The advocate., 1895-10-09
The Overton Claim.
CONTINUED from page 81
CHAPTER XIII.

said to Major Oyerton as the struggling
daylight fell full on the tall, dead man,
80 straight and stock and still The old
man nodded, saying:
eyes It will take half day to get
out Of this wilderness. Besides we could
never carry him, and to come back
he stopped with half shudder-"i lis i'm
possible and impolitic, (" Vance finished.
Even as they spoke came anoise Of pick
and shovel outside. Dozens of rusty tools
lay under the rotting sheds about, and
willing hands were plying them to put
out of sight the poor, reckless creature,
who had paid the fullest penalty Of his
sins. By time the sun was above the
tree tops a long grave had been scooped
in the little glade back of the old house.
Dare at the springside, her face, her
hands, refreshed and spotless, turned to
Allen, saying softly:
"Ask them, please, grandfather and
Mr.. Hildreth, if we may line the grave
with boughs and put others above him. "
Surely we may" Allen said, pressing
her soft palm to his cheek my Dare,
it is like you thus to do good to them
that despitefully use you We will
make together for our enemy green
bed and give him pillow of flowers.
Hand in hand they went about the
wood plucking sheaves of goldenrod.
stalks of cardinal flower, of iron weed
and early asters. Allen had spoken lit
tie apart with the gravediggers. AL
ready they had torn fat, leafy boughs
from the thicket and covered with their
green all the dank cold clay. Across the
western end of the narrow yawning pit
Allen laid the flower sheaves fresh from
Dare's hand. And down in that cool and
fowefy darkness they laid Royal Cleve,
his two hands folded peacefully under
more green leaves, to await the summons
at which all life must answer for the
deeds done in the body.
Then, as though a weight had been
lifted from all souls, the cavalcade made
its way out of the wilderness. Major
Overton's horse had been left behind, so
precipitate was the flight of his captors.
Dare rode upon an improvised pillion
behind her lover when the steep hill
road did not make it necessary for both
to dismount They said little, those two.
The silence of overful hearts lay between
them. But Major Overton talked and
smiled with his friendly lawyers in q
fashion none had ever seen before.
"Oh, for an hour of Hawkins nowp
Hildreth said to Vance as they found
themselves nearly at the outer edge of
the iron land.
''You will hardly ever enjoy it,
fear," Vance returned. plague on that
storml But for it l meant to try to
get at him before he learned the miscar-
riage of his scheme. AS it is, he has no
doubt heard it in time to quit the coun-
try"
"Do you think so?'' Hildreth asked,
with an odd smile. "Man alive, there
is no think about it. Hawkins is as far
from being fool as from being an hon
est man. After this-why, it's hang
ing matter with the proofs we have. !"
No doubt, if we don't use them" p"
Hildreth said. ''You forget he had
partner in all this-one, too, who will
make it possible for him to go scot
free"
'Do you mean-it cannot be Mrs.
Townley?'' Vance said.
Major Overton leaned from his saddle
to say very low:
Gentlemen, good friends, please for
get that-that you have spoken What
ever we may know, Dare has no suspi-
cion Of the treachery Of her own blood.
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