The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1882-11-11
TH1BODAUX LA, SATURDAY, NuyEMr:sR IL 1882

III his rlgtlt hand, dasned swiftly bv.
A horrible fear chilled Cecil Clayton.
Win dl.acuity she suppressed the shriak
that rose to her lips ana, he =dess of Philips
endeavors to calm her, started after them
When the two men-pHraued and rur-
suer-were almost III the inids: Of the d:,r.c-
ers, the pursuer fired second saot Ctter-
ing fe 'rtul cry, the hunted creature Tel.
backward to the ground directly before old
John Clayton.
The ladies shriel.ed and ran toward the
house, while ths gentlemen guests stood
dumbfounded.
"All right. my friends" said the wirv
marksman. my duty is done. In, good
1 the reward put up this afternoon! The
fellow that takes him dead or alive gets it.
Guess he's deadi'
John Ciaytons face became white as
his snowy locks.
''Tis Ned Jasper!" he gasped, in accents
Of horror.
Cecil. coming up, took in the situation at
. glance She bent over the pros rate form
Of the wounded convict, aud placed her
hand on his left breast.
"Let the servants be summoned" she
commanded authoritatively. This poor
man is severely injurt d, but not dead, and
must be immediately taken in."
The unfortunate groaned, opened his eyes,
and raised himself upon his elbow
Dead! dead!" he muttered. "No, no!
I'm not fool enough to die yet But Tm
nearly gone-nearly gone. I'm starving
-starving!
He tottcred to his feet and gazed wildly
about. Ths blood from lacerated cheek,
and from a wound in tho head oozed slowly
down his face and neck. His gray hair
was soaked to his forehead by the crimson
dow, AMI his sunken eyes, fired with deli
rum, gave him the appearance of o mad
man.
John Clayton. in an agony of apprehen-
sion, would havs ordered the crim;nals 8
captor to take him away. Cecil gave him a
warning look and whispered, in low tone:
Careful, father-careful!'
"Im trying to fnd Joan'" moaned the
convict. "So1ody else will have anything
to do with me! He's good to me-yes, he's
gooti to nev'
Cecil started. Her father stole away.
.'See here. Mr.. Whats-your- NAME said
Cecil, merrily, no trace Of fear in her voice,
you must so with the servants, and b.
taken care OF.
Jasper turned his hollow eyes upon her
"Who are yon?" he asked then, as il
struck by something in her features, stop
ped.
1t was trying moment for the young
helress She understood Ned Jasper q
.ong'.t. and knew what lie might, in his
pitia5le plight, he uns apsciously led 10 say
And Philip standing th"re, too!
a am girl who will see you taken care
cf." she said, quickly. and beckoned two
gaping servants ''Tom, Stephen. assist
tins poor fellow to the kitchen, and give
him nourishment. Let the doctor be sent
for imlnediately, TO attend his wounds"
Ned Jasper kept his eyes fixed on her,
but did not RESIST the servants as they led
him away.
The instant the guests were gone. Cecil
excused herself to Philip, vino fingered be-
hind, and sought her father in the library.
Il have work before mel! she muttered.
''Resl will never know till it be fuished!'
Bat the proud John Clayton WIS not in
he library, nor indeed in the house. He
had disappeared!