Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-07-09

''Ah! Sorry to meet you under such |
circumstances. Could talk with you
aside, Mr.. Weidon:"
~ do not wish to go aside. shall
not resist your writ.
but you had better come to one
SIDE" said the lawyer in wheedling
tones.
do, do, Mr.. Wel-Mr. Kyle 1t will
be to your advantage, said Tom Bliss,
who, being with his father of late,
knew exactly what he was driving at,
which was that Valentine Kyle should
give up 20 THO old lawyer his claim upon
the Ess. Virginia estate i'll considera-
ton Of HIS freedom.
What is the offensc with which Mr.
Kyle is charged?" asked the Prophet,
walking to the front with an expression
on his face such as it Wore the morning
when he charged the outlaws.
''Ah! l 90 not know, sir, that you
have any right 10 ask that question:"
said the lawyer, with bow intended to
be very polite.
''if Lad not the right TO ask, would
not do so. Now, sir, shall resist you
process. for ], too. have been lawyer
to my shame be it said-alid know our
rights. said the Prophet sternly.
"Oh. if you will insist Oh placing q
gentleman in an unpleasant position be-
fore his friends, Of course can't object
The charge against Valentine Kyle is
that Of murtler!' said Lawyer Bliss.
Murder gasped the people. with
slIudder.
"Yes, for the murder, nearly 10 years
ago, Of his brother, Frederick Weldon.
Therefore arrest you, Valentine We'll
DON"
The lawyer advanced to lay his hand
on the hcartbroken mans shoulder.
when laundering "Holdv' stopped
him.
"Who asked me to hold?" asked the
lawyer, looking anxiorsly about him.
''It is who ask you to hold!"
! Captain Brandon had washed the
3 blood from his face; the scar down his
check was paler than it had been since
/ the day it was first made, and tse re-
naming eye burned with light that
struck awe to all who saw it.
! DO you not know me?'
"No!"
II aim Frederick Weldon!'
Frederick Weldon!" came like an
audible throb from the hearts of the
people.
Frederick, who was dead, but who
still lives" said the Prophet.
The intense silence that followed was
ut length broken by the sobs of the
women and unchecked tears flowed from
the eyes Of strong men unused to weep
ing.
Valentine Weldon rallied by an effort
Of will aud looked into the face of the
man who had clasped him in his arms,
and he saw the scar. from brow to chin,
saw il n; he did that night in the long
ago, when by the lightning's flash he
stood over his PROSTATE brother He
could not realize that Frederick lived,
even though his voice. the eyes and the
perfect profile assured him.
HAS the grave given up its dead?'
he managed to ask.
mo, Valentine, but the time la.
come when the clouds should roll ava,
, from our lives. That this has not bcci
; done before is not my fault, as 20,
shall see.''
Q 'Oh! If you are Frederick Weldon
I should be delighted" said Lawye
| Bliss, putting the bundle Of papers IN
der his arm and dry washing his leal
, hands.
> do not interrupt me. am now speal,
: ing for the information of my kinsmel
: and friends here assembled Captain
4 Brandon, or Frederick Weldon. conduct
i cd his brother to a seat facing the peopl
$ and continued:
!. MY position can only be understoo
n by telling you in as brief a way as pos
a siblc my story since the sad night whe
last l saw my brother"
The captain hesitated. while cough
ing and . shutting Of feet told of tn
T profound interest Of the people. He wen
q on:
when l returned to consciousness
after the blow found myself in no.
pital where Union troops were bein
cared for, and my nurse told me til
place was Cincinnati. From this man
learned that 4 scouting party Of I'll
Twenty-third Ohio had come upon
man robbing the body Of another who,
he was Supposed to have murdered. =
the glare Of the lightning they reco;
nizcd this man as noted bushwhackS
and fired ut him. He plunged into I'll
river, ard his was the body found ate
ward, but Of which knew nothing u
til recently.
The officer in command, beiievir
rights was Il Union man, aft,
asccrtaining that still lived, had n
placed III IN ambulance and sent to
hospital. Some CT his men kindly GA,
IL me change Of clothing, and, as tn,
were soldiers clothes, the physician
y though having no record of my cas-
d. sent me On with the wounded troops
" Il had been unconscious, it seem
ed nearly six weeks. My brain was affecte
nd but, thanks to skill and care. rvcoye
ye cd. For several months nv organs
speech were affected, and when ask,
e. my name it seems they understood me
er say Brandon, when I meant Weldo
he Every one about the hospital called 4
Brandon, and for my brothers sake d
4 | Al