburied the treasure, taking car