The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-11-01

lie WIS dlll1OSt like SOn-OT,
rather" said the colonel, hastily correct
ing himself, ''likc younger brother. If
he did not come over Just at an appointed
hour | missed him directly, and found
myself wondering why Lionel didn't
come And then when he came dashing
up on his pony, his fair young face
shaded by his big sombrero, and calling
out in his CHEEKY voice, Hello, Colonel"
some way the day at once grew brighter.
Toward the end of August, Lionel
began talking about going through the
northwestern part of Kansas in search of
more cattle for his ranch. He had heard
of some particularly fine creatures. which
he wished to secure. He intended to
stock his ranch well, and then 90 to
southern California for the winter, and
was continually urging me to join him.
After advising with my physician, l
finally agreed, and when, on the morn
ing of the 9th of September, he rode
away, that was our plan. We shook hands
on it. chung to his little longer than
usual watched him down the road to
the bend, saw him turn, wave his SOM
jbrero-and then the mountain hid him
from sight.
1.-The days were very long then. l
missed him terribly. Every day l rode
over to his cabin and took look around
at his books, his collection of pipes, the
banjo he used to love to thrum in the
soft twilight-cvcrything spoke so plain
ly of him; moreover, strangely enough,
everything seemed invested with a
mournful charm.
ut was pitiful to see his dogs-a brace
of fine English bloodhounds. They fol-
lowed me about and regarded me with
anxious, questioning eyes. They would
sit by the hour looking wistfully down
the road, watching watching for their
beloved master to come back-but he
never came.
'Onc night-thc 18th of September -
| shall never forget i'll could not sleep.
| would fall into an uneasy doze, from
which | would suddenly start. always
with some premonition of horror strong
ly impressed upon me.
The dogs, too-Beelzebub and
Taurus uneasy. To and fro they
walked, constantly changing their posi-
tions. and growing in their sleep. A.
last they came 20 me. and thrusting their
cold noses in my hand, mutely petitioned
to be allowed to 20 forth. | opened the
door. 1t was midnight. Midnight in
that awful wilderness. The stars were
glittering far above the tops of the noun
tains. A cold breeze blew down from
the heights. and something colder
seemed to clutch my heart. for-laugh, if
you likc-in that solemn stiffness, alone
with nature. at the dead of night, heard
the voice of my boy-Lionel Ashton
cry. MY God! Colonel, Coloncl'
''At that instant Taurus lifted his head
in the air, and out upon the night went
series of the most mournful, blood
curdling bowls ever heard. Bcelzcbub
joined in this dismal chorus. and all l
could say would not silence him.
II was startled, | admit. but attrib-
utcd the voice l had heard to an over
wrought imagination, although now am
firmly convinced that in his extremity my
friend called upon me. and that through
some mysterious instinct no one can ey-
plain. those poor dumb brutcs knew that
their master was in peril.
ashton had promised that by the Sd
or 4th of October h. would return. He
had even told me what he wanted for his
first supper at my cabin, and you may be
sure that | had everything in readiness.
| cannot tell you how | looked forward
to his return, or how disappointed | was
when day after day rolled by and he did
not come. disappointment grew into
depression, and finally into settled con-
viction that something was wrong. |
could not Danish the sound of that voice
that rang in agony. 1t called me at all
hours. | knew no rest, and at last de-
cided that. come what would, l should
20 in search of Lionel Ashton.
II made known my decision TO his
hcrdcr and to my man, and began pre-
partitions for my Journey. The big blood
hounds regarded me with mournful in
tcrest With eager glances they watched
my every movement. l ordered them
shut up when rode away, fearing they
might attempt to join me. Their bowls
and pitcous whincs followed me as far as
l could hear them.
"For the first four days easily tracked
Lionel. Settlers and ranchmen readily
remembered him. He was person not
easily forgotten But on the fifth day
lost the trail. Every one | questioned
shook his head obviously. Not Il trace
could | discover so on the sixth and
seventh. | had tracked Lionel Ashton
up to the fourth evening after he left my
ranch, then he had disappeared as com
pletely as if the earth had swallowed
him.
81 was now firmly convinced that he
had met with foul play, and determined
to return home and secure help. scour the
country-ycs, even set his bloodhounds
to work-to discover, if possible, his