River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-09-20

"5ronnyI" She Cried, and tainted in
His Arms.
pause in a shadow and let them all
proceed without him.
She has come to hunt me up" he
Eauttered. "But-Im ashamed to let
her know me-now."
The crowd of men with the captives
had scattered when Merrill came to
Pizen Spring, the town on the edge of
the mines in the mountains and the
cattle ranges in the valley.
The three men had been able to
grove themselves miners and entirely
innocent of the crime for which they
came so near losing their lives.
The girl, who had fallen in with the
miners by chance, had come to Pizen
in search of her brother Her name
was Maggie Drew. Her stepfather,
she said, had been dead year; her
mother was i'll; the work of the ranch
had devolved upon herself. She had
heard that Bronson Drew, her brother,
was in Nicoll Valley, and now that the
step-parent was alive no longer, she
had hopes that if she could find him he
would Willingly go back to the place.
She had come in the dress of a boy
because of it's convenience and its suit
ability to her purpose. She had never
seen nor heard from this brother dur
ing more than seven years of his abb
sence.
AS Merrill started to walk to his
cabin that evening man stepped out
in the path before him.
Evening", he said, and made to
pass
Evening, Bronson Drew!" replied
the man.
He turned sharply. who told you
that? Who are your" he demanded.
The voice sounded half familiar, but he
could not recognize the bearded face in
the shadow.
Don't say a word" replied the
stranger. Come here little and I'll
tell you something about your sister.
les something you'll be glad to know"
There was ample acknowledgment of
the name of Drew and his kinship with
the girl in "Merrill's" silent compli-
He was on the alert for any suspi-
c;aus movement, but he was entirely
Gnprepared for a ruffian who glided be-
hind theIa at the corner and dealt him
a blow on the back of the head with
dubbed revolver. He sank without a
sound to the earth.
When he regained his senses, Drew
found himself lying on the dusty floor
of cabin Dawn had broken, but the
place was dark. He failed to recognize
anything familiar, even as the light in
creased. dull pain was throbbing at
the base of his brain.
At length the door was opened: the
man who had brought him to the place
came QuiaCly in.
''Good-.Lorning, Bronson" said the
man. as he noted the two brilliant eyes
regarding his face. Didn't know me.
did you, when we met last night?''
Everything came back to the wound
ed man In a flash. He knew his as
sailant now-his step-father's son,
Charlie Marshall; the creature who had
broken up the home. He could make
10 reply, gagged and powerless as he
was.
Don't be a cur; speak up to your
brother" tainted Marshall, grinning
with delight. Cant you get up and
break my jaw, like you did besar~?
No? Now that's pity"
The man who was bound couId see
behind the SCARED and bearded face,
and he discovered again the malicious
countenance of the boy he had met
wheE his mother married Caleb Mar
shall and plunged them all in trouble.
Again he listened to the sneering
taunts heaped by the interloper on his
mother, his sister and himself; again
be resented the intrusion of this hui