The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-09-01


see, we're posse over from Tulare,
trying to find man named Smith. |
His tracks, they seemed to pint this
way. Amt seen any stranger round |
here lately2"
''No, indeed"
''No woodchopper nor nothing?"
''No, none. What has this man
done? What does he look like?"
"Real nice and young and kind.
Not more'n a boy. Murdered q 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, l
thought over the situation. Cedric
gone, no neighbor near, and a muir
derer at large whose steps "p'inted
this way" Suddenly it was borne in
upon me that Anne was the fugitive.
A firm believer in woman's intui-
tions, yet hoping desperately that
mine was at fault, 1 unfolded the
paper the sheriff gave me. 1t tailed
well. 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 floods of warm,
hurriedly, with the same feeling of
uneasiness. Billikins tucked in his
crib, Anne 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 canons
till the posse had returned to its Tulare
home2 Or Henry Smith, to make an
end of me and flee? Truly, the ranch
monotony was broken at last. Sol
emnly the clock ticked, 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 1
watched the nursery door. At last,
when my brain would have turned
with more, 1 heard sound which,
faint at first, grew louder and louder
"Oh, heaven" cried, "the blood
houndsl" and fell senseless to the
ground.
Slowly returned to consciousness,
my gaze fell on Cedric, the La Huerta
sheriff, aud Anne-Anne anxiously ap-
plying restoratives!
Take him away" / gasped; he will
murder us.
"You are ravingr" cried Cedric;
''that is Anne"
''No; Smith, the murderer. The
blood-hounds tracked him to the very
door.
Here Hiram Waite thought fit to
interpose.
"Guess L can straighten out this
kink, Mrs. Allandale. You did hear
the hounds, they're up at the barn
now. Your husband, he heard at La
Huerta we was beatin' up this part of
the country, 80 he lit out for home,
thinkin' you'd be scared. We 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 day gave
warning. eff you please, ma'am, you
and Mr.. Allandale have been very
kind, and 1 love Mr.. Billikins like my
own, but 1 can't stay where I've been
so misiudged."
"More candor ON your Epart would
have prevented your being mis-
judged"
She blushed. 81 often wanted to
tell you, 'am-what / first said
wasn't true. came from England
when 1 was baby. haven't any
brother, and, i never went to La
Huerta."
"Ahw
'"The kinder you was, ma'am, the
meaner 1 felt; and l was afraid Mr..
Allandale would go to the hospital; /;
and, worst of all, my heart stood still
when he spoke of Mr.. Waite. For he
and my stepfather are cousins, and 1
was afraid he would guess who /
was"
''Your stepfather?"
''Yes, ma'am, mother married Jim
Waite the second time, and it was
him that came with the posse and
frightened me. He was such bad.
cruel man that 1 couldn't stand it, so /
ran away"
'How did you happen to reach
Vaquero Water?"
with some friends in one of those
big wagons they call prairie schoon-
ers. Tulare folks go to the coast
every year; but they don't dare go
there straight, it's too much change.
They always stop at the Iron Spring to
cool off first"
To cool off at ninety in the shade!
"Soon as we came to the spring, /
heard about you, and thought I'd try
for the place"
"But how much better to have told
me the truth"
81 knew Mr.. Allandale was English,
ma am, and they are that particular j
was afraid he'd send me home"
Surely the story of Lady Emily
Brown was unnecessary.
Anne's eyes flashed. 'It's every
| 81 Ink Il