People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-08-24
THE MERCHANT CRIM NE.
BY HORATIO ALGER. JR.
CHAPTER XIX-CoNTINUED.


Perhaps Mr. Raymond may ap-
pear in the course of the forenoon, "
suggested the landlady. 1T may be
only boys adventure.
d hope you may be right, said
Cromwell, "but l hardly think it
will prove So"
He did not eat much breakfast.
The thought of Robert Raymond ~
ing at the bottom of the pond kept
continually recurring TO him. He
wondered whether he would be found
and when. He would like to have
set out for New York at once; but if
Immediately after his departure the
body should be found, it would look
bad, and possibly excite suspicion.
He thought it would be better for
him to wait Two or three days, and
then he would feel at liberty to start
on his journey.
II during that time he attended to
his business as usual, there would be
no chance for suspecting him of hav-
ing had anything to do with Roberts
disappearance. This course, then,
he resolved to adopt, but in spite Of
all he could do, he was tOrmented by
a constant, nervous anxiety. Every
moment he thought OF the liability
that Roberts body might be disccv'
cred, and he braced himself to stand
the shock. He thought it best, how.
ever, to write a letter at once t
Paul Morton announcing the mys
terious disappearance of Robert.
His letter ran thus:
| PAUL MORTON, Esq
Dear Sir-It is with great regret that
4 take my pen, having only bad news to commu
nicate. Your ward, Robert Raymond, whom
you placed in my charge, has mysteriousl,
disappeared have seen nothing Of hin
since yesterday at supper He went out afte
/ that, and did not return to pass the night a
I his boardin house do not know what I,
think, whether he has met with any accident
perhaps Of fatal nature, or has only rul
away. II the latter, suppose he would max
his way to New York and present himself be
fore you 1 shall take every means of asceI
tanning which Of these is the true explanation
of his mysterious disappearance l think o
starting for New York in a couple Of days, il
order TO see you personally, and let you know
all that can learn about this unfortunate al
fair, as know that you will be deeply inter
ested in all that concerns your ward
Your Obedient servant
JAMES CROMWELL
81 think that will do" said Crom
well, after reading his letter owe
when finished. ut tells nothing /
an ordinary reader, but Mr.. Morton
will understand it well enough, es
pecially when he reads the word
which | have underlined. On tn
whole, | don't know but 1t will b
we'll that the body should be foun
before | CO. as he may need absOlut
proof of the boys death before he
willing to pay me the promised $40,
600. J wish it were well over, an
the boy was buried. | can't bear t
look at him; am afraid | should ge
nervous, and so excite suspicion
Still it might be attributed to m
sorrow for his loss"
Leaving Cromwell, for a time. W
will follow the course of Robert Ray
mOnd, who after receiving direction
from Cato, had shaped his course TO
the Ohio river. Madison. as ha
already been stated, was situated i
the southern part OF Indiana Tn
distance between it and the OH
river. which separates that stat
from Kentucky, was about fifty mile:
1t was Roberts intention to reac
the river and then get on board
boat, and proceed as far east as hi
limited funds would admit. The eS
tent of these was but $40, and 81
would not 60 great way, unless e2
IRENE economy was practieed. Rot
ert was willing to be economical
and when he learned that the rive
was but fifty miles distant, he de
termined to walk the whole way.
On the first day Robert wake
about twenty miles, resting in tn
middle OF the day. He was unac
customed to walking and it mad
him footsOre and weary. At 4 o'cloc
in the afternoon, he desisted an
went up to farmhouse, for he wa
at the time passing through
sparsely settled town; he asked fC
accommodations for the night. For
tunately the occupant of the farm
house was a hospitable and kline
hearted farmer, who did not, {
some might have done, view hi
with suspicion.
80 you want to be took care
the night. youngster," he said.
Yes, SIR" said Robert
well, | guess the old woman ca
accommodate you. Our house is bi
enough, and you won't take up muc
room. Are you travelin' far?"
"Yes, am going to New York
10 York; That's a pretty Ion
journey for lad like you. It's Ovt
a thousand miles"
Yes, it's good ways, but / que.
! can get there"
Where are you travelin' from,
was the next question.
Il came from the North" sa
) Robert, evading direct answer. ,