Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-06-12
CHAPTER I.

n wns some years after the great CIV.
Il war, though that il was not long aft
er can BE- inferred from the fact that but
one railroad had as yet laid its iron
muscles across the great plains from
tho Missouri to the mountains. The cat
tie herds of the ranchcrs had not yet
taken the place Of the swarming black
buffalo on the tampas. There were no
settlements along the rivers where now
stately cities rise, and the only means
Of conveyance and transportation were
the saddle and the prairie schooner, IA
the great canvas topped wagons that
conveyed the immigrants, goods End
family were then called.
II was an evening in early June. The
setting sun was throwing shadow from
the giant mountains to the westward
over the clear tributaries Of the Nilsson
ri, when large train went into camp
In n valley that afforded abundant wa
ter and pasture for their cattle and
horses, while the slopes Of the surround
ing foothills were covered with fuel,
only necessary mt this time for cooking
purposes. This was known as DR..
BlaDchpd's train.
DR. Blanchard was n handsome man
his going westward had lived, as had
his forefathers for many generations be-
foro him, near Wheeling and what is
now West Virginia The civil war, in
which the doctor did not take part
though, unlike most of his family, his
sympathics were with the Union-had
left him impoverished, and, what was
worse, without friends where he should
most expect them. His wife had Just
died-it might be said Of broken heart
AT tho beginning Of the war Mrs
Blanchard had two brothers, Frederick
and Valentine Weldon. Frederick We'll
don, or Fred, rs he was called, strongly
favored secession, and his brother as
strongly opposed it.
One night Valentine returned home
from Charleston, whittier he had ridden
ON horseback with his brother. The
brother never returned but some months
aftcrward body was found down the
river which could not be recognized ex.
cept by its tattered garments, and from
these il was believed to be the corpse Of
Frederick Weldon. Tho skull was frac-
turcd, and an impression went abroad
that he had been killed by his brother.
This impression was strengthened by the
fact that immediately after the disap-
pcarance Of Frederick, Valentine, with
his wife, two little sons and baby
daughter, suddenly disappeared and was
never heard of again in that land. Val.
ont mn had bact, aIvc ~ isoI for Tbrn,,< ri,
the death Of his father, who died with.
out knowing that one Of his sons was
dead, q large estate was left to the two
brothers.
DR.. Blanchard's wife was n sister Of
tho Weldons, but had been entirely ig-
norcd in her fathers will, q fact that
no doubt added to the unsettled condi-
ton Of the Doctors mind and forced
him to 60 westward with his children.
These children were u son Howard, ut
this time tall, handsome young man Of
two and twenty, and two daughters,
Alice and Clara, aged respectively II
and 10.
For the purpose Of protection, a mum.
Der II other wagons had joined Dr..
Blanchard's train ut Omaha, and be.
fore setting out they had elected the
doctor to be their chief and q man
known a. Captain Brandon to I've their
guide. Captain Brandon was q tall,
bronzod man, with u grizzled beard, ono
eye, and very quiet manner. Though
evidently in the prime Of life, his
hair was snowy white, which, added to