The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-11-08
that you are gong away from hereT
tho visitor resumed.

gage In other business, though regret
to leave my good friends hcr". You've
not been here long, Bonanza George, so
you don't know how kind they have
been to mo. They nursed me through
sickness once"
"Bcen here good while, haven't
your
1.-Two years. You may imagine Pm
anxious to get back homo. l never
would hsvo left, but thi field promised
moro and quicker returns. You sec, l
had to have money"
''To get married on?'
Powder Frank flushed.
81 may bo allowed to build homo
for certain girl when l get back.
Come, Bonanza George, don't tease me.
Take seat there"
But Bonanza George remained stand
ing, looking down at the boy with an
unfathomable expression.
"Maybo she's married someone else
in your Absence
"Flavia3 Not she. She promised she
would marry no one while Pm alive, no
one but me, you know. I'd quicker be-
lieve that the stars were mud balls than
that she had broken her promise"
"Have you heard from her regular
lyT
mo; Wilton has had no mails until
recently, and of course I could send or
receive no letters. But if God lets me
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 would have made the
timid shuddcr and rccoil.
Powder Fraak, glancing up inquir-
ingly at the others silence, noted it
with alarm.
''What do you mean, Bonanza George1
Why do you regard me so9 You look
as if you wanted to tear me up"
He made an attempt to spring to his
feet, but was pounced upon aud forced
back to tho floor.
Then he realized his danger. Bo-
nanza George had come to his cabin for
an evil purpose!
Like the claw Of tiger was tho
hand at his throat, and like the face of
demon was the white one above him.
Those midnight eyes hal the fen dish
appearance of ferocious brutc's. They
uttered 'mur ler' as plain as worda
"You'll never return to your Flavia,
you milk -bloodod gold diggcrr' was
Kissed through the clenchod teeth of
the assailant. by the gods! you'd as
well been killed by the lightning. Your
friends will say you were killed by the
lightning, when they find you. Die,
curse you'll"
The grip on the boys throat tight
ened like wise, and the sight of the
knee ON his breast almost crushed him
Like somo accursed vampire fresh
from the internal regions, tho assassin
bent to his cold blooded work, strang
ling Powder Frank to death.
Ten minutes later, Bonanz, George
again found himself in the storm, with
everything dark in the cabin behind
him.
II can't find tho gold, curse the
luck" he growed. under his breath.
'But let it 60. Pve done enough, and
done it we'll No one will doubt that
he was killed by the lightning, as his
cabin shows it was struck. And if he
bears marks on his throat, tho light
ming made them, of course. Now, for
Flavia-and my pocket holds the pic
ture he had of her, and his papers to
tell his DEATH"
He chuckled exultingly.
"I've won the game-she's as good as
mine. / shall start to claim her with
tho first gray Of morning. Pm one who
allows nothing to stand in hi, way"
He reached his owa cabin and re-
entered it. No human eyes had seen
him go, or come, and there was no wit
4 ness TO his foul crime. With tho first
break of morning, well mounted, he
left Wilton forever.
ut was the strangest thing in the
world, F.avia, that should happen on
the place where Frank lived. was
wandering aimlc,sly about. trying to
forget you. The first man / met at
Wilton, tod me OF Frank Andrew s
death a week before, told me ho " he
had been killed by lightning in great
storm, and how they had mourned him,
for he had been favorite 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, / felt q
ray of hope for me, for l thought that
after all. you may not care for one who
deserted you for two years, and had
undoubtedly forgotten you. l secured
the picture and papers and came to you.
What have you to say2'
The beautiful girl Flavia looked al
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, aud they will tell
you that speak the truth. will give
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