The Delta independent., 1895-10-02


give n cry of pain, as if she had been
rudely seized, and he almost stopped,
then went hastily down the steps. He
wished one of the ruffians dismount-
ing before the porch would speak to
him; he would have liked to silence
him. No one spoke, however. Even
Louis led the mare up in silence. Oil
yer looked her over as he mounted,
tossed the man dollar, and said. as he
cantered off:
II trust you and I will meet again,
my civil friend"
The gate was open, SO he went easily
past all pitfalls and, the mare being
rested, in short time he saw the light
from his own cabin. and with an odd
sense of comfort, too. a lost, homeless
man is pitiful object the world over.
Mike rushed out to take the mare; he
was Just going to look for him; the
doctor had worried But Oliver, with
out word, went into the house. lie
went to his cigar box, lit cigar. then
stood before his own hearth with
queer air of possession. 1t was just as
he thought. There sat DR.. John in
that ridiculous fowered dressing-gown
and embroidered cap, with his eternal
plPS, I'd SaS t>'-'A1tS
: "Back at last, old man?" said DIR.
John, cheerily. I'VE were getting
worried about you"
Thanks" growled Oliver.
"We waited supper" continued the
other, a little, elderly man. with
bright blue eyes, close-cut gray hair
and long gray beard. mike was
bound to go for you"
And you to prevent him." sneered
Oliver. ~.
"Wen. l did think it nonsense.
Where could he look? Let's eat"
81 am not hungry. I had supper"
s "Where?"
"At house," Oliver answered,
briefly, as Mike entered with the sup
per things However, he sat down and
found himself eating heartily.
Neither man spoke, DIR. John being
used to divers moods. The meal over,
they sat before the fire. Oliver took
cigar, while DIR. John lit his pipe.
81 was at the summit of Sisty's peak
to-day" said Oliver, after q long si
lence.'
'.Ah?" interrogatively from DR.. John.
81 followed an antelope splendid
shot, the best I've had; big buck"
"Too bad you did not bring it. We're
out of meat"
"But did. know you" Oliver
smiled. 1.-THE evidence is on my sad
de-"
'.There's butcher-shop at Park
rille." said DR.. John, meditatively.
as there?' said Oliver, indifferently.
s"I was not that way. had supper at
De Restaud's."
"The.crazy Frenchman's? Honestly.
Eraig?"
81 give you my word. His wife is
sweet little woman
''They all are to you, my boy. Your
weakness. You don't say!-at De
.Restaud's!" DIR. John smoked awhile
over it. Actually got in his housel
Why, they say he is the very devil. You
were lucky you didn't lose your life in
stead of your way"
Craig looked into the fire. He thought
of the little girl in the yellow gown.
How plainly he remembered even the
bangles, the Skye terrier, the dimple in
her cheek! perhaps he had lost his
hesrt- @sa
CHAPTER IL
Though fifty miles from railroad.
The valley of the Troublesome was well
settled by ranchmen, and the little
village of Parlkville, few miles from
divers cabin, was the meeting-place
for a large section Of country. Here
gathered miners from the distant
peaks, prospectors, cowboys and sheep
herders from ranches, with the drift
around such a place, gamblers and men
with no visible means of support. In
the rough mob that congregated in the
two saloons at Parkville Oliver often
saw the Frenchman. He was general
dy intoxicated, always the widest of
the merrymakers. He met him and
Louis riding late at night at a mad
pace with other vagabonds invited
from the town, and he heard OF orgies
at De Restaud's home that reeked of
city slums Oliver himself never ven
,tured towards De Restaud's house; the
road was private one, and he had no
wish to come in contact with the own
er. Sometimes he pitied the young
wife when he thought of her, but as
THE days wore ON her image faded. He,
had never mentioned her but the once
ito DR.. John, yet he hoped before he
went away from the Troublesome to
See her again. He had promised TO be
her friend. ~
r Mike had told him the story in the
Wiley was that she had come to Colo
rado Springs with a consumptive moth
err, and that the Frenchman, who was
more careful then, and boarded at the
hotel with them, wormed himself into
the mothers confidence to such an ex-
tent that on her deathbed she desired
to leave her daughter in De Restaud's
care and prevailed upon her TO be mar
ried then. A sentimental little creature
like the girl could not refuse; Oliver
had an uncomfortable feeling that she
would be too easily led. De Restaud
had brought his wife to the lonely
ranch after her mothers death, and
had kept her prisoner. He was mad