Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-03-07


bone nor a rag nor memory. 70 give
mute witness that this way he passed
that way he rested a bit. here he took
horse, there he slept with this man he
had converse. that man saw his still
body borne hence? Could such q thing
be- IL seemed SO.
After a gallant and dauntloss search.
which lasted through the best DAYS OF
September. Langford was forced 10
let cold reason have it's sway. He had
thought honestly. that the ruaians
would not dare commit murder. know
ing that they were being pursued: but
now he was forced TO the opinion that
they had dared the worst. after all.
For, though 81 would be hard 70 hide
all trace OF dead man. infinitely
greater would be the difficulty in Gov
ering the trail OF a living one-one
who must eat and drink. who had a
mouth 20 be silenced and strength to
be restrained. 10 came gradually 10
him, the belief that Wnuston was
dead; but Il came surely. With Il
came the jeer OF the specter that
would not let him forget that he
should have foreseen what would
surely happen. With il came also n
great tenderness for Mary. and a re-
doubled vigilance to keep his unruly
tongue from blurting out things that
would hurt her who was looking to
him, in the serene confidence in his
good friendship. for brotherly counsel
and comfort.
In the first dark days Of his new be-
lief, he spoke 70 Gordon, and the
young lawyer had written a second
letter 70 the gal reporter" In re
Spouse. she came at once TO Kemah
and from thence 20 the White home
stead in the boss's own private. %
This time the boss did the driving
himself bringing CONSERVATION to the
heart OF one Jim Munson. cow-punch-
er. who viewed the advent OF her and
her "mouse-colored hair" with serious
trepidation and alarm. What he had
dreaded had come to pass. Twas but
a step now 10 the Three Bars. A fus-
sy woman would be the means Of
again losing man his Eden. Il was
monstrous. He sulked, aggrievedly.
systematically.
Louise slipped into the sad life at
the Whites easily. sweetly. adaptably.
Mary rallied under her gentle minis
trations. There was-would ever be
"a haunting pathos in the dark eyes.
but she arose from her bed. grateful
for any kindness shown her. strong
in her determination not be a trouble
to any one by giving way TO weak and
unavailing tears.
Mary, because OF her Astounding
health. healed OF her wound rapidly.
Langford took advantage OF the girls
absorption In each others company
10 ride often and at length on quests
Of his own creation. With October.
Louise must join Judge Dale for the
autumn term OF court He haunted
the hills. He was not looking now
for living man; he was seeking a
cleverly concealed grave. He fiouted
the opinion-held by many-that the
body had been thrown init the Mis-
siuri and would wash ashore some
later day many and many a mile be-
low. He held firmly TO his fixed idea
that impenetrsble mystery cIouding
the ultimate close of Wiliiston's earth
ly career was the sought aim OF his
murderers, and they would risk no
rivers giving up its dead to their un-
doing.
1t had been ascertained beyond rea-
sonable dooubt that Williston could
not have left the country in any OF the
unual modes. His description was at
ali the stations along the line, togeth
er with the theory that he would be
leaving under compulsion.
6 Meanwhile, Gordon had buckled
down for the big fight. He was sadly
handicapped. with the whole prop OF
his testimony struck from under him
by Williston's disappearance. How
ever, those who knew him best-the
number was not large-looked fol
things 70 happen In those days. They
I the few, the courageous minority
through all the ups and downs-witf
the balance in favor OF. the down,