The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-09-17
CHAPTER xI

CHAPIEH Xl
THE WOUNDED CALIFORNIAN
A thousand cOnjectures were in the
mind of Farmer Miles as he drove the
wounded stranger home. 1t was in
tensely dark and he did not dare
hurry.
"Who could have attempted the as
sassination?" he thought There was
a rumor at Bustville that he was a de-
tective. or a rich man returned from
California. Which can it bes If he is
a detective, was he after Walter, and
was it Walter and his gang that
knocked him down? Bah. Why do
do the poor lad the injustice to mix
him up in this affair? 1t was that in
fernal lie Dave Black told me-"
After another period of thought he
would come round upon the subject
again. and wish in vain that he could
drive it from his mind.
Never mind. I'll watch the boy and
see what l can discover in this affair.
Do YOU feel better now, stranger?' he
asked. aloud.
Il am not so stunned and confused.
but | am suffering severe pain, was
the answer.
Are you sufficiently recovered to
tell how this happened. and who it was
attacked YOU. and what for?" asked
the farmer.
Il know but little about it: all !
know is it was an attempted murder
and robbery
How many were there of the rob
bers9''
Three or four, l could not say
which
Il heard shot; was YOU hits'
mo. fired the shot myself"
"Did you hit any of the rascals?"
Il can not say. for Just as | fired
some villain struck my arm and
knocked the pistol from my hand"
Did they take any thing from you9''
Il think not. had but little they
could take. except my life. and I'm
sure it was only your oppCr,unc ar
rival that prevented them taking that. :
Have YOU any idea who they were?'
mo. sir. | am an utter stranger
here" answered the wounded man.
They drove along slowly, for the
stranger was suffering intense pain.
When they arrived at farmer Miles
house, they found the wounded
strangers horses standing meekly hv
the cate with remnant of the shat
tered buggy attached to them. The
farmer went in and broke the news to
his wife and daughter, who were still
up in the sitting-room.
Where are the uoys?" asked the
farmer.
They are in bed" answered his
wife.
I'll go and meet them said Mr..
Miles.
He hurried upstairs to their rooms
John and Ben answered his calls
Where is Wa'ter?' he asked. as
John appeared at the door of his room,
rubbing his eyes rather sleepily.
I'm his bed said John
Hurry up YOU fellows; there's been
robbery down the road, and almost a
murder. I've got a wounded man in
the wagon. you must all come out and
help carry him in
As Walter Brownfield still did not
answer, he entered his room and APP
preached his bed. and found it unoc-
cupicd.
walter is not here, where is he?"
asked Mr.. NJ les.
He went to bed there" said John,
who being now thoroughly awake, was
dressing rapidly.
Yes. but he got up two hours ago
and went out. said Ben; hes not
been back since"
The farmer staggered as if he had re-
ceiyed a blow. Dave Black must be
right and Walter is one of the robbers
who attacked the stranger on the
Bushville road"
He said nothing, however, hut hur-
ried out with John and Ben to carry in
the wounded man. When Mr.. Brown
had been placed in bed and made rs
comfortable as possible. Ben Miles was
sent to put away the horses and John
to Bushville to inform the sheriff and
bring doctor.
Upon examining Mr. Browns inju-
rieS. Mr.. Miles discovered that be had
several bruises about the head aud
shoulders. and his left arm was broken.
John had been gone nearly an hour
when the door opened and Walter
Browntield entered the sitting-room,
his face flushed and paled by turns.
and to Mr.. Miles appeared decidedly
guilty. His astonishment knew no
bounds ut the sight of the wounded
man.
Where have you been. Walter?"
asked the farmer.
II did not feel well. and arose from
nv bed to take walk in the night
air"
That settles il" thought the farm
er. though he said nothing. He is a
robber. and to think that have been
harboring him."
The farmer no longer doubted Wal
ter's guilt. but his great desire was to
bring the entire gang to justice.
Should he have Walter arrested the
others would leave the country: there
fore he must bide his time.
Ben told Walter all he knew about
the attack Oh Mr.. Brown. and how, if
his father had not charged down to the
rescue in a two-horse wagon, he would
have been killed. Walter listened in
real. though Mr.. Miles construed it to
be only feigned, wonder. The doc
tor came, as did the sheriff. The form
er set the arm and dressed the wounds,
and the latter had long conversation
with Mr.. Miles and departed. For
three or four DAYS the sheriff with a
posse Of men rode about the country.
put found no clue to the would-be rob
oers and assasSins.
The next day Mr.. Miles met Hawk
ms, his thriftless neighbor, and gave
him an amusing account of how he had
a dozen brigands. and run
hem from an intended victim.
s.Who were they3-' asked Hawkins.