Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1888-02-11

their guests that they could not yet conceive
of anything that did not pertain to it,
The stranger who was at once ushered into
the parlor, was evidently disconcerted by the
presence Of the three women.
~ reczoned to see John Hale yer, he began,
awl1wardly.
A slight look of disappointment passed
over their faces. "He has not yet returned" )"
said Mrs Hale briefly
GSho / wa~ter know. He's he'd time to
90 it, l reckon" said tho stranger.
II suppose he hasn't been able to get over
from the Summit, . returned Mrs. Hale "The
trail is closed"
at amt now, for l KEN over it this morn
in myself
"You didn't-meet-any one?" asked
Mrs Hale timdly, with glance at the
others.
"No.n
A long silence ensued. The unfortunate
visitor plainly perceived an evident abate-
ment of interest in himself, yet he still
struggled politely to say something. "Then
reckon you know what kept Hale awayp
he said obviously.
"Oh, certainly-the stage robbery"
II wish I'd known that" said the stran-
ger reaectively, "for ez good ez rode over
jist to tell it to ye Ye see John Hale, he
sent a note to ye 'splainin' matters by gen
tleman; but the road agents tackled that
man, and left him for dead in the road"
Eyes" said Mrs. Hale impatiently.
J;o l,,%l 10 o,,I
aged to crawl inter the bush, whar found
him when was lookin' for stock, and brought
him to my house,
"You found him2 Your house:" interrupted
Mrs Hale
"Inter my house, continued the man dog
gedly "rm Thompson of Thompson's Pass
over yon: mebbe it amt much of house,
but brought him thar. Well, eZ he couldn't
find the note that Hale had guv him, and like
ez not the road agents had gone through him
and got it, ez soon ez the weather let up
made a break over yer to tell ye."
"You say Mr.. Lee came to your house." re-
peated Mrs. Hale "and is there now"
"Not much" said the man grimly; "and
never said Lee was thar. I mean that Bilson
was shot by Lee and KEMP
Certainly, Josephine!" said Kate, suddenly
stepping between her sister and Thompson,
and turning upon her a white face and eyes
of silencing signiicance; "certainly-dont
you remember?-that's the story we got
from the Chinaman, you know, only mud
died Go on, sir" she continued, turning to
Thompson calmly; "you. SAY that the man
a.,
shot by Lees"
"And another fellow they call Falkner.
Yes, that's about the size of it."
"Thanl you; it's nearly the same story that
we heard. But you have had a long ride,
Mr. Thompson; let me offer you glass of
whisky in the dining room. This way,
please"
The door closed upon them none too soon.
For Mrs Hale already felt the room whirling
around her and sank back into her chair with
an hysterical laugh. Old Mrs. Scott did not
move from her seat, but, with her eyes fixed
on the door, impatiently waited Kates re-
turn Neither spoke, but each felt that the
young, untried girl was equal to the emer-
gency and would get at the truth.
The sound of ThompSon's feet in the hall
and the closing of the front door was followed
by Kates temperance. Her face was still
pale, but calm.
"Wellm said the two women in breath.
"Weu," returned Kate, slowly, Mr.. Lee
and Mr.. Falllner were undoubtedly the two
men who took the paper from Johns messen-
ger and brought it here"
"You are suref" said Mrs. Scott.
"There can be no mistake, mother"
"Then," said Mrs. Scott, with triumphant
feminine logic, II don't want anything more
to satisfy me that they are perfectly inno-
cent?"
More convincing than the most perfect
masculine deduction, this single expression of
their common nature sent a thrill of sym
pathy and understanding through each. They
cried for a few moments on each others
shoulders.
"To think" said Mrs. Scott, what that
poor boy must have suffered to have been
obliged to do-that tto--to-Bilson--isnt that
the creatures names suppose we ought to
send over there and inquire after him, with
some chicken and jelly, Kate. It's only com
mon humanity, and we must be just, my
dear; for even if he shot MIR. Lee and pro
voked the poor boy to shoot him, he may
have thought it his duty. And, then, it viii
avert suspicious"
ITO think" mEmured Mrs Hale, Hwhat
they must have gone through while they
were here-momentarily expecting John to
come, and yet keeping up such a light heart.
"I believe, if they had stayed any longer,
they would have told us everything" said
Mrs. Scott.
Both the younger women were silent. Kate
was thinking of Falkner's significant speech
as they neared the house on their last walk
Josephine was recalling the remorseful pic
ture drawn by Lee, which she knew was his
own portrait. Suddenly she started.
'But John will be here soon; what are We
to tell him? And then that package and that
letter"
"Don't be in hurry to tell him anything
+ ,,,.,.,,,+ my obill y said Mrs Scott gently