Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1899-02-03

Mr.. Estel, can't you give us time to
pay you? Father got only arm at your
place. He was not a drunkard nor a
gambler before we came here"
And l didn't make him one or the
other" said Estel. "But l told him be-
fore what tell you now-that is, that
you can say one word that'll free him
from debt and make yourself rich"
what is that" asked Lena, with
forced calmness.
"Be my wife," said Estel, reaching
out his hand.
Lena drew back and the color fed
her face. Her simple life had made her
unconventional, so that she spoke her
| mind without any thought of the con-
sequences.
Marry you" she said. "How could
do so when do not love you?"
but you will learn to love me-" said
Estel.
"That is impossible"
"Why so?'
Because l love another"
'Who is hep
"That matters not" she said, with
spirit, "you have my answer"
But | will not take mo- for an an
swer. Think over what 1 have said,
and in one week shall return; should
you then refuse me l shall take what
is mine"
With this ultimatum Estel and his
friend left.
Eli Taylor and his wife tried to make
Lena see that it would be to the ad-
vantage of all if she accepted Esters
proposal, but she firmly replied:
Il am ready to die to save either my
father or my mother, but it is too much
to ask me to sell my SOUL"
Tom stoutly took his sisters side,
and when George Heron returned,
which he did that evening, they told
him all that had happened and asked
his advice.
Il can help you by giving you the
money" replied the young hunter, "but
my belief is that these fellows are
thieves and are playing a bluff game;
If so, l think Tom and l can match
them"
Its this young Heron that Lena's
in love WITH" said Eli Taylor to his
wife. "If it wasn't for him she'd have
Estel and we could keep the place. 1
won't have him about here no longer"
In his blunt way the old man told
George Heron to leave, frankly ex-
planning the reason, and George said
in reply:
"lf l cannot help you, Mr.. Taylor.
will not stay in your way"
The next evening, after a long talk |
with Lena and her brother, the young
hunter shouldered his rifle and went
away, and Eli Taylor felt that his
property would be now secure, in which
event he compromised with his selfish
ness by promising himself that he
would never get drunk nor gamble
again.
At length the dreaded day came, and
with it Estel, Roggs and a number of +
men they had brought to take posses
sion of the place.
They found Lena even more deter
mined than before, for she positively
refused to speak to Estel in the house. r
"Will you speak to me outsider" he
asked.
Eyes; on the bridge over Quicksand
Creek" she replied. This was the
bridge on the road leading from the
farm to Canyon City, and the stream
which it spanned was filled with the
quicksand that makes travelling in that
region such terror.
Fearing some harm, Estels friends
followed at distance, and the moment
he stood on the bridge with Lena they
saw young man in hunters garb ap-
pear at the other end. They heard
this young man cry out: 1--WE meet at
last, Belmanw
Estel seemed frozen with terror.
after a few seconds he laid his hand
on the bridge railing and leaped over.
his object being escape, Lut he found
himself in the remorseless grasp of the
quicksands.
Roggs and others ran up only to see
Estel or "Belman," for these were
only few of his names, disappearing.
THAT wretch" said George Heron.
pointing TO the stream, murdered and
robbed my father two years ago in
Salt Lake City. have been looking
for him ever since, but l hold you TO
witness that he died by his own act"
With their champion gone Roggs and
his companions had no further inter.
est In his case. ELI Taylor was never
troubled again. He changed his hab-
Its and made over his farm to his son.
though he thinks that his son-ln-law.
George Heron, Is quite as fine a fel. ,
~ a q n.A.aa