Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1899-07-21
A FELON'S LOVE.
BY HENRY ". NESFELD.

and thought 1t was horse broken
loose from the paddock"
Yes. sir: the old mare started on
with me when she got near home, and
couldn't hold her In"
And you saw nothing OF Luke?" his
master again asked.
mo, sir-nothing!"
What made you come back from
Sullivansw
Mr.. Hall had already been told the
reason. and Baynes' reply was simply
a confirmation Of what he had heard.
The men at the publIc-house were all
more or less drunk and fighting, and
he could find no place to sleep In. The
old mare was handy. as he had left her
In the stock-yard with a good feed,
and he thought he would be able to
find his way back to the station, and
return early to the drays the next
morning.
Mr.. Hall became more and more per-
picked about Luke's disappearance
If he had been drinking heavily"
he said to his wife, mo one would
feel in the least surprised. But the
man was sober enough and showed
no signs OF eccentricity, SO far as can
md out. 1t beats anything ever ex-
perienced. Perhaps he will turn up In
the morning and we shall find a very
simple solution to the puzzle after ALL"
The morning came and went, and
day after day passed by, but no Rob-
srt Luke appeared.
The mounted police, with the black
trackers. secured the country for over
thirty miles around, and left hardly
= rock or a patch OF scrub unsearched.
Every building on the station had
been examined, and there only re-
NAMED Tom Baynes hut to visit.
Baynes was the first to suggest that It |
should be searched.
There's been a lot OF talk. I know.
sir" he said. about my wifes shutting |
herself up so. Poor thing, she can't
help that-I wish she could get about
so | should like the sergeant to satisfy
himself that Luke isn't in hiding
therel"
Nobody would be foolish enough to
suppose he was, Baynes." replied Mr..
Hall, smiling at the young mans anxi-
ety. but We had better. as you say,
look everywhere while we are about
It,"
Mr.. Hall had really secret desire to
behold this hidden treasure in the way
Of wife, who was so perslstently shell
tered from the vulgar gaze. Accord
Ingly he made one OF the party to ex-
anime the hut.
When the troopers knocked at the
door, 1t was standing a little way open.
Come in," said a low voice.
Half-sitting, half-reclining upon the
bed which occupied one corner of the
one room the hut possessed, dressed
n the ordinary printed calico gown
II working woman. shawl over her {
eet. and some needlework on which
he was engaged upon her lap, was {
hrs. Baynes. Her jet-black hair was 8
realty smoothed in front and braided {
t the back. and her pale face and 7
lervous manner denoted the invalid.
The wore colored spectacles.
Very sorry to intrude, Mrs Baynes,
am sure" said Mr.. Hall, "but we =
re- compelled to search everywhere for
his lost man. Your husband has no t
oubt told you about lt?" a
'Yes. yes" replied Mrs. Baynes. "It
Gems very strange that he should q
ave gone on like thatl"
What nice woman" thought Mr..
Iall. land good-looking one. too! s.
e a thousand pities that she should
} broken down. No wonder Baynes is
Ireful OF her" Then he said aloud. "
4 we were only certain that he had lc
,ne of somewhere. 1t would be sat
factory. but We can find no traces OF p
m anywhere. Besides, a man does c.
1t run off In the middle OF the night m
Ithout his boots. leaving two or y,
rec months wages behind him, I'M re
es he has very important reason
r doing So" il
There was very little for the sergeant W
inspect in the hut-a deal table, two 81
ugh benches. the bed upon which
rs Baynes reclined. and which had W
hangngs or dr~pery upon It that tn
uld conceal anything. and one or two sn
lall boxes containing clothes. These be
ticles made up the entire furniture
the apartment The walls. which
re OF roughly -hewn slabs nailed to
Q frame OF the hut. were carefully
pered ever with old Sydney Morning an
raids. while the two small window 90
Imes were covered with calico. hs