The Washington times., 1905-01-01


send:
This brother of hers was a sore trial
to Nellie. The story of their lives had
been sad one. And now Nellie's prom
ised 10 be sadder still
Long years before. when Nellie was
wee infant, a settlers family had jour-
neyed across the open country OF north
ern Minnesota
Robert Decktoa and his wife were
sturdy people; their two children, Spen-
Ger and Nellie, were pretty and strong.
Spencer was the elder of the two
Disaster overlook the wayfarers. They
somehow got of the lines of travel.
became lost were overtaken by hunger,
and sickness resulted
The wife died first. leaving a weak
and distracted father with two children
on his hands. and fever raging in his
BRAIN
He had camped On the banks OF n
stream that was broad enough for him
TO think it was the Mississippi. His plan
mad been, when they were strong
enough, to go down the river on a raft
TIL they reached a town, and there nut
up till they gained strength 10 coutiuua
But with the eye OF fear for his two
children, the father foresaw the day
when he should also die in the wilder
ness. leaving them to be devoured bv
| wolves
In stronger hours, he had partially
constructed the raft on which they were
to journey to safety.
In1s was now large enough to carry
| the children
| Feeling that his end was near. t,a
father managed to fasten the chiId-sr,
| securely to the raft, and then wrote
with weak and trembling fingers, an ac-
count OF himself and the end OF his
| Journey This was pinned to the Jacket
of the boy.
or Two days the father kept Their,
near nun. feeding them what he mad.
pet tnen his strength failed-he felt
me me nres raging in his brain-he PRAYED
| t tol COG protection for his little ones
| o. IasS1 mem cortland. with the laugh
li1er- robert Deckton died 80
Inc raft was picked up the chi,are,
IN e. S and piaced IN an orphans home
But there is. in the West. a co,s+.n.
S nenceer- L ,., caiidren-not Infants When
$500 sen. was Va thirteen years OF age he
Inc wife Of Hubbick, frugal and ,..
ittl Ne neip; had managed to obtain II
ny having always a founding Of 1s-,r,e
| s-S 20 ASSIST her in the work One Of
these had died. Another hafJ nsr-.e -,
ana had farm OF her own And 80
came Nellie ~--~As
Ne, Nellie knew she had brother. but
| 80" hothlnS else concerning him tiIi
one 0ay after they had come TO Mon,
! tana, Spencer appeared. Claimed ber- Co.
ms SISTER, told her the story of the rafr
as she had heard it in St Paul sas 81 -.
TOOK him TO her heart '--N
| 6aI spencer was not the brother st,e
1ao Ionsed for-had pictured in her
- 20 ms he proved 70 be lazy, axari-
elous untruthful Mr. Hubbick had
sent him adrift --1Ai
he mad written TO Nellie repeatedly
iiI ha money. She sent him little out Of
Helena that he was going to the rriS,es
ana would return her loan with interest,"
| when he struck II rich
| Wnetner the strike had been defa--a<5
or he had forgotten his debt. NeJIss fIsj
not know She had not heard from him
and this was the brother to whom the
poor girl, il her desperation. was forced
10 turn for help This man who mad
never been able to help himself, was 70
be her only support
| Not with moneyshe believed sT
entitled 10 Hubbiek's farm and stock.
ana what money might be found In the
banks; but she needed other support
moral and physical strength behind
her-to probe the mystery of the muir
derS 10 the bottom, and set free tf7is
man whona-yes, she confessed il now TO
herSeif-whom, IN the stress an. no.
tentiaity OF the times, she had learned
to love
It was a poor support to which she
was looking and she knew it But there
was no other. till Cayright himself
could reach his friends, and set the
mills in motion that would grind ard
separate the wheat of truth from the
chaf of mystery, and free him forever
from the stain OF criminal charge
What message should she send her
brother? How should let old Crooked
The hours dragged along slowly and
YEARLY They seemed heavy with the
apprehensiors that beSet the girl In her
lonely house
Would they discover anythinge Wa.
lCayright really safe2
She watched for the returning sheriff
but he did not come He might have
gone back to Hubbicks by another and
less used road
) She was waiting for the darkness.
when she hoped TO be able to make a
right was doing But the danger OF
T DONG this without knowing where Gavin
? was seemed great
Toward dusk she was startled at
hearing the sounds of horse pounding
: rapidly through the mud and snow.
E She glanced from the window-she Ut
tered cry of surprise-it was Joe on
: She flung open the door. He fell.
rather than slid, 10 the ground
Biood was over ms ciothlng. ms eyes
I | Go-quick" he said, as he reeIed
across the threshold. They found
piSce-TOuT DldnkeC-dS lnSE 4e1t your
. house-another piece in the place tied
T the horse Gavin is-back-he has seen
Gordon-they aeuse you-nle--
Great Cod" moaned Nellie, as she
sprang for the bottle and poured some
spirits down his throat
e Il killed Nose. he said. partly re
= vived II killed him TO keep him still
Now I'll keep still Gordon-Gavin-
come ask me what l know tell moth
; ing. Gordon-hfn judse-hin say ms
bad Indian Gavin bring rope@ts
. string me up-make tell Nelson had
ropeI shot at NelSon-Joe did-Gavir
: shot me-Joe mount pony-come to YOU
II Run-take him They will kill him
Z you-Gavin and Gordon-both mad: NJ
friend III HuGbzc11ss@ Go fargo Quicl
: i-go now Them follow ire Leave me
Joe take care himself
I" And with this last effort the Indiar
y rolled on the floor a corpse.
y CHAPTER x.
Il VIII Tell Nothing