rZ-'-C THE LAKOASTER BAIL INTELLIGENCER, SATURDAY; JULY &0, 1689. " fc"V, i " - . MYSTERY OF DEflDMflN'8 FLftY A ROMANTIC STORY OF THE FAR WEST. By the Auther of "Leve or a Lie," " Winning: Her In heritance," Etc. CHAPTER L HE san wa sink teg behind the distant sicr frasj their snow copped summits were tinted with the fading flash of the dying day. Down te the for ests of pine that fringed the mountain sides, and stretched far away through miles of level land, there lin gered only the clear dusk that darkens suddenly into night. The air was full of tlie aromatic fragrance of resin, and the silence was se in tense that the crackling sound of the dry weed, upon which the fierce sun had shene down all day, was eharp and clear, while every new and then the chirp of the grasshopper could be dis tinctly heard. . A man leaning against one of the rod red pino boles noticed neither silence nor fragrance: the chirping of the grasshop pers did net disturb him, and the fact that the sun was kinking fast behind him away ever the sierras did net trouble him in the least. He was far tee satis fled with bis own position te think of anything but himself, and the comfort ing fumes of his pipe seethed his senses infiiiituly better than balsamic odors. Presently he pulled out his watch and looked at it; then he uttered an impreca tion, and his fuce assumed the cxprcs sien that had gained for hhn from his friends the suggestive title of "Go-fer-ilini Tem." lle was net accustomed te being played false. He took out from lib bi cast ieckct a gi easy, shabby nete book, and. turning ever boiue dirty papers, found n short nete, which he slowly tend through; after doing se he tore it up savagely into a. hundred pieces and flung them from him. An evening broeze sweeping at that moment through the feicst caught the pieces and whirled them nway into bush and cranny. What prompted him te commit such a foolish uct it was diflicult te say; perhaps, in spite of his savnge wrath against the per son who was keeping him waiting, he felt tee sure of his own position te acf with the prudence that generally guided him. By destroying that paper he de btreyed the ene clew te the mystery of which that lonely tryst among the pines was the beginning. After venting his anger upon the nete he drew out of an inner pocket n woman's dainty handker chief. He looked at it for a moment, n flcrce light stealing into his eyes; then he raised it te his lips nud, with a low laugh, kissed it. As the laugh, insolent in its tiiumpli, cruel in its pitilessness, breke upon the evening air, u tongtte of red flame flashed out fietu n thorn bush seme yard3 behind him, followed by n loudiepeit. With a wild cry of pain, "Go-fer-IIini Tem" tinned sharply round, the handkerchief still in his hand, and madouplunge towards the bush. Be Be Be fere he could reach it he staggered, and, with a revolting execration upon his lips nud i convulsive sob of agony, he fell face downwards upon the earth. The last rays of the sun vanished from the sierras and night fell suddenly upon the forest. The darkness hid the motion less flgure w hicli was net te lise up te greet nnethcr dawn, and closed ever the herrible red stream which gradually soaked into the cat tli. In the east was a pale glimmer of light; but it va3 tee fceble te penetrate into thedepths of the forest, where dark ness btill lingered, though already the weird melancholy llete and sounds winch haunt forests nt night were grow ing silent, ns the animals and insects who did net cam te face the light with with diew te their hiding places, leaving be hind them that hush which precedes the joyous waking of all things that leve the day. .The dead man was still lying where he fell; but tficre was human life near. Some few hundred yards nway a young man had encamped for tlie night. He wad sitting up in Ins blankets, cogitating ever his position, which was eminently unsatisfactory; ids haudsome eyes were growing mero haggaid, his tired face paler and mero downcast, when sud denly he saw straight befere him a pale figure, sharply defined against tlie black ness of its surroundings. His keen eyes, accustomed te the darkness, could, eftcr having ence caught sight of this figure, even distinguish its outline. It steed, a light and shadowy looking object, at the end of the opening which he knew had faced him when he went te sleep. Tha mere he stated at it, the mero puzzled and interested he became. It was net nn Indian they never appeared light against a dark background; it could haidly be ene of the miners who fermed the population of Headman's Flat they certainly did net walk abroad in ethereal gai incuts. He did net imagine it te be a ghost, been u se lis did net bcllcve in bucli tilings; but for a moment Ids bleed tan cold in hi cins as the white shadowy figure suddenly glided forward through the darkness, and came straight towards him. His baud had already in stinctively grasped his rifle, which was lying clese by him, and he new raised if into position, in case it should be needed; but within twenty feet of him the glid ing white form stepped. "By Geergo a woman!" The exclamation breke from his lips uhue.it involuntarily, ns the unmlstakabb sound of a woman's seb3 fell upon Ids ear, If there hail been any doubt in his mind it would have vanished at tlie sound of the shriek that echoed among the pines, when, springing te his feet, he plunged through the darkness te her side. She turned te fly, but her feet slipped and she swayed for a second. His strong arms caught her befere she could reach the ground, and tlie next moment she was a helpless prisoner In his arms. "Oh, please let me" she cried in terrified tone; and then the sweet bound of a woman's voice ceased abruptly, and Mr Jehn Smith found himself holding a limp, senseless burden. He had fright ened her into a swoon. Anathematizing his brutrjity, he car ried her ever te his blankets, and laying her down upon them struck a light. It went out immediately, mid bofero he could btrike another the woman revived. Shu sat up and breke into such hysterical weeping and-cries of terror nt" finding herself in tlie darkness with nn unknown man by her side, grumbling ever his re re fratery matches, that Mr. Jehn Smith unsnearl ieside himself tee. "Cci 1 siv TOY ceed woman ta .uJSeC.dA'Jom' .uJSeC.dA'Jem' "" "xBI thousand snakes! My dear girl, can't you keep quiet a few mementa you're perfectly safe. Ah, that's better" as the lighted match Bet fire ten Iittle pile of dried pine needles and twjgs he had hastily gathered together and a cheerful blaze lighted up the scene She gradually succeeded In repressing her sobs nftcr his appeal, which had such a ring of genuine discomflture and vexation that even her overwrought nerves were seethed, and she bccanie calmer. "New then, that's something like! Take a pull nt this," he said, bending ever her with his flask. He was nearly startled out of his wits again, hewever, by her thrusting the flask from her, and breaking into a pea) of laughter which seemed as if it would never ceme te nn end. After the first alarm at the sudden and unexpected change of mood, he felt re lieved. "That's better," he said consolingly "laughing is better than crying!" But he grew mero alarmed than ever as the wild laughter continued, for he began te think she was mad. He steed stupidly staring nt her, his eyes wide open, his jaw drepplng.'and the spcctacle he thus presented in the firelight upset the girl's self control still mere. "Oh, don't stand staring at me lika that! You'll drive me mad! Say somo semo some thingl" she ejaculated. "I'm real serryl" he began feebly. "1 wish you wouldn't, yen knew!'' "Net like that! Just scold me beat me anything!" she gasped out, between her wild hysterical fits of laughter and sobbing. He began te 6ce that this laughter was only another form of agony. His fnce grew grave, and a new expression came into it as he again bent gently ever the girl. "New, you will just de as I tell you," he said, iu a cool, nuthoritatlve voice. "Yeu are te drink ceme of this." He held ids flask te her lips with one hand, passing Ids ether arm round her te held her up, for she was shaking like a reed. The quiet impcrieusness of voice and manner had its effect. Tlie girl let him moisten her lips, sinking back heav ily against his encircling arm; but he j felt that she was quite unconscious as tc whether it were human or only n block of weed. She suddenly drew herself from it with a het flush. "I thought it was the tree," she said, in a weak, confused voice. "It doesn't signify," he returned bluntly. "New you'll lie down till I get along witli a meal. It is just morning." His firmness and coolness again mas tered her and she lay down, letting him wrap her up in his blanket, being indeed really tee weak and exhausted te make much resistance. She remained per fectly quiet, Watching him languidly through her half closed lids as he came and went in the light of the Are, which he had new enlarged toasire convenient for cooking. The pale light in the cast reached the weeds and valleys at last, and it was day. Iu a moment all the feiestwas echoing with shrill notes and the whir of wiugs. Some bird, with a joyous rush through the sweet air of tlie morn ing, Hashed across the glade iu front of the young man. Almest befere he knew what he was doing, he had buatched his revolver from Ida belt and brought the biid down. It seemed cruel; but he was hungry, and se, probably, was his guest. As he glanced at her, he saw that net even the report had reused her from the heavy bleep into which bhe had at last fallen. When bhe did awake, it was te bce him absorbed and anxious befere tlie lire, carefully attending te the roasting of half a dozen little birds which lie had arranged en improvised spits of forked weed. As 60011 as they were ready he turned te see what she was doing, and found her contemplating him with se much interest that he felt uncomfort able. His equanimity was btill mere dis turbed when, sitting upright, with the bread light of day shilling upon her, he saw her clearly for the first time. "De you knew that last night I thought ence jeu might be a grizzly?"' hu Bald, with n rather awkward laugh, looking at her with the frankest admiration, and wendeiing mero than ever where bhe could have ceme from and w he she was. She flushed and laughed, and then shuddeied. "I bhall never forget it that awful night! I lest my way. Can you tell me where I ami" "I reckon yeu're near Dcadman'a Flat," he said, thinking that he had never befere heard 60 bweet a voice. But he was frightened at the effect of his words upon her, for she had turned ghastly pale. "Oh, I must get awayl" she exclaimed, springing te her feet. "I mustn't be neat that place alone! Oh, I did net knew!" "It's nil light," he said, anxious te soetho her "wo're bome way off!" "Oh, hut there is eouie ene there I eh, what bhall I de?" she cried wildly, wringing her hands. She was in biich n fienzy of fear and horror that the young man was afraid bhe would hi oak down again, as she had dene dining the night. If the expert ence had been painful te him then, when he could Bcaicelysce if bhe w ere us old and ugly aa a witch, it would In twenty times inoie dreadful new that he had dlacevcied her youth and beauty. "Yeu sha'n't go there, and no ena from there shall wen y you cither," in exclaimed, saying anything tliat cain Int-j his Iliad te calm her. "I'll take you nujvvhi.re you like. Heaven knows, there nre pcojde there I'd rather sheet than meet!" with mi outburst of flcrce passion. "Have you, tee, an enemy?" hc asked, hi u 6trange low tone. Oh" her pas sionate emotion again overpowering her "why bheuld a man have nn enemy! If I were a mau, and had an enemy, I would kill him!" There was something tcrrihle in the gleam of lierce unger in the dark depths of her eye, in the wild passionate tone of her voice. She looked at that moment ns if she could deal a death blew without a tremor. ne gazed at her curiously, vaguely troubled at her flerce hate and passion. Leeking up at his face, Ehe baw at a glance the thought that was passing through his mind. She flushed hotly, and then became deathly pale. "Yeu de net knew!" she said, inn hard, constrained voice. "Yeu are a man! Yeu cannot even guess wliat such an enemy as Tem Cairnes can be te a wo man!" "Tem Cnirnes Ge-for-him Tem! Is he EisiE enemv, tool Heaven hale env -- - bt - bt ?&&. jfeiaifcateMeHfeMt;a;M ;ljis&u. man who has te deal with hlmr he 'ex claimed, betraying his own hatred. "Then he is your enemy as well? Yeu will understand hew I hate him!" She clenched her Blender hand, her lithe beau tiful flgure quivering from head te feet. "I shocked you by saying a moment age that I could kill him; but, it you could feci what it is te be a woman, persecuted by such a man ns that, you would take a Derringer in your hand' and sheet 1dm down like a deg!" Her tcrrible excitement imparted an additional beauty te her face that daz zled him, and he understood what ehe meant by "Ge-for-him Tem's" persecu tion. The het bleed flew te his face nt this infamous presumption. He would have shot Tem Cairnes down "like n deg" that very instant. Perhaps she un derstood something of the feeling she had aroused in him, for she flushed, nnd, tlie fierce, angry light fading from her eyes, she looked up at him with the half shamed, half shy appeal of a woman who feels the need of, nnd is grateful for, the protection of a strong man. Being a man, he found her even mero beautiful in this new mood than in the ether. "Let us havoeemethlngtoe.it," he said abruptly, Ids veice considerably affected by this fresh influence. Itwas a prosaic expression for such an occasion, but he felt he must say something. After all, he could think of nothing mero appropri ate, for they were both hungry, CHAPTER II. They sat down te their repast, which, though frugal in Bome ways and partic ularly deficient in knives and crockery, was a remarkably pleasant one. Anxi ety for tlie future and dread of the past vanished, nnd they were couscieus only of this delightful nl fresco meal in the great pine forest. The morning air was still cool, though nlrcady wavy lines, betokening heat, were rising like a mist ever the clearing in which steed the settlement of Dead man's Flat, about three miles distant. Soen, even in the depths of the great forest, the heat would be intolerable. On every side of thctn stretched the slender belcn of larch and pine, the fra grant needles covering the ground. The joyous cheius of birds and insects greet ing tlie new- day was sweet musie te these two young people, nnd every tuft of feathery fern, every bush of furze and thorn, contained seme sight of busy life te nmuse them. There were all sorts of wonders in the thick undergrowth te dream of, and te impart that nlr of mystery te the place which always lin gers ever the unseen. They sn n long tlnie ever that meal, although she did net cat much indeed, he was distressed nt her want of appe tite. He began te see tee that the ex citement produced by the novelty of the situation was wearing off, nnd that her face.was growing very pale. Tlie thought that Mr. Tem Cairnes was tlie cause of her evident suffering made the young fellow grind his teeth with rage. But even such a meal as this, with only a handseme young man and a beautiful girl te sit at it, with the my6tcry and loneliness and beauty of the great primeval forest shutting them iu together from all the discord nnd weary noises of the world lioyend, could net last forever. With n weman'H natural instinct she had for f.ome titne been conscious of and depressed by the fact that her hair was untidy, her face unwashed and her whitu dress limp with night dcwB and stained and soiled with travel. The young man's continually increasing nnd very evident admiration had nreuscd iu her nn ardent desire te make a better appcarance be be bo eoro him. His admiration, hewever, was shown only in the most chivalrous nnd courteous manner, though his eyes, bo be ing naturally handseme and expressive, were beyond his control. The sound of the rippling stream from which he, had brought water for their meal, uud which ran through a thicket soine jards from where they 6at, attract ed her attention, it premising te aid her In nt least a limited toilet. The opportunity came when a few moments later the young man, prompted by a feeling of delicacy, rese suddenly. He was afraid that he had been feicing his society upon her, and was fully con scious of her helpless position. It was a long lime slnce Mr. Jehn Smith had felt bashful; but he did new, ns, shouldering his rifle, with tlie explanation that he was going te rcconneitcr, in casenny un pleasant acquaintance from Deadman's Flat should be hanging about, he marched off letw ecu the trees. He felt like bome awkward schoolboy, nnd was painfully couscieus of what seemed te him a fool ish, stumbling gait. She, gazing after him as he walked off lietwecn the pines, looking neither te the right nor te the left, thought what a splen did flgure he had nnd what n free and graceful air. He web very hhabbily dressed, hw clothes being of the poorest quality, and everything about him bere the maik of privation nnd poverty. His language, though shorn of expressions net suitable, te his present company, was that of the ordinary miners she had met, though there were moments when he seemed te slip unconsciously into a grace of expression curiously at variance with his cearse dress and tough hands. There was something indefinable about him which brought back vividly te her mind the life she had ence known. Itbcemed te her at that moment as though she had been wandering nbeut the face of the earth for ages with n ruined, gambling, dninken father, who had ((peculated and lest comfort, home, honor, everything except the nffectien of a daughter, who, te save him if possible from himself, had given up ease and turned her back upon the homes willingly offcied her by fricmU and relations. Suiely, if any thing could have Paved him from himself this beau tiful daughter's leve bheuld havodenoso But unfortunately James Snaresbrook was Iwyend even the help of n guardian angel, nnd nt the moment when his daughter, travel stained and w eary, lest by him in the pine weeds, wasdependcut en a Gtrnnge j euug man for protection nnd hospitality, he was quite comfort ably drunk at the back of a roughly built grog shop, clese te the pump te which he had iu his Inst lucid moment conveyed himself, in order fe Ik conven iently near its haudle when he should awake. Probably the young woman had tome suspicion of tfie fact, for her face grew very hard and haggard as bhe sat by the firoferufow minutes after the young man's departure, forgetting even her untidy hair and boiled gown, and her beautiful eyes were bright with bitter pain uud contempt. Supiose this j eung man bheuld meet him, what would he think of her father? Would he net de de spise her? A man's degradation drags down his children, and ehe must bear seme of her father'j shame. With a heavy shuddering eigh, forced fremalieart which felt that its burdcu was boyeud its strength, she rese at last and went towards the btream. Mr. Jehn Smith, feeling painfully con scious of lil-i ungraceful deportment, was obliged te turn aside at last te get out of the bight of theso bright pursuing eyes, for he had a strong conviction that they could be mockingly mirthful en occ.-i-sieii,nnd, w ith a sense of humility which was quite new te him, he felt that ev cry thing about him was vvreng and askevv. This abniDt deviation of his course "ja brought him in a straight line with tha thick undergrowth of furze nnd thorn which enclosed the pet where lay the rigid body, with its down turned fnce hideous and stained with earth nnd bleed. lle reached the thick growth of bush, which stretched for seme distance en cither side of the spot where he steed, net knowiugexactlywhathodid. Dis pulses were beating violently with pleasant feel ings of excitement nnd confusion, in which half-fernuxl thoughts rushed wild ly through his brain, always breaking oil befere nnd confounding themselves with ene central impression a girl with great dark eyes nnd flushing nud paling tints in her checks, lle turned aimlessly nslde, and, skirting the thick growth of thorn, passed round into the glade beyond. When he llrst saw the mau lying there, it did net excite much feeling in hla heart, except the natural shock that denth must bring te tlie most hardened. Jehn Smith was by no means hardened, though of late, among the lawless turn with whom his lines had been cast, lie had grown almost accustomed te sea death fellow fast en active, boisterous life. This man was dead the first, glance told him that, even befere he ran with swift, long strides te his side. Somehow, he felt very sorry for this man, ns sorry ns he would have been long age, when his heart was still fresh, generous, and unhnrdened by contact with the callous recklessness of a wicked world. He bo be gan te wonder, iu the same vogue, dis turbed fashion in which he had been thinking blnce he left her, whether this man had ever cared for any woman, or if nny woman had ever cared for liim. He was wondering nbeut this a3 he reached the rigid, ghastly thing, when something familiar iu it, horribly famil iar, seemed te make lib bleed run cold. With a swift movement he turned the dead mnu't) disfigured face up te tlie bUc3. There it lay its eyes .-taring dreadfully upwards, as if pleading .for vengeance its lips parted Btill, as when the execration had died upon them. Jehn Smith stared down nt it stupidly for seme moments befere Ids eyes begun te take in ether things. Half hidden by the man's arm was something that looked like n limp rag. Mechanically he pulled it out, nnd inspected it curiously, though all the titne he felt he would rather de anything than touch that red saturated thing. It was a woman's handkerchief, marked in the corner with a monogram, "E. S." Her natne wns Elaine! She had laughed at having such a romantic title, when among ether things they had discussed names. The conversation had arisen through his telling her that htstinniowes Jehn Smith, which he had said was con venient, bccatiee it had nothing distin guishable about it; it might belong te a villain or an honest citizen! She had laughed, nnd eaid eIie hoped he was the latter. It was Eome tline befere he returned te the siet where they had breakfasted, for It took him seme minutes te hideihe handkerchief as safely as he wished. He found her pacing restlessly te and fro. There was a great change in her face, which was no longer lighted up with laughter, but was hard, haggard, bitter. She was tee absorbed iu her thoughts te hear him approach, nnd he made nn sound te warn her. Tlie iewer te utter a commeuplaco in order te arouse her at tention had goue from him. Se it hap pened that she caught sight of him sud denly when he was clese te her. He saw the leek of startled horror that sud denly distorted her beautiful fnce; then she looked nt him for a moment iu nn uneasy, questioning, confused fashion that tent a pang of anguish te his beau. "What a longtime you have been!'1 she exclaimed with a forced laugh, though that leek of terror never left hei eyes. "Have you seener heard anything remarkable?" "Ne," he said; but his eyes dropped bofero hers, nnd the hand that held the lifle, as it rested en the ground, trem bled. She saw his confusion, and drew in hcrhicath sharply as though with sud den pain. There was a memcnt'ssllence, which lie breke by saying: "I think we had lettcr be pushing en." He speke mero naturally it wns such n relief te turn te ordinary topics. "Your friends will have reached Dcadman's Flat by this time." She had told him that the friends she had been tcparatcd from would Ikj sure te go straight there. He remembered new that 6he need have no fear of going there, even alene, for her enemy lay a few hundred yards from them, power less ever te return. "I shall wait," bhe replied, flushing nnd trembling from head te feet. "Net here!" He interrupted her im petuously, thinking no mero of the mur der, only of her great danger. Suppese that body were found and she in its neighborhood? Tiiere were blern judges nt Dcadman'a Flat, nnd the law was en forced there new with a severity in pro portion te the tcirible lawlessness that had prevailed only a year back. "Let me take you te a place of safety. Yeu can trust me, can you net?" "Yeu had better have nothing te de with me," bhe said bitterly. "Ge en and leave me." Hu would net listen te her, hewever, and continued his entreaties till her face flushed hotly with anger. "I thought you were a gentleman," she exclaimed, "and would net force" "As you wish," he interposed con cen btrnluedly. He then began te pack up his belong ings, which wcie few, and, with the dex terity of n man accustomed te knocking about, they were bpecdily thrown to gether. Toe seen, indeed; for, new that the moment of parting had come, hu realized hew painful it was te him. He wasbewildcrcd at the thought that this woman, who had ceme into his life only just befere the daw n of that day, should have in two or three hours beceme an iniluencein it which would change its w hele tenor ferever. It was strange and incomprehensible; but he knew that life would ucv er be tlie eaiue te him again. She had been watching him during the process of packing; perliaps the tee felt ;i Iittle of the pathos that underlies all these chauceiucetingb eucaith. He had been very geed te her, nnd bhe had re quited his goeJncss by speaking harshly te huii. As lie rese from the ground, en which he had been kneeling, hi eyes nut lieis.nnd their leek set all Ids pulses beating faster. "Will you net let me help you?" he asked, stepping forward eagerly. "Is there nothing I can -de? At any rate, don't btay lierel" "I am net going tobtey here," the bald, averting her face. "Yes, there Is one thing," the exclaimed jiassienately, a moment later, when, turning te him again, oho eaw the btcrn expression that was clouding lib face "don't condemn me don't judge me even! Yeu can't eco into a fellow creature's life there may be extenuating circumstances even in a case of murder" a faint, pitiful smile flickering across her face. He flushed rrim&en, then paled te the very lips. "I reckon I must !e going," he raid curtly. Then, shouldering hi? liflc, he started elf in the direction of Headman's Hat. It was net till he had put Quite a tnile aaaafrteaattfcfcfliia C aA.t between lunsclt and that slender lonely figure standing among the pines that he was able te rcalize the fact that his own enemy lay dead behind him, and that he might enter Dcadman's Flat without fear of meeting him walking up the street. The realization of this fact brought him te another that it would be better te enter the place from an op ep op jxmHe quarter. If the body Bheuld le discovered, it would be well te avoid nil suspicion of having traveled n'iress IU path. Tlie thought that troubled nnd worried Jehn Smith most, however, was that he had left the fair woman, who had made se deep nn impression upon him, without ene kind word of greeting, nnd that pcr pcr lieps they would never meet ngaln for ldm te have tiie chnncoef explaining nwny this net of discourtesy. In his treuble nbeut this matter he made sev eral blunders in following the trail te Dcadman'a Flat, and his uneasy manner excited the netice of ene or two ac quaintances he met en his way. CHAPTER III. In ene of the rooms of a handseme heuse in New Yerk a dainty luncheon was set out, the tuble being resplendent with polished glass, silver nnd luxuriant flowers. The men servants had just left the room, dismissed by the girl who sat alene nt the head of the table. Her dress was costly and beautiful, like eerything else in the room; her face was refined and pretty, tee; but it looked very troubled, nnd the tears that gath ered slowly in her eyes nnd fell upon her folded hands showed the reason for her wishing te be alone. It wns hateful te have te tit there te make a prctense of eating when her heat t was aching, nnd she felt that every mouthful would clioke her. The old uncle with whom she lived, though lav ishing every luxury upon her, was a stern martinet nud would have thought that the orderliness of his household wns in danger of being distmbed if his nieca did net sit down every day at the miue hour te the bountiful repasts laid out in tlie grand dining room. The only excuse he ever allowed wns when she visited iu the fashionable world te which they be bo be lenged. While Miss Violet Churchill's check were still wet with tears, the butler opened the deer nnd lelcmnly announced a visitor, disappeaiing rapidly with much discretion, out of consideration te the visitor. It was n young man, who, en beeing Miss Violet's tearful condition, darted forward, nnd caught her in his nruirf almost befcre the discreet butler could clese tha deer. "My dnrllng, what is it? Has that old" A contented sigh from the girl Btepped the flood of epithets he wns beginning te lour upon the old man's head. "Don't, please, Jack!" She looked up nt him ns she nestled en his breast. "He's very geed really only" "Well, then, what Is it?" gazing anx iously down nt her ns she energetically dnbbcd her eyes with the smallest and flimsiest of pocket handkerchiefs. "That thing is no geed you want a towell" "Oh, indeed, I haven't been crying very much, only I was. lonely a little, 1 think! The room is se large, nnd I feel lest nt the table; nud Miriam and tha children nre nway, and" "And nnd nnd" Impatiently "don't I knew It nil? Yeu nre left alene in this het hele while nil your friends nre enjoying thcmselvcB hi cool country places. And te think that I can't take you nway tool" "Don't, Jack!" smiling up nt him through her tears, his impetuous nngry outburst delighting her ns a proof of his leve. "I'm nil right new, and I shall get nway seen. I wouldn't be such a selfish crcatureas te wish te leave undo when he is ill it wasn't that!" "Yeu should leave him quickly enough If you were my wifel" exclaimed the young man wmthfully. "But what were you crying for? Ne, 1 won't sit down, nnd I won't eat n mouthful till you tell mcl" "I'll tell you If you will sit down. Ne, net there," ns the yeuiigman pulled upn chair clese te hers, "it wouldn't leek well when Petter comes into the room!" with n merry ripple of laughter, which showed hew much her spirits were Im proving. "HI tell you if you will tU down." "It would licrhapi leek a Iittle con spicuous," admitted the young man, ro re luctantly retiring te a chair at the side of the great table. "But it is a beastly shame all the bamet Why can't it hus band and wife sit where they like;" "But we aren't husband and wife yet." "Just ns geed. I tell you I bhall sit whcie I like at our table when we nre!" "And I tell you, Bir, that I won't hae the symmetry spoilt, nor will I lie made ridiculous. Fancy the husband and wife Bitting cloce by each ether nt the top of a great dining table!" "That's hew it ought te be net acres of table cloth between! But what were you crying fei?" She blushed, and her face became grave again; she did net like te allude te tlw hubject of her grief. She knew, or rather felt, that this young English aris tocrat, who loved her se well, way jet se proud, with all the long inherited pride of a great and honeiablo family, that he felt bitterly the annoyauceaud bhame that had been brought upon her by the brother she had been crying ever. Tills brother was a jeung man, whose reckless fast living had made him the talk of New Yerk. He had betted and gambled and at last disnppcaicd, after being guilty of a shameful transaction, which, for the sake of his connections, had been hushed up. He was new an outcast from decent bciety. Tlie only news they had eer had of him bince his flight had ceme through a man whose friendship would hate stamped any one with disgrace. He had leen ene of this brother's principal associates, unci the very fact of their still Udng friends proved that Hcdfeni Churchill was net improving in adversity. "It Is nbeut Ilcdfcru," she said timidly, net daring te leek at hei lever. It was well she did net, for the Hen. Jack Newenham's brew contracted as he applied himself with seme energy te the contents of his plate, although h answered her immediately In his usual tone. "Any mero bad news?" he nsked, de voutly hoping that he was about te hear that Bedfcm Churchill had been bhet in seme drunken brnwd out we6t. "I am afraid i Js," ehe repjjjd, her --. .vtfiafcsfaW, , MBit rrare rer ner oretner orerpow'cring all her scruples about hurting her lever's feelings. "Yeu knew you have heard of Mr. Themas Cnirnes?" "I have henrd of that gentleman." Tlie lien. Jack smiled; but his brews were contracted sternly. . "wJJ-e. you will think ine dread fully silly, 1 knew" and tlie tears lwgmi te gather ngnln. "But, you knew, I was be fend of Kcdfern! Indesd, lie was always se very geed te me-you don't knew what n dear hruUiorhewai till Even Miriam did net knew, for she mar ried se young and had her chlldtcn nhd husband. But I seemed te have no ene but hhn though undo is very kind. Then that dreadful thing happened, nud he had te go nwny. And when Mr. Calnies wretcs te me last year thnt Itcil feni wns starving, hew could 1 help Bending him" "De you mean te say that that scoun drel lias been getting you te give him money?" interposed her lever angrily. "It was euly for Itcdfern I couldn't let him starve! Oh, I did I de leve him se, nnd you mustn't lie angry! I think I loe you nil thu better because I can leve my brother se well." She was crying unrestrainedly new; nnd for the flrst titne her lever did net attempt te kiss away her tears he was se confounded by the news. He had seen hew wet ried nnd ill alie had looked for a long time, nnd had heard her undo scolding her ever nnd ever ngalu for net wearing a new dress for hoarding up her money. "They me a couiile of confounded blackguards!" he cried, wrathfully. "Oh, net Itedfcm, I am sHrel" "A fellow who could take money from his sister in such circumstances is" She rese quickly from her chair, and laid her hand upon his mouth. "Hush, dear! He docs net knew about it Mr. Cairnes bald se, nnd told me thnt I was net te mention it telitm. But that Is net nil. Yeu knew, Mr. Cairnes Is the only ene who knows the real facts of the case. Unde, of course, does; but, for the snku of Mil Iain and me, lie will net speak. This Themas Cairnes, hewever, knows, nud a fortnight nge I had this letter from him" pulling nn envelope out of her pocket. "I answered It, nsk ing him for time, nud begging him net te de the wicked deed lie liiuted nt, and saying if I could send the money 1 would. I hav e waited nud waited for an nnswer, nnd I don't knew vvlint te de. Suppose he has sekcn already?" lhe Hen. Jack xsewcnliam nnd taken the letter silently, ns bhe, forgetting her fears, poured out nil her trouble, turning te htm in her despair for help nnd ndvice. He read the letter vv itheut comment; but there was something iu his face thnt frightened her, when he looked npnt her, ns she leaned against his shoulder. "I will hee itlxnil the matter for you," he said quietly. "Leave it in my ImniK" "Oh, hut" "Don't be frightened, dear!" his face relaxing a little. "I will make it all square for your brother, If I ulioet that scoundrel flrstt" "Oh, but if he were te sheet you? Oh, Jack!" He took her hi bin nrma and kissed her, with a Joyous laugh. X- -V ' He took her in ill nrma miif l.latcil her. "Yeu need net tiwitbla your llltle head alxnit that! I'll ceme 'back bnfe and sound, te worry jour undo into giving you te a pauper younger uen. Who knows perhaps 1 shall fctrike 'lle' on en let me bee Bvndmau'H Flat, isn't it? I'll btart this afternoon. I might be able te marry you hi u month's time." He found itadiniciilt task te quiet her, for she felt (Oie wan in danger new of losing her lever nnd her brother tee. It was n very disconselato tearful eyed little specimen of girlhood thnt thu Hen. Jack Neweuham left behind him half-an hour later. He secured Mr, Themas Cairnes' letter a highly classical effusion, for that gentleman had ence taken high honors in nn English university, hi neatly rounded sentences he announced his in tention, unless a certain sum was forth coming immediately, of giving te the world the becret of Mr. Itcdfern Cliur chill'a flight from civilized legions, nnd concluded by kindly premising te let Miss Churchill kiiew,iuimcdiate)y en tlie receipt of her answer, where she could send the money. Jnck Nuwenham, in comineu with mostiieoplo in their ewiiKet luNevv Yerk, knew that Kedfern Churchill had made his exit from society in very discredita ble circumstances; but he did net knew the rights of the case. Even the scape grace's own blstcra did net knew all, and it was whispered that ether people, whose position was unassailable, were also Im plicated, and that ns much for thcirsake ns his own Itcdfern Churchill had been allowed te escape, te ptevent tire risk of certain facts being made public in the course of a prosecution. Ab all who knew of Itcdfern Churchill' where abouts had geed reasons for keeping the secret, there was every chance of the young mail's being left in peace. That Bame afternoon, the Hen. Jnck Newenham started for Deadman'tf Flat. It was about a weck'u jouiucyfieiu New Yerk, and he felt considerably depressed at the theHght of leaving his pe'er Iittle leve alene in her anxiety anil trouble. The only thing that cheered hhn was the immediate prospect of taking Mr. Themas Cairnes by tlie thteat nnd shaking out of him tlie jiewer te compeso any mero of theso classical epistlei). CHAPTER IV. Tlie crowd of men who has asscmbled te see the last rites iicrferiucd ever lhe body of theirlatotewiiiiiii.in turned away from Ids grave en thu edge of th pine feiest, discussing en their way back te Deadinau's Flat the reason of the murder and tlie probability of the discovery of the muidercr. Ge-for-him Tem must have been dead seme days when he was found se his fellow tewiijineu sin mlscd, for he wasrecognlzablcenh by theclethes hu were. His death was a mystery. Though two or three of lib acquaintances in the town were known te hate him, ids murder could net be brought home te any of thorn. Most of his fellow towns men felt that he quite deserved lib fate; but the law-leas acts of crimeand violcuce which had become senlarmiugly frequent among them made them all decide that the murderer in this rase should Ik found and made an cxamplu of. A committee wati formed te discusj the matter, and, after leaving the grave, thes? ipeu, lepsired te the "Ked Unicorn," wncra, taking possession In solemn statel of a spare room sctnnart for their wk Vate Use. tllCV lirecenlni tn fnltr nvnr !--' nttnlr. The less privileged public hung H about the bar or the open snace in freal ' Of the crnz shen. dlsciiMlncr ttin mattar ' ffm. r-t-ftivtfir. iitnri. .Iam.Im.1 I. 4l.nl rttJn. ietu In proiiertion te the consumnllen of i.4 spirits. ?j "ftulle, mister, what's your opinion?" j nsrcai. one, a inwny uatreti miner, wun a ,) picturesque, but extremely dirty Ted fm shirt, with trousers patched vvrfh pieces- Tin nilitpnnjml n (Ml.) Ifllilnll ...I... ..A...U.. ' '.' cnted the hlcher civilization of town life by a Rhabby, greasy frock coat, ml- M nus most of the buttons, a frayed and , crumpieu pair or culls attached te tha shirt thnt ww yet scrupulously clean, Having eniy jusi icttllie wash tub. IIM m trousers were baggy at the knees, but they wrre ai jet of ene color and iece, nnd had quite a fashionnble cut among the varied nnd urleus gnrmenta mai prevaiien among me maie pnpuia- vj nun ei j.se:iuiuaii ri.u. nut Keuiicman had been very tipsy when he started for the funeral; se very tipsy indeed that, when he had insisted upon going clese te It... .,.... fl.. In.,... ...,. ,.. lt,.lr l.rt l.n.l nnlv Immi mvnil from tlllilliltfiir hi liv A J luu lu.u IV. II... u viiu iiiinu iuun ,tu iiui. m stalwart miner who caught hhn by the ituiple tails of the frock coat, remarking that he had never known befere what was the use of all that stuff in n coat The gentleman was drunk then, but he was considerably werse new. Whwi thus suddenly appealed te, ns he teod prepped up nniinst the fence, he could only lecnll tVi.tToue Iittle incident. "Yeu shouldn't have dene it," he said mournfully, shaking his licail,nnu try- t IV irvJiuv till iilil'i V-Os? w iiiv.t tiv niu friendly miner, but nearly losing his balance in tlie attempt. "It wash all ncashful down there. It looked ehe cool ntnl t'i-nfiili-nnlcj-li In lin nf rMfirji vM ...... 'V.v. ... w. v .fw ... J-VW with hhn tee!" A rear of irreverent laughter greeted tins uesire ler peace. a It.. lrml.e,1v)if. Miami rnnfYiinlifllllt- hllf & .W ...V...... .......... ...f.V..........,, , . his hat, which had fallen ever ene oye, S rather spoilt tlie ellect by giving mm a 41 decidedly rakish appearance, and ns he lurched from side te side his nttempt at solemn dignity was n failure. "You'll be sherry seme day I Perhnps you'll die, tee, an' 1ki laid in tlie pcaah- AS fill grave, Where's pump? Oh, take me te the pump, young man tnkshe me te llm mimiit ThIiii'I far lint nn fnr nn tha 'J grAVC." With a lurch forward, he seized the ni-111 nf n vriiitif? tiimi Mlnnrllnr nenr ttlm. tvlin. wlfli n InnO tt ittafrllet Irtfvt tt lfl shake Mm off, though perhaps nt another tlmu he tee might have joined in the chenw of rough laughter nnd jeers. He had, however, licen nt that funeral, and Yi it had awakened old feelings nnd Influ ciiccn. Mr. James Snaresbrook wns net te lie Hhnken off be rasllr. im "Don't deehertn fellow being, young maul Piimpisirtdifliciilt'flud. Let me nuieep in pcami unucr nsu Niinuei nne ,? thing pump! "Thinks he's under a four pester when M Iie'h there," said 0110 of the men; "he'" bviueui long iivvuy irum iu yuuiiei uue ;jj eiiRht te c harixe for his ledEimr." i? "He wouldn't deuiiything he ungentle mauly! Never teush vvnter purnpsh t ree te nil. Exncctinir my daughter she'll Irtinimili liner i r fit tM pAtrlA lr.rifl" ".l lUH'VlUlt nilV.tU J 1(1 ill' kSVlllW VKt The young mnn yielded, seeing that it wns the only way te get rid of the sway ing bcinuddled specimen of humanity clinging te his arm. He took him te tlie 3 b.-ii-k of the "lied Unicorn." where a M clcaihnr had been made nud idantcd with M vegetables. Here ktoed the pump, by a low mono iruuu, unit uiu juhu& uuui) renchhur it, uhoek him off. Mr. Jainw IsS HnarcHbroek dropped heavily en the edga m of the trough, by a lucky lurch recover ing his balauce befere he tumbled into it. .1 "O'Iui-imIi vervt" he said, looking un 3 Iu a wondering solemn way nt the pump linmlle ever his head. "Vumpsli always found when two loeksh for It always itinsli away from ene! Yeung tnansh, mere unmoral 11 mat i u 1 ceuiu una ?.s. prnpsh he kuewsh who's bleeping In itcashful way ever thcrcl" - -- 110 tried 10 puini fleicmniy ever uis ga sueiiKivr 111 iiiu iiircciiun 01 1110 grave en thueutHkirt of the fercHt. but the effort i-rwt. him lib balance, and hu tumbled ill backwards with n Bplash into tlie water, gjj of which the stoue trough wus full. ; Mr. Jehn Smith dniirced him out. nnd XI bhaking him violently te get rid of a llttlu of the HinierflueiiH moisture. drei- ; , -. .. - . , ft ped him 011 te u lesa dump resting place. Then he fished out thn floating hat, nud giving it n xhake, tee, hung it en te the pump lianJle te dry; nnd then, feeling that he had 'dene nil that could boiea beiea boiea benahlv exnected bv ene fellow creature fe.... nr.l li.tl 111 Mm ..lt-lllliul.l limd A (li turned te the front of the nhanty, where ' jj 110 leuiiii u new u.vcncmciu agiiaiing 1110 crowd. The murdered man wen forgot fergot forget tnn. for thu coach wns ceinini? iu. Tlie long low building, dignified by l?J the iKiuie or grog shop, hotel or bottle ,g vverhs, according iu ine nuuiorer pre- f , (iiiHlnnn of thn fiiMVikprrt. fttoeil nn thn lit.pli .-.viil i III. f.tntvKf rr.ittitiltiirr cliwna 2 and ether bhanties (draggled behind it in ene Irregular street, .which had a few lesser enea branching oil from it. The "Bed Unicorn," owned by Quaker Jee, formed the advance guard of the town. 'Vr st'trw.!! iiIm-ii n nillliut 11,1 linfnmi iim hosplrabledoois, nud the open epace in gj front of them, ambitiously called "The &, Square," was generally full of the miners ami townspeople who assembled te get a geed viuvver the arriving coach, which drevu thieugh Dead man's Flat ence a week, it could new le been iu the dis tance. Tiiere wan n geed plece of straight read between Dendmnn'a Flat nnd the forest, ami ilircctly tne ceacn lert tbe & Junes DCiuuii iieeiuu ixj Been aue wnicnea till it dashed up into the square itself? This was the ene link between that lUJJllj' till Ml. B(v. uuu .w wmvi iiuim, te which ntone titne most of the Luhabi- f:mfx nf I):ilmaii'ri Flat had nnrn Iwv. l.m la, fee M.Ct ..wit flllll flu. MIrt .a".1t '".i lenccd. but te which, ewlnir te strong 3 nnil nrt rilw-nvH rnnnlrihlr rpnqnne ItiAV "?! - --- j- --i , -v could never rt-turn. Jehn Smith did net expect cither let ters or friends by the coach; but he took up a position iu the square, and steed looking at it witit tne etners. u came $ fil.ine- in linn ktvle. tlie ted dust whirlincr up in clouds behind it, and making Quaker Joe, who was watching it from thec)xr of lib hotel, think of plentiful orders for drinks when it should finally pulliqi. With it dash and n ringing of harness it nt last ni lived in theNpiare, and then thu binekiug team was pulled up with a grace nnd dexterity which elicited n murmur of approval and ad miration from till the bybtnnders. Then followed all the usual bustle and con fusion of such an ariival, driver, horses, packaged, passengers, all being uttended te nt euee. Today tiiere was only one passenger, and the driver showed such interest and anxiety for hsr comfort and her luggage tint lhe eyes of all tha men were turned towards her as she alighted. The result was r. uenural lira te devete them selves te her service and a nuick move- ii ment was made in her direction. One ,' vniimr limn linu-.iwr. raa nuickcr than .fl the rest. Mr. Jehn Smith was at her bide holding out lib hand befere he had even recovered from the bheck and de limit of sechiK her. It was his friend of .: ;..... - ? nmtiutifi.t nrrt Xti turtle? V. ''
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers