A Silver Brand — page 205: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

_A SILVER BRAND, | | 197 loon of yours, and so it seems are some other folks. There’s two strangers in town asking all about you. I heard ’em questioning old Max over at -the beer saloon, and they are there now.” ° | ‘‘Asking about me?” questioned Carl, in as cool a tone as he could command. “And pray what do they know about me ?” ; ‘Raith that’s more than I cantell. But I guess itis nothing more than because you understand balloons. The men were mighty inquisitive though, and wanted to know how lately had you made an ascent, and if your balloon was in good order.” Crezence had stopped singing, and her face was averted, * but her needleé flew very swiftly. ‘‘Some folks are always inquiring into such things just. for curiosity’s sake,” commented Carl, lightly. ‘‘How- ever, Iam ready to answer their questions. Let’s fill our pipes and go out. and see what’s going on.” Carl rose as he spoke, and proffered his tobacco box, and then took up his hat. His visitor could not very well decline, but it was plain that he was in no hurry to take leave. ‘‘T shouldn’t wonder amite if they were here in the course of ten or fifteén minutes,” he ventured at length. “They were asking where you lived.” | “Tf we meet them it may save them some trouble. Wouldn’t it be a fine thing, fraulein, if they came to hire me to make an ascension at some fete? Thou shouldst have anew shawl straight way,” laughed Carl, in appa- rently the most unconcerned manner. ‘‘But the balloon is hurt, isn’t it?” queried the other, eying askance the torn rag of silk lying on the floor in the . heap the zronaut had left it. “What, that? Oh, that’s the old covering. Don’t you know I’m getting ready a grand new one, and have a great improvement under way? That’s why I’ve been taking such frequent trips. They are only experiments to test my new method.” “Oh, Isuppose so. I’m no better than a child about understanding such queer affairs. The solid ground seems the best journeying road forme. I want neither air nor sky. The ground is plenty good enough for me.” ye Carl joined his laugh, and opened the door, and the in- quisitive neighbor was perforce compelled to accompany him. Crezence waited until she heard the little gate close after them, Then she rushed to her humble little pantry, Eomichbooks (E(o) es 3