Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-08-05
F&lkR WELDON ESTATE, E,
BY ALFRED r. CALHOUN.

you"-
IF you are what you claim" she
asked, "why have you made war on in
nocent and inoffensive people?"
II have not made war.
"What do you call your conduct
then9'
II am acting in the interest Of law. "
"Of law?" And the shadow Of sneer
gathered about the beautiful lips
eyes There are men here who have
q warrant for the arrest Of DR.. Blanch-
ard and his son."
81 have seen the men. Their name
is Bliss?"
eyes"
"And you believe them'"
II cannot help believing them I
have seen the papers, and they have
paid me for my services.
"But are you authorized by law to
aid these wretches?"
'There is no law in this land" re-
piled Bouton, 'but that which each
man can enforce with his strong right
arm"
"Then you confess that you have no
right to do this thing?'
"a right2 Why, Miss Blanchard,
might is right here, and I reckon you'll
find it pretty much 30 the world over.
IF your father and brother are innocent,
they can prove it when they return to
West Virginia
| "Then we return together as we
came" said Alice
81 beg your pardon, but 1t has been
decided not to subject yourself and your
sister to the trials and Inconvenience
Of return. You remain in our charge
for the present."
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 cash on
his head and saw that he was suffering
from a shock that would have knocked
the breath forever out Of man Of ordi-
nary vitality. He bathed the wound and
bound up the head, which, in addition
to forcing water into the unconscious
mans mouth, had the effect Of bringing
him back to reason. Kyle had opened
his eyes and was looking around him In
dazed way when Bouton forced his
way through the crowd und stood before
him.
Hello, Hankl Who did this?" asked
Bouton.
II don't know" replied Henry Kyle,
and he raised his hand to his forehead
and shut his eyes the better to collect
his wandering senses.
"You don't know? Well, if any one
was to treat me in that way, I'd be apt
to know who it was and to remember
him till the day died.
lit was Captain Brandon" said
Black Eagle.
"Hahl This is case where the hunt.
er 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 You
don't suppose I'd let harm come to those
lovely creatures? No, no, they are re-
posing peaceably within the stockade.
"And the brother-Howard?'
"He escaped, I believe, said Bouton-
After tho women had ceased their
wailing and the children their sobbing
Tom Bliss and his brother Sim drew
apart and congratulated themselves on
the success of their mission. They had
now no doubt of being able to get rid Of
DIR. Blanchard Howard they regarded
as already dead, and they imagined
themselves the guardians Of the beauti-
full sisters-the heirs Of the Weldon
| estate in Virginia. But their CONVERSE
ton was interrupted by Bouton, whom
they did not dream to be within hear
ing. But he suddenly appeared and said:
"Of course you are shrcwd rs your
father, who has charge Of the Weldon
estate on the Great kanawha, s" just as
if he were talking about a subject In
which he was but little interested
Tom Bliss Strengthened up OH hearing
this and looked into Bouton's mocking
black eyes until his OWL fell under their
unfl.nching gaze 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 Bouton
said he inferred that he knew more
than he could have overheard, and he
determined to draw him out. To do this
be knew that genuine candor was neces-
sary, for he could not deceive man as
we'll versed in all the tricks Of villainy
as himself. Tom had inherited quick
ness of thought and shrewdncss from
three generations Of backwoods lawyers,
to whom the term "shyster, though de-
served, had not yet been applied He
had undcrratcd 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 tho
rule, to go to the other extreme and give
him credit for powers which he did not
possess
"Bouton, I'll be frank with you" " he
said
II like that.
"And want you to be frank with
me-"
"You can count on that
i Shieldinn himself and his father and