Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-07-13


out we shall come to another dwelling. les
than half league from here. She tool
! this path"
La Nnit's head still ached. and his lin,b
were weak, but he thought not of fn;liu.
now; be bore up, and tried 10 think tha
he was strong. The food that he ha,
taken before starting, and which for tn
moment had seemed to iuyigorate him
now lay painfully upon him. and in ever
portion Of his system he felt the hand o
disease he did not dare to own it. eve,
to himself Yet he kept Up with hi
guide, and at tie end of half an hour
they came to another cot +; and here. a
before, the peasant requested La Mutt t,
remain out of sight
When the peasant returned, he agaif
had sparkle Of intelligence in his eve
but this tine there was an accompanyin.
cloud upon his brow
What is the fortune ?" anxiously in
quired cur hero
She's gone on" returned the guide.
And where 2''
+" L don't exactly know She was veal
when she left here and [ think she must
have gone to little cot. at the foot oi
yonder mountain She has been there
/ before 1t is a secluded spot and [ think
It's very likely she has gohe there now
Ii she was as weak as they tell for. she
couldn't have gone any further"
" Then let US on, IN Heavens name r
cried La Mutt
After walking q short distance, our he
ro noticed that his companion wore very
Thoughtful look, aud he asked It's cause.
" o. it's nothing" replied the peasant
nothing Of any consequence
8 know better than that What is
it?"
Its nothing to be alarmed at? only
thought 1t kind of strange, that's all"
" And what is it you thought was SO
strange 2n
Why, the old woman back here: She
lives with her son, and he is away in the
mountains, after game. She was alone
last night, and she said sometime in thI
night there were some men passed the
house. and took this very path She could
not tell how MANY, for she could not sec
very plainly She don't know whether It
was after midnight or before: but let u:
hurry on-we shall soon know what il
means"
Henry made no reply. for he felt hi.
brain reelug. He stopped a moment. anC
leaned upon the arm of bis companion
and when the fit had passed. he moved OF
again. The distance to the foot of th,
mountain was not far; they reached it IL
less than half an hour from the last stop
ping place. and there il a wild. out-of tie
way place, they found small hut Their,
were numerous tracks about the gravell,
spot by the door, and in one or two place.
the pebbles and small stones had beer
kicked about more than seemed thenatur
al result of walking over them.
+" There's been some one here" sale
Henry, In weak, trembling tone.
: Yes" said the peasant, looking care
fully down at the foot-tracks.
Our hero followed the direction of tht
mau's gaze and he, too, noticed the disar
rangemeut Of the stones he saw where
feet had sunk deeply into the loose dirt
and where they had twisted about a,
though in a struggle He laid his hand
npon his companions arm, and while q
slckcnlng sensation came over him, he
said
There has been trouble here for see
where those foot marks have scraped and
twisted there " hat is it 2"
Let us go in and see" returned the
guide, evidently trying to hide his greatest
fear. g 1t we do not find her here, We
shall have to 90 back"
The door of the hut was closed, but not
latcbed The peasant pushed it open and
entered. and Henry followed him There
was but one apartment in the place, and
there was no living thing there save the
two men who had just entered There
was broken table, straw cot, ana an
old chair there, and across the chair hung
a scarf The young man recognized it at
| once as a scarf which he had seen about
| his mothers neck he had just taken it
in his hand, when he was startled by an
exclamation from the peasant
The Lords my life what's this p
Where where 2
Here-upon the hoor'
Henry looked and it was blood "a
dark. coagulated pool He looked upon
the scarf. which felt stiff in his hand and
upon that, too, were great spots Of clotted
blood be looked again upon the floor
where the dark spot was, and then again
upon the CORY scarf Then he turned bis
/ glaring glazing eyes upon his companion.
There's been foul work here said the
peasant. as lie moved forward to look upon
the scarf Dark, cruel work he added
in lower key, and in husky voice.
But Henry Ia Mutt did not hear hin. =
The youths power had held out to its last
spark Of life, aud he sank heavily down
/ upon the floor, close by the spot where
tue dark gore was lifting up It's silent
( voice of horror.
CHAPTER XIII