Year: 1879

Elliot Burnett Is not found.''


Who first accused my father of this
crime ~ she asked, with forced calm
ness.


The men looked at each other as If
each was waiting for the other to
answer her question. Finally one of
them said:


Black Bill told me of it. He said
some one was looking for Burnett, and
couldn't find him. Inquiries were then
made, and at last a general search was
Instituted, but without success. He was
seen coming toward your house, and
late at night, some one-Black Bill, 1
think-heard o shot in this direction
That, with the threats your father was
heard to utter against Burnett, is the
only evidence we have at present."


Where are you going to take him Y''
she asked, in the same calm tones.


" 70 the tavern" the man replied
"Some of the miners are searching for
Burnett's body. If they find it, why
tell you, Miss Mary, if you can do any
thing to clear your father, you had bet
ter set about doing it.''


Alas any information she could give
them would only strengthen their con-
viction in her fathers guilt. She wanted
time to think and weigh her words, for
one rashly uttered sentence might seal
his doom.


" am too much shocked at what has
occurred to speak now" she said.-
"Give me time to collect my confused
thoughts, and let me assure you my
did not commit the crime he is charged
with. was with Elliot Burnett when
the bullet struck him, and my father
was at home"


"She is trying to shield her father"
whispered one of the men. Poor girl
don't blame her." Then he added
aloud: You say you were with Bur-
nett when he was shot - If your father
didn't shoot him, who did 2"


Mary grew deathly pale, but making
a supreme effort to control her emo
tiOns, she turned, and looking her inter-
rogator full in the face, answered in a
hoarse voice:


I" 1t was Black BILL


"Why didn't you say so when we
first asked you abont the affair." And
why didn't you give the alarm when it
occurred 2"


tainted when Elliot was shot, and
when L recovered consciousness 1 was
SO frightened and confused that could
not tell what had happened.


The men talked together in low voices
for few moments, then one of them
said:


We must guard your father until we
can investigate the matter"


Without further parley they started
for the tavern, taking Mary and her
father with them. AS they reached the
spot where Elliot and herself stood
when the fatal shot struck him, the
whole scene presented itself so vividly
to her mind that she burst into tears.


When Mary found herself alone with
her father she put her arms around his
neck and begged him to tell her what
he knew about the terrible affair.


Black Bill came in just as you went
out" said Knight, "and brought bot
tie of whiskey with him. We sat smok-
ing and drinking for some time, when
he left, and 1, feeling very drowsy, went
to bed. The first thing I knew about
the affair was when the men accused me
Of ~ Won ~ fhf.aly chnf prp
do you, Nary" he asked, pleadingly.


"No, my dear father, believe you
have spoken the truth"


She then told him what had happened
the night before.


"Are you sure it was Black Bill who
fired the shot 7" asked Knight.


"No," replied Mary " said that to
gain time. / saw face peering out
from the bushes, but it was too dark to
recognize the features. Still, 1 believe,
if the men investigate the matter, they
will find that Black Bill is the guilty
one. know he hated, and was jealous
of Elliott, and do not think he loved
either you or any too WELL"


Father and daughter spent that day
and the two succeeding ones in their
prison. Each time the landlord came
to bring their food, Mary would in
quire eagerly if they had found Elliot.
The answer was always the same:


No; but they are still searching tor
him.


The third night Mary was startled by