The Petroleum Centre daily record. [volume] (Petroleum Center, Pa.) 1868-1873, 1870-04-29
CHAPTER III.
THE RANCuE--A SURPRISE.


In the course of minute he returned to
his young companion.
"There is no one here" ho announced.
"Perhaps tho late conduct of the red.
skins. of which we were speaking, has fright
eued Mr.. Woodbury. away"
Kit shook his head.
"Mr Woodbury. has not been here lately"
he asserted. There hasn't been stroke OF
work done on the place this snmmer!"
"IIe may have gone away last fall, then,
and not have returned"
The scout agai shook bis head.
IL fear your former suggestion 10 the
true one,' be remarked.
Namely, that the Indians have killed
him.
..Yes. The door is full Of bnlle,s. and
the turf walls are bnrnt and smoked, In
places, as If the redskins had fired into
them at short range. fear Mr.. Woodbury.
has been killed!'
HAS the bousc been ravaged:"
mo. Everything appears as Mr.. Wood.
bury would have naturally left it. only In
disordered state. The furniture is here
such as it was, the dishes, the household
stuff Of every description, but everything is
dirty, damaged and going to pieces. I'll
tell you just what think, which is, that
somebody has killed Mr.. Woodbury., and
that this somebody has taken possession !"
"Is there any sign of this somebody hav-
| ing been here lately?'
"Yes. cannot say how lately. but l
should say within day or two, although
the hearth is perfectly cold. sTherc is pail
of water in the pantry, part OF u BAN. bag
oil corn, bag of -four, dish of salt, aud
various other articles Of food. There Is q
bed of skins in each room, which looks as If
lately occupied"
"This is very singular, "com mented Effie.
''Mr. Woodbury. must have o strange suc-
cessor Who eau he be.
Il think he's red-skin!"
| Sand wby?"
"Because the lock and bars. which have
been burst from the door, have not been
replaced. This shows that the occupant is
not afraid of the red.skins!"
Hiiie mused moment upon this unex-
pected condition Of niiairs, and then asked ::
| well, what shall we dO?''
Before replying, the scout looked at bis
horse searchingly, assuring bimself that the
animal was very tired.
"We'll halt hore while," he then said |;
''long enough TO take bite ourselves, and
allow Dolby to do justice to part OF that
corr in the pantry"
II shall be glad 10 rest awbile,.' observ-
ed Eflie, as she aiigbted, II am very
tired!''
Naturally enough, after all these adven-
lures. But good supper. and good
nights rest will bring you ont again. Walk
IN, and maze yourself at homs, I'll just
slip Dolby into the corral, 90 that he will
not s,rLy of in the darkness. IS
They made fire, aud had q coarse, but
comfortable meal.
"Sncb IL supper. with our hunger, Is bet
ter than feast with out appetite, remark
ed Eiiie.
"Don't know why we should not put up
at this hotel uuli morning." observed Kit,
as he also looked contentedly about him.
"TIue. the landlord is absent, but We can
get along without him."
III think the only question is Gs TO wbeth
er we can get along with him. If he should
chance to return through the night
I'm answer for that contingency. On
the whole, think We will do well TO stay
here until morning. There's room for
each ofus, and plenty Of buffalo robes to
make us comfortable.
AS he spoke he laid some more wood on
the fire, to light up the 6interior Of the
rancho. and bright body of flames almost
instantly Illuminated the scene around him
as perfectly us it could have been illumlnat.
ed by the sun at midday.
"LOok at that!" suddenly cried Ellie, 10
q startled whisper, as she leaped to her
feet. .What is that?"
"What: Wbere?" demanded the Scout.
:.That writing, in red letters, upon the
wall behind us.'' exclaimed Miss Lyon, the
blood receding from her face, while her
form shook violently.
She pointed TO the wall opposite the fire.
place-ihe wall upon which those ruddy
flames shone 50 vivilly--and there the scout
beheid several lines Of coarse and irregu Ian.
writing. evideplly tho work ol a human fin
ger, which had again and again been dipped
IN blood
This terrible revelation was 40 follows:
IL am attacked, this 10th Of March, by
Fleet Foot and dozen Others. Already y
terribly wounded. Expect to go under, az
the door can't bold out much longer.
JOHN WOODBURY."
1t was message from the dead!
The mystery off puor WoOdbury's fate
stood terribly revealed.
In his last moments, mortslly wounded
be had written with bis finger, and with his
own blood, that fearful message.
Before the scout and his companion could
Withdraw their gaze from that dreadful
revelation, they were further startled by
sounds that came 10 their hearing from
without the rancho.
Then their eyes met.
IL hear iootseps!" murmnred Effie.
"And voices also!' replied Carson.
at the same instant Q dog was heard