Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-05-11


thought of her child She made an effort
to return for it, but faintness came over
her, and Tor time could not move. But
she rallied and staggered forward, only to
fall from suffocation. And there she per
isbed ="
How DO you know this?''
Il was sleeping in the same apartment
with Agnes When she ran to the cellar |
followed | was as much frightened as her
self, and only thought of the child when the
mother spoke of her. / tried to save my
sister but mad only time to crawl through
window and save my own life.
Are you the brother of Agnes Webber?'
"You caa see that | am if You ever met
Agnes, by the strong resemblance TO her.
The resemblance is q striking one, |
confess. But where was the husband OF
your sister p
He went to the mountains for hunt
several days siuce, and had not returned last
night.
well, what do vou want with me p
81 knew y0u had the child for | saw it
in your arms last, and heard it cry as you
passed by me- | was too much frightened
TO speak to you then. But when came to
think, didn know why you should wish
to harm me or to keep the babe, and SO |
resolved to come to you and ask for 1t.
What will You do with the brat !!
Il really don know; but | am the uncle
of the little one; and OF course must do all
| can for it, for | think its father must have
already been killed.
Then the best thing I can do with this
little wiielp is 70 dash It's brains out against
a tree, said the monster, raising the child
by one foot, and making movement as it
to put his suggestion into execution. But
the boy sprang forward, and catching the
infant in his arms, he cried:
30 no !! don't harm the innocent thing 7!
She will be a woman some day, and then
you might be glad to let her live. >"
True, truc- never thought of that,
continued tie fend, ''and she may look like
her mother. 1t is long time to wait and
| shall be old then. But The death of the
brat will do me no good now, and I'll let
her live, il | don change my mind. Still
cannot help cursing myself for permitting
Agnes to slip throu-h my fingers. | loved
her as much as could love anybody, and
IF | had only been more careful, | might
have made her mime
For some moments the villain remained
silent md thoughtful; then he turned to-
ward the boy and exclaimed:
You may be deccving me. IF thought
you were, / would ia.h your brains out in
an ins.ant.
'Dccciving you in what SIR"
Agnes may not be dead. "
''Y on can satisfy yourself about that? p
How can DO so
"Go with NE and see the body yourself.
How can this be? IF it WAS in the Gel
lar, as You say, it is burnt to clnder by
this time.
"No. When drew it from the burnt
timhers this morning there was still enough
left to recognize it by. Poor girl-a smile
was resting upon her face, blackened as it
was.
So you found the boly?"
And drew it out?'
II did -
'Wha, did YOU do With it?'
Il placed il in the barn. did not know
but her husband might be back In few
days, and knew he would want TO see It
when he came y
How many men are at the rancho, or
where it stood p
mot one, Taey were all killed last
night.
rs ii possible that the father Of this child
may be back by this tiyne?
''Yes. it is possible. >
well, will take nv warriors and go to
the barn | will satisfy myself that Agnes
is dead if such is really the case. But It
will be a sorry deception for you, IT L lind
your are deceiving me. =,
''Comc on. ard yOu will find it as / tell
YOU. viii carry the child, The little
thing is frightened, when in your arms; and
if it cries, which it is sure to do; the indl-
ans may get angry end kill 1t.
VERY well-you can hold the brat y
Several of the Savages were so drunk that
they were not able To walk. or even stand
alone. aud these had to be left behind. But
NathanS started on his return to the scene
of The murder accompanied by four of his
red fiends. These were wild with stimulants
they had swallowed, and several times they
attempted to kill the lad and the child, but
were prevented from doing so by their lea
der
As they approached the barn Nathans
appeared TO he somewhat suspicious. lie
gazed cautiously around on every side, but
not sign of life was there.
The ruins of the rancho still smoked. and
occasional shoots of fame darted mp from
beneath the rimlers But before the black
ed mass iav a ghastly sight. 1t was the
body of the waichman. who bad been mur-
dered and literally cut to pieces by the hen
dish enemy.
The charred remains of the two who had
been killed within were visible. and the
spectacle was sickening one, although Ma
thans laughed as he looked upon it.
Nearing the barn, the villain exclaimed /:
boy, open the door for us "
The lad advanced and did so; hut he
started hack, and exclaimed
80, J cannot look upon her face again
it would kill me You will-fnd the BODY,
sir. near the further end of the barn. Go
in, for | cannot.
Nathans gazed in at the door, and ap-
reared to examine the interior of the place.
He was evidently satisfied, for he exciaim-
ed.
81 don't see any living being here; but
there is heap of half burnt rags, L suppose
all that is left of Agnes is in there,
As the villain smoke he entered the barn,
and the savages followed him.
The boy crouched low, watching the
wretch and his red fiends. until they had
disappeared from view. He manifested
considerable excitement, and then leaped
to his feet. and ran to the ruins of the
.ranche- He seized blazing fagot and re.
turning few steps toward the barn, applied
it to train of powder which had been pre-
viously laid. The fash shot up, and crawl
ed like fiery serpent to the building in
which the wretches were standing, In an
;netapt after fhern came a terrible eyOlOeinn