The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1905-12-22
CHAPTER XXVI.

CHAPTER XXvI.
There was NO wedding breakfast at
| Sidcote, or any festivities at all--not
even q wedding cake George drove his
bride and his mother home after the
service, and presently they had dinner
together, and George kissed ais wife.
/ and his mother cried, SO that there was
little outward show Of rejoicing. Yet
they all three rejoiced in their hearts.
and felt stronger and more hopeful, just
because they could now stand together.
In the afternoon Mary asked George to
60 out with her.
| Il must 60 and see my uncle" she
said. II cannot bear to think of him
alone. Let us ask him to keep his money,
but to let us part friends"
| They walked hand in hand across the
stubble fields, and through the lanes,
where the blackberry leaves were putting
on their autumn tints Of red and gold,
and the berries Of the hedge were all ripe
and red-the purple honeysuckle, the
Fink yewberry, the blackberry, rowan,
hip and haw-to Gratnor
Strange, George, that we shall 60
away, and never see the dear old place
again. said Mary, with a sigh. Let
1t before the trees are stripped, and
while the sun still lies warm upon the
hills"
In the parlor Mr.. Leighan was still
sleeping, though it was past his waking
time. Mary touched George by the
hand, and they sat down behind him in
the window and waited. They waited
for a quarter Of an hour. Then they
heard step outside.
1T is David" George whispered. "He
will rouse his uncle. Is he come already
to ask for his fortune, wonderT'
Just then Mr.. Leighan awoke, perhaps
disturbed by Davids heavy step, and he
awoke just as he had done twice before
namely, suddenly and with a startled
shrek of terror. Just as he had done
twice before he sat up in his chair, with
horror and fright in his eyes, glazing
wildly about the room.
Mary, accustomed to witness this
nightmare, looked to see the terror
change into bewilderment. But it did
not.
For awhile his mind was full of his
dream; while he yet remembered the
place, the time, and the man, and before
the vision had time to fade and disap
|
had dreamed stood before him at the
open door, Then he NJ longer forgot:
his dream became a memory: he was
riding across Heytree Down in the even
ing; and he was met by his nephew with
cudgel, and the nephew cried out,
WHO robbed me of my land?" and
Struck him across the temples so that he
fell.
Murderer! Robber"' he cried. Help.
help! am murdered and robbedv'
And then, 10! miracle. For the par
alytic, who had had no power in his legs
1or SIX long years, sprang to his feet and
stood with outstretched arms, crying for
help to seize the murderer. And David
stood before him with such look of
hatred and revenge as he wore on that
night, and In his trembling right hand
the cudgel ready to uplift and to strike.
1t was over in moment, for the old
man fell helpless and senseless upon the
floor, though David did not strike. The
skull cap was knocked off by the fall.
and exposed the angry red scar of the
old wound. He lay upon his back, his
arms extended in the fashion of a cross,
as he had fallen upon Heytree Down;
and as he lay there, SO he lay here
/ L,
wide open, which saw nothing though
they ga1ed reproachfuily upon his muir
derer. Then for a space no one smoke:
but David bent over his uncle. breathing
hard, and George and Mary looked on
wondering and awe-stricken.
"a second time, David?"
Il David started, and turned. It was his
German protector, Baron Sereius Won
l ha ta1 A.
stood In the door, accompanied by nv
self. But on this occasion counted for
nothing.
"A second time, David?"
David gasped, but made no reply.
"You came home, David" said the
baron, ito give yourself In charge fo-
numbering and robbing your uncle. You
struck him over the head with vour
cudgel, so that he fell dead at your feet
You robbed him of box of papers and
bag Of money. The thought of tbe
crime gave you no rest by day, and at
night the ghost of your uncle came TO
your bedside and ordered you to go home
and give yourself up. You came home.
Your uncle was not dead. Have you con-
fessed the crime?''
David made no reply.
Have you restored the papersY
Again he made no reply.
This is your uncle; he looks as If
you had killed him a second time. Mad
ame"-he addressed Mary-''I am sorry
to speak of such things in the presence of
lady, but have in my pocket the con-
tession Of David Leighan."
He was not killed, after ALL" said
David. What matters the confession p
But he was robbed. Where are the
papers?'
Here they are-all that are left"
observed that he had a big book of some
kind under his arm; he laid this on the
table. There are his papers. Now
what's she odds of confession or twoT'
is this mans presence desired by his
unclew the baron asked.
'No," said Mary. "He comes every
morning and drives him nearly mad. He
had some power over him-I know moi
what. He has made my uncle's life mis-
cradle for three months"
MY duty seems plain" said the baron
81 shall go to the nearest police station
/ IA Al