The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1899-09-07

life. If it don't, you might have a
tough time. Shall we go down to the
squire tomorrow, Nell3"
Nelly took a nights sleep on it and
in the morning consented to 40 up
country with John Conover. They were
married one day and set out the next,
taking the little child with them.
1t seemed shame to John Conover
that he had brought such a pretty
creature to live in such wild and lone
some spot. She was happy enough, ap-
parently the same Nelly that he had
seen on the dump that spring day. The
more he loved her the more he brooded
over her sacrifice of home and friends
among civilized people. He worked
hard, and the next summer made good
find in hole and sent her back to San
Francisco with a small fortune and in
structions to put Kathleen into con-
vent, where she could have schooling
and be made lady of for the future.
We
Life in hotel is great educator.
Day after day Mrs. Conover went about,
saw great plays, read novels, visited
her child and enjoyed existence. She
received Johns infrequent letters with
positive alarm. Suppose he should
send for her to return. She could close
her eyes and see the great, dark, snow
topped mountain wall, the rough cabin
close under the shadow, the brawling
waters of the mountain torrent. In
dreams she heard the drumming voice
Of the wind among the pine boughs,
the scream of the wild eagles. That
was all. She missed. John at first with
all the passion of her impulsive nature.
But as time went on the longing grew
less fierce, and she felt she would rather
never return than to go now when life
was SO full Of gayety and novelty.
One day Fergus O'Hare came to see
her. The colored servant told her, with
a grin, that the visitor would not write
his name on a card maybe couldn't.
Nelly flushed, for she knew it was but
a little time since she had been ignor-
ant of card formalities. She said she
would see him in her own parlor. and
the amused bellboy showed up the
switchman. He looked rougher and
more grimy than ever.
elbow do you do, Fergusa" she said,
with little condescension.
Fergus had stopped in the middle of
the little parlor.
"Nelly Conoverl Oh can't behave it's
the same" he said.
at is, she laughed. Then, in her
warm hearted way: "Sit down, Fergus
I'm glad to see you. You should see
Kathleen. She's fine girl now.'
Fergus would not sit down. He was
levidently at a loss what to say. He
shifted his nat unesily.
smelly Carney thot was, Oi moost
hurry my wurrd, as Olive Tim Blake in
M place down in the yard. Oi've some
WIRED of John Conover from dirthy
Chinese thot Oi've befrinded wunst or
twice. He told me, Nelly Carney, thot
John has med his foind at last, an thot
three ov the worst min in San Francis
co are to be afther not ony phat he's
taken oot alriddy, but it will be his life
for his claim out there beyant." :"
| Nelly Conover had risen. All the fine
lady dropped from her. She ran to Fer
gus and caught his hand.
"Fergus, Fergus, ye're friend, in
deed! Come away with me to John.
Get Tim, Denny and Jerry and one Of
| the other boys we can depend on.
There's plenty of money. We will &c
faster than any one. Oh. Fergus, helI
me, for old times sake!'
"We've no tonne, thin, to lose, >
quoth Fergus, "for thot gang is away
three hours moo. Be ready whin come
with the b'ys"
An hour or two later Nelly wal
ready. She had been to the convent tt
kiss Kathleen; she had dressed hersel
in her coarse mountain clothing again
The next train north bore the Irishme1
and Nelly to the little station wher'
she had decided to get off.
1t was by short cut, rough and dan
gerous, that Nelly made up her mind t.
lead her followers. 1t was one by whicl
John Conover used to secretly transpor
his gold. Several times she had trampe'
with him up and down the pass Sh
calculated that she could arrive an hou
or two after the attacking party if the.
pushed forward all night. A terribl
energy possessed Nelly. Her eyes shon
with terror and anxiety. Could the,
reach John in timer AS sha plunge
onward in the dark she registered vov
never to leave John Conover again j
his life were spared.
Toward dawn the party were in sigh
of Toby's creek. Nelly pointed wit
shaking tnger at the hut near the noun
tain side. There was a light in tn
ca bin. The party crept up stealthiiy
Nelly crawled on her hands and knee
to the back of the window. The sigh
within froze her blood. John Conove
was tied and bound before the fire unit
he was perfectly helpless. Three me
were torturing him, Indian fashion, b
applying burning sticks to mis- feet. II
= would not sign away his claim.
Nelly drew hack one second, an
Fergus took her place. A settled gra
look came into the face of the bi
switchman. He motioned the next mar
and all drew their pistols. Fergus crel
to the door, motioning Nelly to shelte
herself. There were sudden crash in c
the door, three shots and dash at tn
window. Nelly fred the pistol that sh
held straight into the face of the ma
who came first.
John Conover was to remain badl
crippled man. He had expected no sut
cor, but he knew Nelly well enough
think she would never relinquish til
claim only over his own signature, hard
ly then. He had resigned himself to di
that she might have a.fortune. 1t was
snatch from the grave fer him.
Every one knows the Conovers on th
! two continents. The claim was one {
the best three in California. Kathlee
was such fabulous heiress she coul
have married dozen titles, but sl
chose a plain American. She had
young half brother, who, strange as
. may seem, was called Fergus from IL
start He was famous athlete in a
eastern college in the seventies and ma
ried an English girl Of family. Nell
Conover, a lovely white haired old lad,
. | NAV often ho coop IN tho rio%r,ro fpo