The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-07-26
CHAPTER lil.-(continued.)

on BUSINESS without a definite answer.
CHAPTER liI.-(continued.)
1T was four years an nine months
exactly, Bob" drawled old Kirkby,
who we'll knew what was coming.
Yen. l dare say you are right. J
was up at Evergreen at the time look-
ing after timber interests, when a
mule came wandering into the camp,
saddle and pack still on his back"
Il knowed that there mule" said
kirkby, I'D sold 1t to q Teller named
Newbold, that had come out yere an
married Louise Rosser, old man Ros-
ser's daughter, an him dead, an bein'
an orphan an this feller bein' fire
young man from the east, not a bit OF
tenderfoot nuther, a mimi engt-
neer he called hisself"
We'll, | happened to be there, too,
<ou remember" continued Maitland,
Sand they made up party to go and
hunt up the man, thinking something
night have happened"
You see." explained Kirkby, we
was all mighty fond of Louise Rosses.
the hull camp was actin like father
to her at the time. so long S she
hadn't nobody else; we was all at the
weddin', too. some six months afore.
The gal married him on her own
hook, Of course nobody maxim her.
but somehow she didn't seem none
too happy. although Newbold, who
was perfect gent. treated her white
as far as We knowed."
The old man stopped again and re-.
sumed his Eipe.
"Kirkby, you tell the story" said
Maitland.
Not ms." said Kirkby. Il have
seen men shot afore for takin' words
out n other mems mouths an l amt
never done that yit."
"You always were one Of the most
silent men l ever saw" laughed
George. why. that day Pete yere got
shot accidental an had his whole
breast tore out wen We was lumber
ing over on Black mountain, all you
said was, Wash him of, put some
axle grease on him an tie him up"
That's So" answered Pete, AN
there must have been somethin' pow
erful soothin' in that axle grease, for
here | am safe an sound to this day"
1T takes an old man." assented
Kirkby, Ito know when to keep his
mouth shet. learned 1t at the muz.
1le of gun"
II never knew before" laughed
Maitland. how still a man you can
be. Well, to resume the story. having
nothing to do I went out with the
posse the sheriff gathered up"
Him not thinkin' there had been
any foul play" calculated the old man.
mo. certainly not"
well. what happened. Uncle BobT'
inquired Enid.
Just you watt" said young Bob,
who had heard the story. This is
an awful good story, Cousin Enid"
II can't wait much longer" returned
the girl. please go on"
1.-Two days after we left the camp.
we came across an awful figure.
ragged, blood stained, wasted to
skeleton, starved"
II have seed men IN extreme cases
afore," intsrposed Kirkby. but never
none like him."
Nor l." continued Maitland.
WAS 1t Newbold?" asked Enid.
YES"
"And what had happened to him"
HE and his wife had been prospect
ing In these very mountains: she had
fallen over q cliff and broken herself
SO terribly that Newbold had to shoot
her"
WHAT" exclaimed Bradshaw. "You
don't mean that he actually killed
herr
That's what he DONE" answered
old Kirkby. ~
Poor man." murmured Enid.
But why?" asked Philips.
"They were five days away from a
settlement, there wasn't human be-
ing within a hundred and fifty miles
OF them, not even an Indian" contin-
ued Maitland. "She was so frightfully
broken and mangled that he couldn't
carry her away"
But why couldn't he leave her and
80 for help?" asked Bradshaw.
The wolves, the bears, or the vul-
lures would have got her. These
woods and mountains were full OF
them then and there are some OF them
left now I guess"
The two little girls crept closer to
their big cousin, each casting anxious
glances beyond the fire light.
"Oh. you're all right, little gals
said Kirkby reassuringly. they
wouldn't come nigh us while this fire
Is burnin' an they We been pretty
Well hunted out guess: sides there's
men yere who'd like nothin' better'n
drawin' q bead on big bar"
q AND So" continued Maitland. when
che begged him to shoot her, to put
AeT out Of her misery, - did 20 ana
eAsn hs started hack 70 tAe settlemsas