The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-07-26
not making story out OF nothingy.


s'and, if he is your friend, he is a
one about here who would offer to aid
her"
''Not the only one," said the little
doctor, rising. Il should have been
very glad to have helped the young
lady escape from your care; any true
man would have been. You are rating
the settlers here very low, monsieur.
Unfortunately, all we hear of you
does not point to your making either a
happy or a safe home for a good
woman. Put up your revolver; am
not at all afraid; the ranchmen here
are friendly to me. Now, if you desire,
dismount, and Iemyself will show you
through the house."
"Humph! you've changed all of q
sudden" grunted one of the men.
II have always held" said the doc
tor, pleasantly, that man who
could not change an opinion was a
bigot. Obstinacy is often ignorance.
Your errand being such a serious one
has quite convinced me that it is not
only right but my duty to wake Mr..
Oliver"
In his heart the doctor was thinking:
''That certainly was Craig heard in
the house; he has got back, and must
have heard what said. His window
is OPEN"
II shall wake Mr.. Oliver, then," he
said, loudly, as they dismounted and
went into the house, but l shall not be
responsible for his profanity. Craig,
open your door, please"
The doctor raped, but his heart stood
still. If Oliver should not be there!
The bolt shot back, and the man, half
dressed, with bloodshot eyes, disor-
dered hair, and dazed sort of man
ner, appeared in the doorway.
what in - is all the row?"
he said, angrily. "You must keep me
up all night and wake me in an un-
earthly hour in the morning What
do they want?"
''Mr. de Restaud's wife is missing.
They desire to search your house.
Here, gentlemen, is campbell,
trunk and one chair. The lady is not
here. Shall we keep on?'
Craig lay back on the bed and drew
his traveling-rug over him.
"They have my permission he said,
sleepily. There's cellar underneath,
and one small barn. Look we'll under
the hay. So your wife has gone, Mr..
De Restaud? Perhaps her only rela-
tive has had feeling enough to save
the poor little thing and has taken her
from your guardianship. l fancy You
would not care to have that looked
into too closely; and if l were you,
speaking now as a lawyer, would not
advertise this affair too widely. Your
wife might, you know, be persuaded to
come back"
The doctor, fearing the consequence
es, shut the door hastily and led his
visitors away. They searched the
premises closely, but, not knowing of
the blackboard, did not miss it. and the
Mexican's good little beast, lather of
foam, was hidden in grove of pines a
quarter OF mile away.
Shortly after his guests had mounted
their horses in sulky silence and gal
loped away, Oliver, newly shaven and
carefully dressed, came out in the sum
light. He was ghastly pale, and stag
gered as he walked
i've had Mike make Lae some cot
fee," he said, sinking in chair. cad,
Pm played out ] wasn't five hours
coming back; and I'm heavy man for
the horse. I'd like to own him. I
can't sleep; too tired, l suppose. Be-
sides, was little worried. Where is
our friend?"
''Gone," said the doctor, laconically.
"And now, Craig, as questions are in
order, where is the Troublesome lady?"
''On her way to Maine, hope.'
eff you are not honest in the matter
that man will kill you.''
81 have lived long enough on the
frontier, doc, to know that threatened
men live long-are safe. l did help
Mrs. de Restaud escape; you'd have
done the same. She came with great
purple marks on her throat, in pite-
GUS state of terror. She is as innocent
as child, utterly ignorant of the
world. Only such a woman would have
stayed here SO long. Any ranchman
here with daughters of his own would
have helped her. They know what he
is, and they are chivalrous men. She
came to me because-because-"
''Craig, it's the old story. I don't
doubt you're in the right this time
I'd have helped her too-but you had
to say sweet things and make love
to her. You needn't shake your head;
you can't help it,
''On my honor, DR.. John, all that
long way thought of her as of my
own little sister sleeping in the old
graveyard of the village l left twenty
years ago. The man who remembers q
child sister would have thought only
of her, of the purest things, with little
Minny. She has your embroidered cap,
old chap, and you will treasure it as q
relic of lovely woman if ever she re-
turns the loan"
But you're not a married man,
Craig" said the doctor, plaintively,
''and women can be aggravating, es-
pecially little ones with red hair. as
Mike says she's got. There must be
something on the Frenchman's aide"