Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-08-18
THE WELDON ESTATE.
By ALFRED r. CALHOUN.
Copyright. 1880. by American Press Associa'
tion.

! Copyright, lsss, by American Press Associa
ton.
[coNrISUEp.l
Without waiting to hear her comment
on this, Bouton turned and walked hur-
riedly away. As he neared the fire he
saw the men under Font Robb crowding
around prostrate form. He knew that
the man ON the ground was Henry Kyle,
and in his heart he hoped he might find
him dead In this hope he was disap-
pointed. Skilled in the rude remedies Of
that land Font Robb had assured him
self before carrying the wounded man
back that no bones were broken and that
he still breathed When Robb got him
back To camp he discovered n cash on
as head and saw that he was suffering
from "A shock that would have knocked
the breath forever ont II a man of ordi-
nary vitality He bathed the wound and
bound mp the head, which. in addition
10 forcing water into the unconscious
man mouth. had the effect If bringing
him back 10 reason. Kyle had opened
his eyvs and was looking around him in
dazed way when Bouton forced his
way through the crowd and stood before
him.
Hello, Hank! Who did this;" asked
Boutnn.
Il don't know" replied Henry Kyle.
and he raised his hand to his forehead
and shut his ewes the better To collect
his wandering senses
"You don't know? Well, IL any one
was 10 treat mo in that way. I'd he apt
"a know who IL was and to remember
him till the day died. -
1T was Captain Brandon, l." said
Black Eagle
"Hahi This is case where the hunt
or was hunted, laughed Bouton. But
never mind, Hank; better luck next
time. You have failed. but i have won
And the young ladies, the Blanch'
ards" asked Harry eagerly
"Oh. they are safe and sound. fou
don't suppose I'd let harm come Ia those
lovely creatures; No. no, they are ~
posing paccably within the stockade
And the brother-Howarl:'
"Hc escaped. believe, " said Bouton.
After the women had ceased their
wailing and the children their sohbing
Tom Bliss and his brother Sim drew
apart and congratulated themselves ON
the success uf their mission They had
now no doubt II being able 10 get rid III
DIR. Blanchard Howard they regarded
rs already dead. and they imagined
themselves the guardians Of the beau'i'
ful siS,Crs-thc heirs of the Weldon
estate in Virginia But their convcrsa-
tion was interrupted 10y Bouton, whom
they did not dream to Is within hear
ing. But hc suddenly Appeared and said;
"Of course you are shrcwd ~ your
father. who has charge of the Weldon
estate on the Gr-at kanawha, just ~
If he were talking about subject IN
which he was but little interested.
Tom Bliss straightcned up on hearing
this and looked into Boutuns mCcking
black ewes until his own fell under their
unflinching gazc. In that brief time he
SAW this man had discovered his secret.
no doubt from hearing conversations
between himself and sim, for which he
mentally then and there cursed himself
and his brother But from what BUuton
said he inferred that he knew more
than he could have overheard, and he
determined Ia draw him ont. To do this
h. knew that genuine candor was neccs-
sarv. for hc could no, deceive man n
well verSed III all the tricks Of villainy
As himself. Tom had inherited quick
ness Of thought and shrewdnesS from
three generations Of backwoOds lawyers,
10 whom the term "shyster. though de
served. had not yet been applied De
had underrated the ability Of Bouton,
as all men underestimate the ability Of
their tools. and now that the reaction
had set IN he was inclined, as Is the
rule. 20 ~ u the other extreme and give
him credit for powers which he did not
possess
"Bouton. III be frank with You. he
said.
II like that
And / want you to be frank with
me
"You can count on that.
Shielding himself and his father and
coloring all the facts III his own favor,
Tom Bliss told the story Of the Weldons,
and represented with considerable ac-
curacy the condition and value Of the es-
tate of John Weldon, with the terms Of
his ridiculous will. He did not say that
DIR. Blanchard or his children could con
test TN. will, but he gave Bouton 10 un-
derstand that if the doctor and his son
were ont Of the way that all would be
plain sailing.
Il see" said Bouton. IF the doctor
and his SON were out Of the way, then
you think you and your father would be
safe, particularly il You and your broth
ers married the doctors daughters, ell:
"No, not that; there are other heirs. ]"
.'In West Virginia.
ayes"
"And they, you think, are the only
heirs i'll your way?"
"The only ones.
"Tom Bliss, yOu may be good law
yer and rs prime rascal rs myself, but
You are mistaken about the heirs.
How do You know that? What can