Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-12-01


that Taylor alone had seen Indians.
None of the others had seen the slightest
cause for alarm. In repeating his story
Taylor got it badly mixed, and when lie
attempted to console the girl, who stood
listening to every detail with fearless
eyes, she answerod:
1T may be so, but cannot believe it.
! shall not believe it until see his dead
body"
"But are you doubling my words,
miss
III tho Indians killed him his body
will be lying where it fell" she an
swered. you can find the spot again
you must find it. We cannot go now,
as night is coming on, but we shall go
in the morning. If the wild beasts have
spared his body, want it for Christian
burial. If they have not, want what
bones they may leave"
what did you fire ct todEy?' asked
Joe as he reached for Taylor's gun and
proved by the backing on his finger
thrust into the bore that it had been re-
Gently discharged.
IL fired on the Injuns, Of course"
hammered Taylor.
"Oh, you did. We thought You said
you had your gun on your back and was
climbing up mass of rock to get look
around"
live Got TO lie down and think it
over and quiet my nerves. I've had such
close call that I'm ratified and can't re-
member just how it all was"
~ IL i ~.
men gathered in II group to discuss his
story. There was something queer about
it, but as no one knew of his feeling
against Harl1ins there was no key to his
actions. Bcss sought to furnish one by
saying:
II know This man hated father, aud
could SEQ il every time he looked at us.
Why he did do not know, but L know
that he had an i'll will. If father is dead
he had something to do with it,
"Hush, child" cautioned ;he captain
Of tho train. your rather and Taylor
were good friends rs far as | could SEQ.
j. is an awful charge to bring against
man-that Of betraying comrade.'
But he told Two or three different
stories about it," answered Joe, land
his actions are suspicious. If he has
done this he shalt
Il will shoot him with my own hand"
serniy replied the captain. Let every
thing rest till lie awakes. Il may have
been as ne says--that fright and exhaus-
ton may have upset him."
But he must guido lis to the spot in
tho morning persisted Joe.
/ Il shall insist upon that, even if we
have TO Leave the camp alone, added
/ Be-.
1T shall be So" replied the captain.
We snail know al in the morning.
| EeSs ratreated 70 the wagon, rent with
conflicting emotions and Frustrated by
grief and doubt, and the men went about
their duties without word 90 each other.
! All felt that thcre was something wrong
ABOUT Taylor's story, but all hesitated
to believe him guilty of the henous
crime of taking the life of comrade.
Night came down.
Taylor mad hidden his face under Lis
blanket, but he had not closed his eyes
in sleep. He was not tortured by re-
morse. On the contrary, he was e!ated
over the thought that he now alone DOS
s"ssed the secret Of the cave Of gold.
But he was troubled that ne mad not told
better story. Before firing The shot
he had planned inst now he would act
and what lie would say. The fear which
guilt always brings had upset him and
caused him to halt and hesitate and tel
very lame story.
Many man VINO has planned crime
has thought it all over and prepared
himself at every point only to realize
after its commission that he left loop
holes in his a;1nor Of defense.
1t WAS ioug after dark before Taylor
rose up. lic had then settled ON story
from which he would not vary. He tot
ii TO the men. and he told it with sucl
apparent sincerity that some of them be
lieved MIN, while noue disputed. Bes
mad como forward 10 hear it, rs was he
right. When he had finished there wa
Il long. painful silence, broken at last b,
the girl, who said
If this story be true you lave dom
only what another might DO 50 situated
We shall know tomorrow. You ca,
. ma Ille lll'iCt H5d4H, ana YOU VIII l'd'
H. there.
IL was dreadfully turned around
and | might not be able to find the exac
spot" replied Taylor.
"Iou must answered Bess. M
fathers bones must not lie unhuried
His death shall not go unaycnged."
well, I'll try, and if we all lose on
scalps in the effort | cannot he held IT
sponsible. I'm sure there's an India
camp not far from that spot, and it's
wonder to me we haven't been attacke
since came in. There were as man
as seven right after me for two or thre
miles"
The men, and especially Joe, ha
looked to see the girl break down undo
the strain, but she did not. She Tough
against it and chung to the hope tina
her father still lived, though he mig!:
he wounded and Il prisoner.
Midnight came and all was quiet.
Joe went on guard at that hour, an