Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-08-04
THE WELDON ESTATE.
By ALFRED B. CALHOUN.
lCopyright. lsoc, by American Press Associa.
ton.
CHAPTER v.

mountain side continued for some min
utes, during which time Captain Bran
| don and his friends listened in breath
less silence. When the sounds died out,
Alice Blanchard, who was standing be-
side the captain. said TO him:
"DO you think harm can have como
to our friendg'
He told me that if he Were attacked
and passed through the line Of the out
laws successfully, he would signal me
from the high mountain ten miles TO
| the south. "
Signal you ten miles away through
the blackness that hangs over valley and
hin:"
Yes Wait and you can SEQ il if he
has succeeded, said the captain, real
izing that a more than common interest
agitated the girl by his side.
The long minutes dragged by, pain
fully measured by the audible beating
II Alice's heart. Nearly an hour had
passed since the firing-to her il SEEM
ed an age Her hands were becoming
cold. and she compressed her lips To keep
them from trembling.
WAS that light:"
Ii was Alice who cried out She
thought she saw a fiash-it might have
been meteor-far away to the south.
But il passed 80 quickly that she could
scarce say such thing had been.
ste, There it - captain There i,
isl" exclaimed Howard Blanchard, and,
unmindful Of the danger, all rose 10
their feet. The light ON the distant
mountain side rose and fell. at times
threatening ia ~ out, but rising 10 n
greater height and burning with greater
clearnc>s after each threatened relapse,
until AT length It sent steady. inspir-
ing glare acr - the darkness.
"Hc has gone through safely" said
the captain.
Thank Cod cried Alice.
And the others according % tempcra-
ment. cxpr -, Il their delight at Louis
kylc's success
Alice Blanchard forgot the surround
ing danger IN the joyous relief from the
anxiety that hid been weighing her
heart, and n reaction ST III that made
her fearless f,r the time.
Halt, Who goes ,her':" demanded
Captain Brandon in ringing voice as
hc saw du>ky form moving swiftly be-
tween the corral and the ncighboring
elm The figure disappeared. and mo- re-
ply came lack
"Watchl'' said the captain. stand
every man carefully At his post think
hcr them coming this way.
The ncighing 4 u horse and the inn
patien, stamping # hoofs 100 yards of
attracted the captains attention.
why not challenge thcm;" asked
Howard, who though as brave as steel.
was naturally very nervous IN this novel
situation.
I'VE know they are there. They have
no doubt as To our whereabouts Let us
leave the initiative 20 them, replied
Captain Brandon.
The wisdom 4 this suggestion was
soon manifest. From the cliif above the
spring Il vuice-it was BoutOn 's-called
out;
Hello down there"
"Wcll. what do you WANT" asked
the captain.
Il want to know whose camp tina,
is "
Il am known as Captain Brandon,
aud You arr known rs the murderer ami
desperate Bouton, rcplicd the captain.
IF | come - foe, you VIII sonn
know 1t. There arr men enough with
me 10 sweep over your work a. a butfa-
h. hrrd would over bank VI reeds. But
We want H. fight "
"Ah. now you are getting nearer 10
the truth than Is your habit! You like
best to rob and plumber where the gain
is great and the danger small.
There Is not enough plumber in Your
outfit u tempt Us.
Then why do you Gomez
1--WE come this time as the friends Of
law and justice. -
Indeed,
1--WE do, sir. You have with your
party man named DR.. Blanchard. "
What If that
He and ms family are fugitives from
Justice. and we come 10 demand them.
We are working for the reward. Now,
give these people up and We Will 60
away and leave you III peace.
The man that says / or any of my
family are criminals or fugitiycs from
tustice," broke in DR. Blanchard, who
up to this time had been a model #
coolness, "lies in his throat
Now, il SO happened that Tom Bliss
was standing beside Bouton during the
parlcy and it was he who prompted the
desperate to put the following questions;
Are You DR.. Blanchard;'
Il am, replied the indignant doctor.
"DO Won know Of any murder III your
family"
Il do not.
"You are sure?"
81 am certain.
'You married John Weldon's grand
daughter, Mary?"
Il did "