Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-10-21

fore the week was over started for La
Huerta with strict injunctions to interview
both hospital superintendent and sheriff
In charge of the ranch were myself, Bill
likins and the Hon Anne UneventfulIy
passed the first few days but on Monday
from the veranda espied a band Of men.
who. leaving the county road, came slowly
up the drive
Anne. perceivinR them, grew white to
the lips, and bearing Billikins. preoipi-
lately fed
Good evening"" the leader began as he
lifted his sombrero. Were kinder
rough sight for a lady You see, we're q
posse over from Tulare trying to find a
man named Smith His tracks they
seemed to pint this way. Amt seen any
stranger round here latelyt''
"No. indeed"
"No wood chopper nor nothings"
"No, none What has this man done'
What does he look like
Real nice and young and kind. Not
moro boy. Murdered q man over there.
Here's his description, and he handed me
coarsely printed Reward" well,
boys, get move on. We're on our way to
La Huerta, he added. Ito borrow Waites
dogs. Well, good day, ma am. Better not
harbor any strangers.
A moment more and left alone, thought
over the situation Cedric gone, no neigh.
Dor near, and murderer at large whose
steps printed this way" Suddenly it
was borne III upon me that Anne was the
fugitive
A firm believer in woman's intuitions,
yet hoping desperately that mine were at
fault, unfoded the paper the sheriff gave
me. 1t Tailed well. Moruseness, agita,
ton, all We're explained.
Did Anne guess that her identity was
known, my life, feared, would pay the
penalty To ignore the situation, live
through the night If possible and trust to
some one turning up in the morning was
all that could be DONE
Milking time brought fresh terrors
How guard ones self with both hands en-.
gagged letting down floods OF warm. limo.
cent milk Dinner WAS eaten hurriedly
with the same feeling OF uneasiness. Bill.
hkins tucked In his crib, Ammo retired
early, and. every sense on the alert. I was
left alone to watch the nursery door.
1t fascinated me Who would open it,
Anne, to hide among the canyons till the
posse had returned to it's Tulare homer
Or Henry Smith, to make an end of me
and flee? Truly, the ranch monotony was
broken at last. Soiemnly the clock licked,
slowly the hands went round An hour
passed. A movement in the adjoining
room, and literally my blood ran cold
That had hitherto seemed u mere figure OF
speech. Tho sound ceased. and still
watched tho nursery door AT last, when
my brain would have turned with more, |
heard sound which, faint ut first, grew
louder and louder.
''Oh, heavcnh' + cried. s'The blood
hounds Then l fell srnseess to the
ground.
Slowly returned 10 consciousness, my
gaze fen On Cedric, the La IIuerta sheriff
and Anne-Anne nnXiously applying r..
storatives.
"Iake him away" gasped He will
murder u.
..YoH are rayins," cried Cedric. "That
Is Anne
"No-Smith, tho mnrdcrcrl The blood
honads tracked hmm to the very door =
Here Hiram Waite thought fit to inter
pose
''Guess ] can straighten ont this kink,
Mrs. AllandH!C. You did hear the hounds
They re up at the barn now Your hus-
band, he heard at La Hucrta we was beat
in up this part of the country SO he lit
out for home, thinkin you'd he scared
We caught our man hidin by the 'Dohe
hill, and the Tulare boys took him back
to town. Your husband and me was tired
So we made tracks for here. Sorry bout
the dogs Might ha' known they d scare
you.
The Honorable Anne next day gave
warming. "lf you please, ma am, you and
Mr.. Allandale have been very kind, aud
love Mr.. Billikins like my own, but can t
stay where I've been so misjudged -
More candor on your part would have
prevented your being misjudged."
She hlushed. Il often wanted to tell
you, ma an, what 1 first said wasn't true
| came from England when | was baby
l haven tany brother, and l never went to
La Hucrta.
"Ah!'
"Iho kinder you was ma'am, the
meancr felt, and was afraid Mr.. Allan
dale would 90 to tho hospital, and worst
of all, my heart stood still when ne spoke
of Mr.. Waite for he and my sterfather are
cousins, aud | was afraid he would guess
who | was"
"Iour stepfather;'
Yes, ma am, mother married Jim
Waite the second time. and it WAS INN
THAI came with the posse and frightened
me. He w,- such a bad, cruel man that
l ceHldnt stand it. So ran away.
GLOW did yon happen to reach Naquero
Water
with some friends in one OF those big
wagon, they call prairie schooners Tu-
lare folks - to the coast every year, bat
they don t "a there straight. It's too much
change. I htV ALWAYS stOp at the Iron