Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-02-21
TContirued from first page.I
intensely rigid. Bnt that was natural
the man and the occasion.


intensely rigid. Bnt that was natural to
the man and the occasion.
Several hours were thus occupied, and
toward the close the examining party
showed tendency TO stop and consult to-
gether. Dempton left them to themselves;
and when the last point of the search was
passed, they all found themselves togeth-
er again where it began-at the front door
--Dempton standing little apart. There
was moments silence, broken bv Atkins.
''Our friends think, Squire Dempton.
that as | took upon myself TO begin this
days work by the question ! asked you.
i,'s my part to end it; and | have to say
for myself and them that we don't find
the first thing against you. It's all the
other way. We couldn't say less, II we
were disposed to, and you may depend
upon our saying this whenever the subject
is mentioned. 1t seems as if some apollo
~ ought to be made; yet we don't like TO
admit that we were quick to suspect a
neighbor. We want to hear from you that
you don't bear us any grudge for this day :
business"
Dempton addressed his reply to the
whole company.
Il hold that what Mr.. Atkins has said is
no more than my due; and feeling 1t to
be so from the very beginning. cant
thank YOU, gentlemen. for coming to tins
result But | bear no grudge. and shall
deem you better neighbors Tor the part
you have performed. What | have said
and done to-day ought to be my sufficient
defense; but | may as well lie: you know
that if you are satisfied, am not. have
something more to do, and that is--to fol
low up James Elsey's track and see il
can find some trace Of him. l do not yet
give up all hope, and shall set about my
search as soon as can arrange about the
live stock and other things Eve got here
that must be looked after"
Il reckon Squire said Atkins, That
that 5 the best thing you can do. and you
may be sure we shall all wish you good
luck at it,"
Aud so this momentous affair ended.
Before nightfall it was rehearsed far and
wide, with generally the same result-a
more favorable opinion of Dempton than
had ever been entertained, and an expec
talion that the inquiry he was about to
make would solve the fate of James
Elsey.
Not so; that entire community was ut
terly misled. Our acquaintance Nep was
the sable digit provdentially selected to
point out the clue.
VI.
Agreeable to the intention he had an
nounced, William Dempton lost no time
in preparing for his proposed journey.
lie simply did what was absolutely neces
sirv, arranging with one of his nearest
neighbors to look after his small crops,
and disposing OF his live stock among two
or three others. A special readiness to
oblige was found on all sides. The result
was, that without its taking that form
distinctly, he virtually distributed pledges
of his good faith throughout the neighbor-
hood, and insured the utmost possible pa
thence should his absence be prolonged.
No one thing conduced more to this than
his leaving his house as 1t was, simply
fastening down the windows, and giving
the key TO Atkins. There was no danger,
he said, that any white man would disturb
it Cramps were unknown in those days y
and as for "darkies," they wouldn't ven
ture in 1t the daytime, and no one OF them
would dare go near tic house at night
On the morning of his departure, Atkins,
whom he asked TO be present, received the
door key from his hand, and was the only
one to see him throw his saddle-bags across
his horse, and take the lonely road among
the bills towards Wilkesvile and Virginia.
CONTINUED TOMORROW /.