The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-12-09

the clothed blood mating his hair. He
had been struck desperate blow. and
was doubtless left living there in the
belief that he was dead. yet apparent
~ the skull was not crushed. and the
night air had concealed the blood
With a supreme effort he drew him.
self into n sitting posture, and stared
rather hlankly about at the objects re
yealed in the gray dawn.
The sight as instantly restored his
memory the cabin door stood wide
open. just as he left IL. and within the
lamp sim burned on the table, In the
midst of the dirtied dishes. She had
not returned. Them he had been lying
there alone all night. The realization
maddened him 10 effort, and. by grasp
ing al the door for support he attained
his feet, and stood there for mo-
menL swaying dizzily Exactly what
had occurred he could not determine;
the whole affair seemed more like
dream than a reality. He had left her
there apparently cheerful and happy.
the laughter In her eyes a memory TO
linger with him; he had not been abb
sent TO exceed thirty minutes. and not
so far away but what any cry would
surely have reached his ears Yet
when he returned she had vanished
utterly. leaving everything untouched.
Whatever occurred must have been
brought TO pass almost Immediately
upon his departure. before she even
began the work Of cleaning up. But
how could such a thing happen with
out any alarml Why. the Kid was
working within ten feet OF the house,
and must have heard the slightest
sound OF struggle The Kid where
was he anyway What had become OF
the fellow all this timer He was mo-
where in sight when Shelby retraced
his steps up the path. Could II be
hat the Kid was the one guilty Of this
deed7 IF so. what was his object? |
Not robbery, surely, for the place had
not been ransacked, or anything re
moved from his pockets Yet surely |
this was not Indian work II bore no |
resemblance TO a savage raid. The 1
questions were unanswerable no 4
mental effort gave him any clue. yet
his strength was rapidly coming back /
and with II a grim. determined anger
which urged him into action.
First he went through the deserted 4
house. room by room. seeking for the
slightest sign OF guidance but finding
none. Everything remained precisely
as he remembered seeing Il the night
before He blew out the light. took
down one Of the rifles from the wall.
loaded Il. and then. feeling his old
strength returning. cautiously stepped
Dut through the front door The buck
board stood there. gaunt and stripped.
except Tor the box between the rear
wheels. He peered into this. and
found il still half filled with bundles
Macklln had not completed his Job
lther evidence being furnished By the
and overturned lantern
M the ground just beyond But there
sas no sign visible Of any struggle.
Surely she had not left o. her own
'hoice. That was .unthinkable. She
lad appeared cheerful and ooutenfed,
wen actually interested in the new
ne besides. II she possessed the
slightest desire 70 escape. be had or
erred Der every opportunity on the
Tay out and she had refused. Surely
be would never have come way out
here 70 make her disagreeable Jour
ey over again a night Even II crazy
nough for such an attempt. the effort
you'd never be made upon foot. and
y three ponies we're In the corral; he
Iac sen them While coming down ! ,