Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-06-13

SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.
CHAPTER lat the beginning Of
the civil war; Valentine Weldon was
Observation-Disclosures Of his.broth-
er. Frederick. who had disappeared.
DR.. Blanchard married their sister.
He became q widower. and years af-
ter the supposed murder went west
with his children. Howard, Alice and
Clara. Captain Brandon conducted
the train when Il reached the far
vest. Too bad characters. Henry
Kyle and Font Robb. joined them.
CHAPTER III.
Henry Kylo's splendid horse new over
the mountain trail that dark night with
all tho ease and certainty Of a great
bird cleaving the air. After three hours
q ccnseless gnlloping the young man
saw, far to the front and far down
from the hill along which his horse
coursed. campfire, and the rutldy light
revealed q group Of men, their rifles
flashing ON the trees like queer igneous
fruit, while in the background the out
limo Of q group Of grazing horses could
no made out. Suddenly figure in hunt
cr's dress appeared on the trail, and
Henry Kyle, refining in his horse with
his left hand while his right dropped
back TO the stock Of his pistol, called
out:
us that you, Bouton?'
Yes We're waiting for you" 70.
piled the tall figure in u gruff voice.
Henry Kyle dismountcd, and as the
two drew nearer to the fro the light
glowed ON the fierce brown face of Bou-
ton, q lawlcss half breed but too well
known to tho settlers in these noun.
tains.
THE boys are in hurry" continued
the half breed.
whats up?''
They are afraid the immigrant
train may escape us, and that mustn't
be, for it il the richest outfit that has
been seen in these hills for many day."
Are the Blisses in campF'
eyes, Hank"
II can't see why two Virginia law
yers should como out to this country
and join gang that is notoriously law.
less. said Henry Kyle meditatively.
They keep their own secrets, Hank"
chuckled Bouton.
80 they do. but can't see why they
should be so eager to get this DR.. Blanch.
ard and his son out Of the way"
I'm order that they may marry the
daughters, ! suppose. But are the girls
80 beautiful?'
Beautiful as pictures, Bouton-too
beautiful to be thought Of in connection
with such brace Of ugly ours rs these
two brothers." said Henry Kyle, the
words coming a. II from between his
set teeth.
BY this time the two men had reach.
cd the campfire, and n score Of men,
bearded and bronzed, greeted Henry
Kyle with cheer that indicated his
popularity. IL. indeed, it did not imply
his leadership. Henry Kyle unsaddled
and staked his horse-the first care Of o
true hunter-and then went to the fire,
on which meat was broiling and savory
messes steaming in iron pots.
"You met up with them. Mr.. Font
Robb says you met mp with them, F" said
man. laying his hand on Henry's arm.
''Oh. you--Mr. Tom Bliss! How are
you? Yes. met them. I told you
would IL they were ON the plains.''
80 You did, so you did, and be-
lieved you implicitly" And as Tom
Bliss spoke he drew Henry Kyle out of
hearing Of the others
Just here it may be necessary to ex-
plain the appearance Of Jonas Bliss two
sons in these wilds. DIR. Blanchard had
not been gone from his old home a week
when the collateral heirs-the kinsmen
of old John Weldon. the patriarch-be-
gan TO make inquiries about the i'm
mensc estate that had been unclaimed
for 40 many years in tho old lawyers
hands that he very naturally began to
look upon IL as his own.
Lawyer Bliss refused to give them
any satisfaction, and the consequence
was that the remaining weldons ap-
pcaled to the courts and demanded an
investigation. Tho courts granted the
order, and the old lawyer found the
calm current Of his prosperity vcxed BY
opposing rocks.
He said one day 30 mis- sons:
81 am left sole executor Of John Vel.
don's estate. Il was left to his grand.
sons. Valentine and Frederick. The lat.
ter IL dead. and il the former is not
we can safely count On never seeing him
again. He il murderer and will not