The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1897-09-17

ANM# ANNHNAA.NH
''Who ia tho sheriff. I idly asked,
meditatiug my next move the while.
"Waite- Hiram Waite
"Ou Honorable" who Ind entered,
bearing that ranch standby q Bmok-
ing bowl Of "mush, started, growing
visibly pale fresh food for uneasinoss.
Clearly. 10 learn the art Of milking was
imperative. The woman won, as
usual, and Cedric, before theweek was
over. started for la Huerta, with strict
iniunctions 20 interview both hospital
superintendent and sheriff
In charge Of the ranch were myself,
Billikins, and the Honorable Anne.
Uneventfully passed the FIRST few days;
but on Monday, from the veranda, /
espied a band 7 men, who, leaving the
county road, came slowly up the
drive.
Anne, perceiying them, grow white
10 the lips, and, bearing Billikins, pre-
cipitately fed.
Good evening"" the leader began,
rs he lifted his sombrero. Were a
kinder rough sight for a lady. You
see, we're 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 lately?'
ono, indeed"
''No wood-chopper nor nothing?"
''No, none. What has this man
done? What does he look like?"
''Real nice and young and kind.
Not more'n q boy. Murdered a man
over there. Here's his description, "
and he handed me a coarsely printed
Reward" Well, boys, get a move
on. We're on our way to La Huerta, "
he added, "to borrow Waites dogs.
Well, good day, ma'am, Better not
harbor any strangers"
A moment more and, left alone, I
thought over the situation. Cedric
gone, no neighbor near, and a MUIR
derer at large whose steps printed
this way" Suddenly it was borne in
upon me that Anne was the fugitive.
A firm believer in woman's intui-
tons, yet hoping desperately that
mine was at fault, / unfolded the
paper the sheriff gave me. 1t tailed
we'll Moroseness, agitation, all were
explained.
Did Anne guess that her identity
was known, my life, 1 feared, would
pay the penalty. To ignore the situa-
ton, live through the night if possible,
and trust to someone turning up in the
morning was all that could be done.
Milking-time brought fresh terrors.
How guard ones self, with both hands
engaged letting down foods of warm,
innocent milk? Dinner was eaten
hurriedly, with the same feeling of
uneasiness. Billikins tucked in his
crib, Anne retired early, and, every
sense on the alert, / was left alone to
watch the nursery door.
1t fascinated me. Who would open
it? Anne, to hide among the canons
till the posse had returned to its Tulare
home? Or Henry Smith, to make an
end of me and flee? Truly, the ranch
monotony was broken at last. Sol
emily the clock licked, slowly the
hands went round, IN hour passed. A
movement in the adjoining room, and
literally my blood ran cold That had
hitherto seemed a mere figure of
speech The sound ceased, and still l
watched the nursery door. At last,
when my brain would have turned
with more, 1 heard a sound which,
faint at first, grew louder and louder.
ooh, heaven" / cried, "the blood
hounds" and fell senseless to the
ground.
Slowly returned to consciousness,
my gaze fell on Cedric, the La Huerta
sheriff, and Anne-Anne anxiously APP.
plying restoratives!
"Take him away" I gasped; he will
murder us.
'You are ravingl" cried Cedric;
"that is Anne"
''No; Smith, the murderer. The
blood-hounds tracked him to the very
door.
Here Hiram Waite thought fit tc
interpose.
"Guess I can straighten out this
kink, Mrs. Allandale. You did hear
the hounds, they're up at the barn
now. Your husband, he heard at L'
Huerta we was beatin' up this part o
the country, so he lit out for home
thinkin' you'd be scared. We caught
our man hidin by the 'Dobe Hill, ant
the Tulare boys took him back tc
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 gavt
warning. eff you please, ma'am, yor
and Mr.. Allandale have been yer,
kind, and love Mr.. Billikins like m,
: own, but can't stay where I've beer