The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-09-02


usis-fresh food for uneaslness. Clearly
tolearn the art Of milking was imperative.
The woman won a. usual, and Cedric BE-
fore the, week was oyer started for La
Hnerta with strict injunotions to interview
both hospital superintendent and sheriff.
In charge Of the ranch were myself, Hi
likins and the Hon. Anne. Uneventfully
passed the first few days, but on Monday
from the veranda espied band OF men,
who. leaving the county road. came slowly
up the drive.
Anne, peroeiying them, grew white to
the lips, and, bearing Billikins, preoipi-
lately fed.
"Good evening"" the leader began as he
lifted his aombrero. "We're q kinder
rough sight for lady. You see, we're
posse over from Tulare trying to find o
man named Smith. His tracks they
seemed to pint this way. Amt seen any
stranger round here latelyr
"No, indeed."
"No wood chopper nor nothing"
"No, none. What has this man donep
What docs he look likef"
Real nice and young and kind. Not
more'n boy. Murdered man over there.
Here's bis description" and he handed me
q coarsely printed Reward" "Well,
boys, get move on. We're on our way to
La Huerta," he added, 'to borrow Waite's
dogs. Well. good day, ma'ain. Better not
harbor any strangers"
A moment more and t, left alone, thought
over the situation. Cedric gone, no neigh
Dor near, and q murderer at large whose
stops "p'inted this way" Suddenly 1t
was borne in upon me that Anne was the
fugitive.
A firm believer in woman's intuitions,
yet hoping desperately that mine were at
fault, unfolded the paper the sheriff gave
me. It tailed well. Moroseness, sgita-
ton, all were 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
likins tucked In his crib, Anne retired
early, and, every sense on the alert, was
left alone to watch the nursery door.
Il fascinated me. Who. would open itp
Anne, to hide among the canyons till tho
posse had returned to Its Tulare homer
Or Henry Smith, to make an end Of me
and fleet Truly, the ranch monotony was
broken at last. Solemnly 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 mere figure of
speech. The sound ceased, and still I
watched the nursery door. At last, when
my brain would have turned with more,
heard sound which, faint at first, grew
louder and louder.
"Oh, heavenp' cried. "The blood
houndsl" Then I fell senseless to the
ground.
Slowly returned to consciousness, my
gaze fell on Cedric the La Huerta sheriff
and Anne-Anne anxiously applying re-
storatives.
"Take him away!" gasped. "He will
murder us"
"You are raving!" cried Cedric. "That
ID Anne"
"No-Smith, the murderer The blood
hounds tracked him to the very door"
Here Hiram Waite thought ft to inter
pose.
"Guess I can straightsn out this kink
Mrs. Allandale. You did hear the hounds
They're up ut the barn now. Your hus-
band, be heard at La Huerta we was bent
In up this part of the country. So he lit
ont for home, thinkin you'd be scared.
Wo caught our man hidin by the 'Dobe
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 dry gave
warning. III you please, maam, you and
Mr.. Allsndsle have been very kind, and I
love Mr.. Billikins like my own, but can t
stay where I've been go misjudged
more oandor on your part would have
prevented your being misjudged.
She blushed. II often wanted to tell
you, ma am, what first said WASH t true
cnme from England when was baby.
! haven T any brother, and never went to
In Huerta" :
"Ah!" III. 49,,
"The kinder you was, ma'am, the
meaner felt, and was afraid 1ir. Allan
dale would go to the hospital, and worst
of all, my heart stood still when he spoke
of MI. Waite, for he and my stepfather are
cousins, and was afraid he would guess
who was"
"Your stepfatherf"
"Yes, ma'am, mother married Jim
Waite the second time, and 1t was him
that came with the posse and frightened
me. He was such bad, cruel man that
couldn't stand 1t. So ran away
"How did you happen to reach Vaquero
Waterf'
with some friends In one of those big
wagons they call prairie schooners. Tu-
lare folks go to the coast every year, but
they don't go there straight. It's too much
change. They always stop at the Iron
Spring to cool off first"
To cool off at 90 in the shaded "Soon
as we came to the spring l heard about
you, and thought I'd try for the place.
"But how much better to have told me
the truth"
II knew Mr.. Alandale was English,
ma am, and they arc that particular was
afraid he'd send me home.'
"Surely the story OF Lady Emily Brown
was unnecessary.
Anne's eyes flashed. cts every word
true, ma'am. Not that ever saw her,
she was by fathers first marriage, but it's
true. Why, they lived In a beautiful house
in St. Johns Wood, and the night before
they went to Paris the Prince Of Wales
dined with them."
"And do you believe it, my dearp" asked
Cedric on hearing the latest version.
"She believes In the family traditions,
but she will care less about such nonsense
when SHE Ia Mrs. Hiram Waite"
"Why, she met the man only Last nightp'
Something will come Of it. Trust a
woman's intuition"
"Thanks, mop ho retorted, with a
cheerful grin. "No telling into what
mares nest might be led Never mind,
darling, you did your best. We can't all
be born detectives"
Cedric to the contrary, my prophecy
came to pass, and our Hon. Anne was
/ transformed into Mrs. Hiram Waite. AT
last accounts she was well and happy, sup.
plying the boarders at Waito's. hotel with
meals at -four bits head," while we on
the ranch are still wondering whether the