Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-11-16

"uV'HVi' Heau 10 60 nome anu en-
gage 10 other business, though regret
to leave my good friends her. You've
not been here long, B'nanza George, 50
you don't know how kind they have
been to me They nurscd me through
sickness ono
Been here a good while, haven't
youi'
Two years. You may imagine I'm
anxious to get back homo. never
would have left, but thi field promised
more and quicker returns. You see,
had to have money"
'To get married onl"
Powder Frank flushed
y may be allowed to build home
for certain girl when l get back.
Come, Bonanza George, don't tease me.
Take seat there"
But Bonauz, George remained stand
ing, looking down at the boy with an
unfathoma bic expression.
Maybe she's married someone else
in your absence
"Flayial Not she. She promised she
would marry no one while I'm alive, no
one but me, you know. I'd quicker be-
liev5 that the stars were mud balls than
that she had broken her promise"
'Havo you heard from her regular
ly~
NO; Wilton has had no mails until
recently, and of course l could send or
receive no letters. But if God lets mo
live to return to her, I'll find her true
to me, I We no doubt OF that"
Silence fell between the two.
They made strange picture there in
the rough, dimly lit log cabin. Powder
Frank had not arisen to his feet, but
leaned back against tho table, near
which he had been sitting when shocked
by the lightning Bonanza George,
erect, ominous-looking; stood before
him, with strange look on his face.
1t was look that wou d have made the
timid shudier and tecoiI.
Powder Frank, glancing up inquir-
indy at the others silence, noted it
with alarm.
What do you mean, Bonanza Georgc2
WIk do you regard me soa You look
as you wanted to tear me up"
de an .,.'.tt,alI attempt to, to spring s , to his
bA TO tho floor.
len he realized his danger. Bo-
nauzl George had como to his cabin for
an evil purposo
Like the claw of a tiger was the
hand at his throat, and like tho face of
a demon was the white ono above him
Those midnight eyes hal the fendish
appearance OF ferocious brute's They
uttered 'mur Ter as plaia as word4
you'll n, v9r return to your Flavia,
you milk blooded gold diggcrr was
hissed through the clenchod teeth of
the assailant. sBy the gods you'd as
well cen killed by the lightning. Your
friends will say you were killed by the
lightning, wien they find you Die,
curse you"
The grip on the boys throat tight
ened ike vi G., and the wei hit Of the
knee on his brca-t almost crushed him
Like SOM accused vampire fresh
from the internal regions, the ass ASSN
bent to his cold blooded work, strang-
ling Powder Frank to death.
Ten minute, later, Bonlnzl George
again found himself in the storm, with
everything dark in the cabin behind
him.
Il can't find the gold, curse the
luck" he grow'ed under his breath.
"But let 1t 90. I've lone enough and
done it we'll No oao will doubt that
he was killed by the lightning, as his
cabin show, it WAS struck. AID if he
bears marks on his throat, the light
ming made them, of course. Now, for
FIavil-and my pocket holds the pic
turo he had Of her, and his papers to
tell his DEATH"
II chucklcd exultingly.
'rve won the game-3he's s as good as
mine. shall start to claim her with
the first gray of morning. I'm one who
allows nothing to stand in his way.
He reached his owa cabin and re-
entered it. No human eyes had seen
him 90, or come, and there was no wit
ness TO his foul crime. With tho first
break of morning, well mounted, he
LETT Wiltol forever.
at was tho strangest thing in the
wolll, F avia, that should happen on
the place where Frank lived. l was
wandering aimlessly about trying to
forget you. The first man met at
Wilton, tod me OF Frank Andrew s
death week before, told me how he
had been killed by lightning in a great
storm, and how they had mourned him,
for he had been tavorite though some
what wild and reckless with his money.
He also showed me what they had
found in his cabin. These papers and
your picture. Then, F.avia, l felt a
ray of hope for me, for l thought that
alter all, you may not care for one who
deserted you Tor two years, and had
undoubtedly forgotten you. secured
the picture and papers and came to you.
What have you to sayF
The beautiful girl Flavis looked at
the handsomely dressed man before her
intently for moment, and replied:
Il do not believe you"
Write to Wilton; I'll give you the
address OF men there, and they will tell
you that speak the truth. will give