Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-06-03
!MfIattAr!oNAL iakes .Aesoci4T,on..
CHAPTER XXI.-tcoSr1SuEp.)
eY RE.F4KJEoN.

| SIaIl lEt AAl.-(SONT1SUED.) "A
So time went on. and the summer
ame upon us In all Its beauty. The
ire on the hill was kept blazing, but
We never saw ship, although a strict
ookout was kept day and night. !
vas careful to keep the men well en-
| ''oyed. knowing that work was the
est kind Of medicine for them: but
hey often grew weary and disheart-
ned. more or less according to their
emperaments and the nature Of their
houghts. 1t was not long before
'ecame as fond of Pearl as II she had
cen my own child. and we had good
'eason to bless her presence among
's. She exercised wonderful infiu-
nee among the men. and all sorts Of
YET names were given to her-Fairy
Pearl. Queen Pearl. Doctor Pearl, and
he like. But she was powerless to
Keep death from us, and the first to
90 was Ralph Fortyman. He sickened
md died within twenty-four hours.
I'VE shall all 60. one by one." whis-
oered Tom Wren to me. What will
Fairy Pearl do when she is alone?"
I'VE must stand by her, Tom, till
he last"
"Ay, ay," he answered. "till the last;
md when I'm dead I'll watch over
her,"
1t was not the first time Tom had
spoken strangely. and. indeed. his
manner had formed the subject of a
great deal Of conversation between me
md my mates. To tell the truth. we
believed he had lost his wits: but II
he was mad 1t was a harmless mad
iess; and SO long as our Pearl had
influence over him. there was nothing
% be afraid of from him. 1t was not
alone Pearl to whom he had attached
himself, and who was fond Of his So
,iety. 1t was known among us that
ne was in the habit of spending hours
with that man OF our party who had
refused to associate with u.s. refer
% Mr.. Fairley-and It was from Tom
hat We continued to learn OF the
mans safety. But this came to an
md before the summer departed. l
nm not likely ever to forget the day
IN which Tom. whispering stealthily
hat he had something to say to me,
ed the way into the forest.
Ralph Fortyman was the first" he
said. when we were half mile in
and. II will show you the second"
| followed him for another quarter
II mile, and we paused before rude
,helter. built up with branches of
trees.
60 in and look at him." said Tom.
went into the shelter, and saw a
man lying with his face to the earth.
As stopped over him. Tom whispered:
Dead, mate. Stone dead. l should
ray. Number two"
It was the man known as Mr.. Fair
Icy whose face l now turned to the
light. And as looked upon that face.
my eyes became filled with blood. and
shuddered with rage. No shadow Of
pity for the dead entered my breast:
Tor. despite his hair and the change
hat years had made, l recognized in
the dead man before me. Mr.. Druce,
The villain who had blasted my happi-
aess."
Dead, eh?" questioned Tom.
"Ay, the black-hearted scoundrel!"
{ replied. II know the reason now
N
l had no sooner uttered the words
than staggered as though a bullet
aad struck my heart. Tom. catching
me, pulled me out of the shelter. and
xazed anxiously into my face.
What makes your lips so white?"
he inquired, in frightened whisper.
Did he die of fever? You mustn't
be the next to go-you mustn't be
number three. Fairy Pearl loves you
better than she loves me. and you and
must be the last of ALL"
II am well enough l managed to
utter. though how l managed to speak
the words SO as to make myself un-
ierstood is a mystery. for was al
most choking. "It was only a spasm.
Pearl will miss you. Tom. You have
been too long away from her. Go to
her; will follow you soon. Don't
tell the others Just yet what has oc-
Cured"
Evidently proud that confidence
was established between us. Tom nod
led and walked away. leaving me
,,one with the body of my dead enemy.