Connecticut western news., 1888-11-14

as much as Camc 1oI. VI WolNeu my claim out, and I shall not hunt another. I moan to go home and en- gage in other business, thoug h regret to leave my good friends here. You've not boon hero long, Bonanza Gorge, so you don't know how kind they have been to me. They nursed me through sickness onc.."
 tBeen here good while, haven't you2'
 1.-Two years. You may imagine Pm an xious to get back home. never would have left, but thi. field promised more and quicker returns. You see, l had to have money"
 ''To get married on2'
 Powder Frank flushed.
 sI may be allowed to luill home for certain girl when I get back. Como, Bonanza George, don't tease me. Ike seat there"
 ' But Bonanzs George remained stand ing, looking down at the boy with an unfathomab ble expression.
 'Maybe she's married someone else in your absence.'
 "Flavia2 Not she. She promised she would marry no one while I'm alive, no ono Lut me, you know. I'd quicker be- lieve that the stars wero mu1-balls than that she had broken her promise"
 "Havo you heard from her regular Typ
 "No; Wilton has had no mails until recently, and of course could send or receive no letters. But if God lets mo 1.-Two to return to her, I'll find her true to me, T ve 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 the table, near which he had been sitting when shocked by tho lightning. Bonanza George, erect ominous-looking, stood before him, with strange look on his face. It was a look that wou' have made the timid shudder and recoil.
 Powder Frank, glancing up inquir- ingly at the others silence, noted it with alarm.
 ''What do you mean, Bonanza George2 Why do you regard me so7 You look as if you wanted to tear me up."
 He made an attempt to spring to his feet, but was bounced upon and forced back to the floor.
 Then he realized his danger, Be- nanza George had come to his cabin for an evil purpose!
 Like the claw of tiger was tho hand at his thr oat, and like the face of demon was the white one above him. Those midnight eyes had the iendish appearance of ferocious brute's They uttered murder as plain as words.
 "You'll never return to your Flavia, you milk -blooded gold digger" was hissed through the clenched teeth of the assailant. By the gods you'd as we'll been killed by the lightning. Your friends will say you were killed by tue lightning, when they find you. Die, curse you!"
 The grip on the boys throat tight ened like a wise, and the weight of the knee on his breast almost crushed him
 Like somo accurscd vampire fresh from the internal regions, the assassin bent to bis cold blooded work, strang ling Powder Frank to death.
 Ten minutes later, Bonanz, George again found himself in the storm, with vcrything dark in the cabin behind him.
 T can't find the gold, curse the luck," he growlcd. under his breath. 'But let it go. I've done enough, and done it we'll. No one will doubt that he was killed by tho lightning, as his cabin shows it was struck. Aud if he bears marks on his throat, the 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 cxultingly.
 .'Tve won the game-she's as g ood as mine. Ishall 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 go, or como, and there was no wit ness 10 his foul crime. With tn, first break of morning, we'll mounted, he left Wilton forever.
 'It was tho strangest thing in the wolll, F avia, that I should happen on the place where Frank lived. I was wandering aimlessly about, trying to forget ycu. The first man I met at Wilton, tod me Of Frank A dre W S death a week before, told me how ho had been killed by lightning ia great storm, and how they had mourned him, for he had been a favorite though somc- what wild and reckless with his money. He also showed mo what they had found ia his cabin. These papers and your picture. Then, F.avia, felt 6 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. I secured the picture and papers and came to you. What have you to say2" The beautiful girl Flavia looked at the handsomely dressed man before her intentiy for moment, and replied: t,T do not balinvo vou o