The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1896-03-19
CHAPTER yII-OContinrcdD

that queer place had "A name, but | do
remember as | used 10 send my letters
To sOmewhecr in KanSaS-that's what
/ think the place was called; but then,
Dick did say as he had to ride some
fifty mile or more to get them
you mean the Rocky mountains, |
SUPPOSE Herbert suggested.
sure the farmer answered; but if
you be so good. my lord. as to look at
this ere scraI-it's the last letter |
liver got from Dick, an perhaps it'll
bring to your mind. if il he So that
you've forgotten him-though it do
seem strange and no mistake"
He produced from Il worn Russia
leather pocket-b0Ok a faded sheet Of
paper. the folded edges and cr"aSe' of
which had become ragged by Wear.
Herbert had 10 g-;rrciSe care not 10
tear il while unfolding it.
Dear Fred" it ran. ticks mine at
last. and yours, too. through U!at. |
have found gold, bushels and bushels
of gold. The only difficulty is 10 get
il safely. | have written to young Mr..
Herbert ~Chauncey, who is hunting
about N miles from here, ana / *
pect him here within the ext iva or
three days. Give my love to Susan
hilh tIlt NhiNhSs anu htI tit'lIl qua
Uncle Dick will look after them nov.
Don't speak about this to anyhcdy till
you hear from me again, as il might
be dangerous if it got 10 be- known be
fore the proper time. II you do see
any Of the young ladies ut the Towers.
tell them that their brother Herbert
was hale and hearty when last / heard
from him. and if things turu ol', rs |
am sure thcy will, You viii see lis both
in the old country before Christmas
ome round. I'm afraid that this viii
miss this months mail. | was going
to send it by Il nCighbcr of m.nn. Mr..
George Madane-'
The young man Thought his heart
was about to stop as that nam stared
him i'm the face. lie Recovered in Il
moment. however, and went On ~ II
nothing had excited him.
"-but | was AFRAID to trl'Sl HIN. and
! have to send this by an lndiHn mes
scnger, who, rs likely uS uct, will get
drunk at every station before hr gets
10 Fort Beut. Goud-br. dear Frrd. and
God bless yOu. Your atfr"iiCuite
brother. Dick Ashland"
He had read the letter aloud. and
his clear mrlCdiOuS yuic" reached
every COrnc Of the room. While thUI
engaged he had not noticed that Lucy
had entered. But aS he looked up he
saw her. pale rs death, leaning against
the wall for support. with eyes nearly
starting from their SgCke,S. The re-
Semblance of the living man TO his
dead brother had frightened the girl
out of her wits. and Herbert, net guess
ing the of her illness, rushed 10
her side and placed her half fainting
on the sofa. \ sip Of wafer refreshed
her, and the cheeks that had g
white in anguish became flushed with
feverish dread. Every word Of that
letter had cut deep into Lucy's heart
and the mention of her fathers name
had been like ii deadly stab.
II reckon I'll 60 to my own room, If
yew don't mind, Herbert" Lucy wills
pered when she had rcgaiaetl her for
titudn. Il don't feel ut al Wcll.'
Young Cleve loaded her with kindly
attentions and rang for the maid, who
escorted the girl tO her room.
He had not hrCathed Il syllable to
Lucy about his feelings concerning
that letter.
IL am sorry, Mr.. Ashlaud,' he said,
"that | have not the slightest memory
about your brother. | suppose YOU
iIdN' Il vi NY HllNlbi AthN' anu 'A"'
will be my explanation to you. But |
would be obliged if you would leave
this letter in my hands, so that | may
make further inquiries on the subject
George Maclane. Dick AShland's
neighbour" he muttered to himself
when the yeoman was zone. And
Dick Ashland had never again been
heard of, and | am here with four d"s-
npTItp wounds on my head
He arose and walked mp and down
the room in q slow, measured tramp.
and Lucy" he continued in Il trem-
ulOuS SHf-cOmmunion, has had Il deS-
perate quarrel with her Gather and her
cousin and will not go near them, and
will have nothing to do with them.
And Lucy is IA good, true, honest girl
"a kindly. noble girl-who would not
leave her father without ample rca-
son"
The tramp up and down became
faster and Il dark shadow settled on
the young mans brow.
II can see il ALL" he continued.
Lucy knows something of this and
her father and cousin are in it, only
she is too true to them even now, and
will say nothing against them. If
there's t~reachery in it she'll never de
nounce them. And she's right, OF
curse. Right and good as she always
is. She can't be expected to be ex-
pected to be a witness against her WI
father. IL ever the word brute was
written in a mans face it is in George
Maclane'S. Dick Ashland" he NUT
tered. Dick Ashland! Dick Ashland!'
The muscles OF his handsome face
contracted as II in pain.
"Godr' he exclaimed. 1T is hard.
why cs Mt I rempmber2 " nv can't I