Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-02-14
Maybe she's married someone else

she would marry no one while IN alive,
no one but me, you know. I'd quicker
believe that the stars were mud-balls
than that she had broken her promise"
"Have you heard from her regular
ly?"
mo; Wilton has had no mails until
recently, and of course | could send or
receive no letters. But il God lets me
live to return to her, I'll find her true
to motive no doubt of that"
Silence fell between the two.
They made strange picture there
in the rough. diply lit log-cabin. Pow
der Frank had not arisen TO his feet,
but leaned back against the table, near
which he had been sitting when he had
been shocked by the lightning. Bo-
nanza George, erect, misunderstanding,
stood before him, with Il strange look
on his face. 1t was a look that would
have mado the timid shudder and re-
coil.
Powder Frank glancing up inquir-
ingly at the others silence, noted it
with alarm.
What do you mean, Bonanza George?
Why do you regard me SOP You look
as if you wanted TO tear me up"
feet. but he was bounced upon and
forced back TO tho floor.
Then he realized his danger. Boz
nanza George had come to his cabin
for an evil purpose!
Like the claw Of n tiger was the
hand at his throat, and like the face of
demon was the white one above him.
Those midnight eyes had the tiendish
appearance of a ferocious brute's. They
uttered murder as plain as words.
you'll never return to your Flavia,
you milk-blooded gold-digger!' was
Kissed through tho clcnched 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 lightning, when they find you. Die,
curse you!"
The grip on the boys throat tighten
ed like vice, and the weight of the
knee upon his breast almost crushed
him.
Like some accurscd vampire, fresh
from the internal regions, the assassin
bent to his COld-bloOded work, strangl-
| ing Powder Frank TO death.
Ten minutes later, Bonanza George
again found himself in the storm, with
everything dark in the cabin behind
him.
II can't find the gold, curse the
| luck" he growlcd, under his breath.
but let il 90. I've done enough. and
done il 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, the lightning
made them, of course. Now, for Flavia
and my pocket holds the picture he
had OF her, and his papers to tell his
! death.
He chuckled exultingly.
ave won the gamc-she's as good as
mine. l 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 own cabin and re.
entered it. No human eyes had seen
him go, or come, and there was no wit
ness to his foul crime. With the first
break of morning, well mounted, he
! left Wilton forever.
'It was the strangest thing in the
world, Flavia, that should happen on
| the place where Frank lived. | was
wandering aimlessly about, trying to
| forget you. The first man | met at Will
| ton, told me of Frank Andrews death
a 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 favorite though somewhat
wild and reckless with his money He
also showed me what they had found in
! his cabin. These papers and your
/ picture. Then, Flavia, felt ray of
hope for me, for l thought that after
! all, you may not care for one who de-
serted you for two years, and had I'M
doubtedly forgotten you. | secured the
! picture and papers and camo TO you.
! What have you TO sayP"
The beautiful girl Flavia, looked at
the handsomely dressed man before
her intently for mement, and rcpli-
ed:
II do not believe you"
write to Wilton; | will give you the
address of men there, and they will
tell you that lspeak the truth. | will
| give you all the time you want to get
replies. o Flavia, my darling, yield
to me- cannot live without you. you
said you would never while Frank lived
now that he is dead you will not
waste your precious self on him longer,
l know. Be my wife, Flavia."
The girl arose to her feet and point
ed TO the door.
Co! she said, with white lips. II
never want TO SEQ you again"
He expOstulated and entreated, but
she was finn, and he was forced to leave
her.
He hardly closed the door when
Flavia heard voice, which though
rough in anger, made her start and
quake in doubt and expectation. What
she heard was:
"Scoundrel! liarl That's the man,
officer! Hand-cuff him, and If he at
tempts to resist I'll shoot him like a
dogw
She heard George Soper utter an
oath. and then, running to the door
and llinging it open, she saw him being
marched down the steps Of her home by
an officer OF the law.
She saw third party-the owner of
the voice she heard, and sobbing
with Joy and relief she fell into his
! arms.