The Grange advance., 1874-09-30

moved spasmodically on the counter,
gasped once-then he was dead.
II wonder who he. was,' said the
doctor. Il never saw him before to.
day."
II think he called himself Irons, but
that wasn't his true name. When a
man comes from the States he gets a
new handle. But I want to see YOU
privately, Doc"
The last sentence was spoken in a
low tone, and Alf. Wood followed the
speaker from the bar.
81 war the first to open his Jacket
said the borderman, ''an' this is what
found in the inside pocket. It's let-
ter what will likely tell suthin' about
him. l never did run much to readin'
writic, so I saved it for you, Doc, who
do"
With eagerness the youth took the
letter, which had been carried long
time by the murdered boy-for boy
the man on the counter seemed--and
glanced at the chirography. "'Tis a
letter from woman," he said. s'Some
love-affair, no dou bt, which will tell us
but little. I can't decipher it in this
dim Light
''Take it with you, Doc. You kin
read it to night in the shanty. an to-
morrow you kin tell me what she said
to 'im, if you think it's an- of my
business
The doctor thrust the letter in his
pocket, and walked toward his Office.
Rob Murrell's victim was dead, and
the outlaw was on his way to the
mountains, to recount his exploit to
gr1ups of men who would no doubt
applaudit.
The shutters with which Alfred Wood
had thoughtfully provided his domicile
were closed when he entered his Office,
and his first thought was of the letter.
'sLife here is wearing the garb Of true
romance; he said, seating himself at
the table, and smoothing the creases Of
the dead mans letter. "On a bloody
breast they find love letter, and
| He paused abruptly, for the chirog-
raphy owned familiar shape; and has
tily taking in the signature at a single
glance, he sprang to his feet with vio-
lence that overturned the chair.
''Heavens! it cannot be!'' he cried.
''Ethel Gray is not in this country! 1
have not seen her acknowledged lover
die victim of a adesperado! No; will
not believe all this
| For moment he stood speechless in
the middle of fthe floor, staring at the
letter, then he slowly walked to his
trunk, from whose recesses he drew a
package tied with faded blue ribbon.
Then he compared the chirography
of several letters in the pack with that
of the one which had startled him.
'Ethel Gray; believe it now.' he
said, reluctantly forced to conclu.
sion. s:Thc boy at the hotel was your
lover. You must be near, and oa, girl.
have you forgotten Alfred Wood -
Then the scenes of the past rushed
before his eyes, until he tried to shut
the n out with his hands.
''Ethel, have been told that you
were dead,' he said. sBut no, you
live. Life now-''
| A rap on his door started him, and
broke the sentence.
Quickly snatching the letters from
the table, he threw them into the trunk
and then stepped to the portal.
Opening it he peered out.
+ The night was dark, but he saw sew
eral horses in the thoroughfare, and a
tall man stood on the stoop.
''Doc," he said, familiarly, '*we want
you to go with u.s.
|'Who needs me?''
s'Somebody who's pretty badly hurt.
Quick; get your Instruments; we've
got horse out here for you
Not liking the appearance Of the man.
nor those burly fellows who sat bolt
upright on their horses, and perhaps
spurred to action by the ominous click
ing ola revolver, young Wood turned
and secured his case of instruments.
''Ready?' asked the man at the door
when our hero reappeared.
<tYes.'
''Got everything-splints, bandages z"
81 know my business, SIR
''And you must do it tonight, or get
bullet in your head. There, take
that horse. I'll hold the box till you
mount
! And moment later the doctor was
in the saddle, and discovered that a
masked man sat on either side.
"We've got to blindfold you, Doc,
said the fellow who had first accosted
him. ''Don't refuse to submit. We
want to treat you gentlemanly, and for
oasT own good at. the same time; but if
you become troublesome, self-willed on
our hands, why, Deadman's Gulch may
have a dead doctor dye see =
The voice possessed familiar sound,
and while rough hands blindfolded him,
the young doctor tried to recall it.
But at last he gave it up in despair,