The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-12-01

long rambles to the various lakes and
places Of interest soon chased away the
traces Of study, and~as I was invari-
ably his companion in these expedi-
lions, I grew to like him thoroughly;
and the feeling I had towards him was,
perhaps, intensified because. having
seen SO much more Of the world than
he, I had much to tellhi m, and he was
in a high degree the most pleasant OF
companions, a good listener, There
was something in his face that puzzled
me, especially when he was animated,
for at such times his features seemed
to be familiar to me, though I was
quite certain that we had never met
until I saw him for the first time at his
uncle's.
One day we had taken a longer ram
BILE than usual, and had walked through
Longsleddle Valley to Hawswater and
thence to the top of High street, and
we were admiring the view, for the
day was remarkably clear, when he
turned to ask me some question, and
in that second, while his face, aglow
with excitement. was fully towards me,
I saw a remarkable likeness to the face
that I had worked out at Oldburgh.
Could it possibly be that he was the
lad who had disappeared in such a
sensational fashion, and, II he were,
who was Mr.. TRAVERSE,
It must be some accidental likeness,
and I tried to put the.idea away from
me; but as he, from time to time,
looked at me, it would ecur again and
again, until at last I determined to put
the matter to the test. I would ask
him a simple question, and If he were
not the lad no harm could be done. for
he would be ignorant Of the motive
that was actuating nm. Presently,
when we were talking Of people we had
met, y asked him If he knew anyone,
named Willie Ruddock; and from the
tremor that seized him and the way In
which he started from me and stood
staring at me, speeches. WITH amaze
ment, I might have answered my own
question and said, Thou art the man"
With a great effort, he pulled him
self together:
why do your ask??" he. said. I'm q
husky voice..
"Because,"T went on, T found, I'm an
old photograph at Mr.. Byrne's farm a
picture of a group, and T enlarged one
of the faces. It was a boys; and he
was eleven years old. at the, time: I
drew other pictures of him, altering the
face as I supposed he'would' alter, year
by year, and the last one'I did resem-
bles yours in many particulars. You
have the same colored hair and eyes as
this boy had. You are. Willie Rud-
dock!"
He made no attempt, at denial With
out a word, without even Elancing at
me, he set Off at the fastest walking
pace he could compass along the road
in the direction of Kendall, and I fol-
lowed him at closely as'could, until; his
slackening as we breasted the hill
to Kirkdale pass, I got a chance to-
come up and speak with him. =
What are you goingrto do. Traverse
I asked.
He halted suddenly and faced me:
What am I going to do?" he. repeat
I'm going to warn n Of the
kindest-hearted men that God ever put
the breath of life into that his secret is
known, for If I am Willie Ruddoek, you
know who MI. Travers is. BY Heaven!
I feel that I could kill you here and
now, and the secret would be safe;;"'
and for a moment or SO there was. q
dangerous CLEAN in his eye. and SO pail
pable a bracing up Of his figure; as,
for a supreme effort, that I act
ually stood on guard and waited for his
attack. But it eve came. His mood
changed quickly.
"I don't know how you got your
knowledge, Tremayne," he said. 81
don't even know who you are. or where
you came from; but If you bring any
harm to the man who has made me
what I am. I give you fair warning that
I shall kill you-unless you kill me"
and he spoke in such a steady:tone, and;
so quietly withal, that I could not fail
see that he meant every: word he.
uttered.
How could I be- such a cad as to, I'M
jure him?" I asked. Didn't he be-
friend me when, goodness knows. 7
wanted a friend badly enough? Let us
sit down here, Travers, and have At
out. Let us understand each, other
thoroughly"
We sat down on the turf1at' the, side
of the road, and I went on:
sit was quite by chance that + came
an old. newspaper with an Q
count Of the attack u~pon-well, upon
Mr.. Travers of Oldburgh. I was.stay-
ing in the town at the time, and ! was
interested enough to go to Mr.. Byrne,s
farm. There I heard your name and
saw your likeness, andtit was. merely t.
while away, the time that / went On
with the drawings. OF, course, in com
mon with everyone else, j. lookedsupcaf
your disappearance and his, and the
attack upon him, toos3 for that matter,
as most mysterious: The secret II hts
still, for ] have, no, notion OF why he
al set upon, non'wlty he. chose to hide
himself up here's. and, upon my heneR,sI
shall never tell q, soul what chance has
revealed to me.''
1 held out my hand to him.
II believe. you,'' he said. - he
grasped it. .Anl now let me say m
thing on my side. I don't mind clear,
ing up the mystery, as yo,r eall 4. Of
my disappearance. The matter was
very simple. You, no doubt. know all
the particulars OF the care. for they
were fully reportedta at thestfme.
Well, 7 bad to pass NJ Ifavers to
get to Tnorne, and whenAI eaane near
the spot 7 saw him sitting mp. holding
his side. He beckoned 10 Me,Sand, NM
der hts direction, I sboand up his wound
with strips Of my handkerchief. and
saw that the wound had only missed
being . serious one by the tenth$;of an;