Wizard Will, the Wonder Worker

by Herbert Strang

  CHAPTER XX.--THE GRAVE ON THE PRAIRIE.

  It was toward sunset, one pleasant afternoon, some ten days after thevisit of the Boy Detective to the eastern shore of Maryland, that aparty of horsemen were visible driving over a Nebraska prairie.

  The party had left Fort McPherson on the Platte, whose commander hadkindly sent an officer and soldiers, under a skilful guide, with Mr.Rossmore, as an escort.

  Will had told the buckskin guide just what he had heard the Land Sharkssay regarding the spot where they had buried Willie Rossmore, and theplainsman had expressed himself as acquainted with the Lone Tree, whilehe also said that there were fully a dozen graves about it.

  Soon the tree, standing alone on the prairie, and upon the bank of asmall stream, loomed up in the distance.

  "There's the Lone Tree," said the guide, "and we'll reach thar jistabout dark."

  All eyes were turned upon the distant and solitary cottonwood tree,standing like a giant sentinel upon the prairie, and the horses wereurged on at a more rapid pace.

  But the shadows of night fell before the tree was reached, and it wasdecided to go into camp and make a search in the morning.

  One of the pack-horses carried some pine-knots, and a fire was soonkindled, while another carried some canvas flies which were stretched asa shelter.

  There were ample provisions with them, with plenty of game shot duringthe day's ride, and soon a most tempting supper was spread out beforethe hungry party.

  As for Will Raymond, it was to him a most enjoyable expedition, for hehad often read of a wild life upon the plains, and with thebuckskin-clad guide, the soldier escort, and the knowledge that therewas danger of an attack by Indians, he was charmed.

  After the supper was dispatched, sentinels were placed out upon theprairie, at some distance, the horses were staked out within the circleformed by the four guards, and the rest of the party sought the shelterof the tent flies to sleep. No, not all, for Mr. Rossmore was too deeplymoved by the belief that he was near the grave of his long-lost child,and he paced to and fro, beneath the solitary tree, his thoughts busywith his grief.

  Then there was another that did not care to sleep, and that was WillRaymond.

  The surroundings, the wildness of the scene, the prairie, the soldiers,all impressed him, and he strolled about the camp, while as the moonarose he walked out to a sentinel on duty and had a long talk with him.

  At last, as midnight came, and the sentinels were relieved by others, hewent to the shelter, wrapped himself in his blanket, and soon sank tosleep.

  The sun was rising when he awoke, and Mr. Rossmore, who lay near him,had just got up from his blanket couch. The guide already had breakfastready, and when it was over, the search for the grave began.

  As the guide had said there were a number of graves in the vicinity ofthe tree for several trails led by it, and many a dear one, dying uponthe plains had been laid to rest there, where the solitary cottonwoodwould serve as a monument to their memory.

  "Now give me the particulars, boy pard, the time he was buried, his agewhen he was put here, and I guess I kin pick out his restin' place,"said the guide.

  Will gave the full particulars, as he knew them, and the guide set towork.

  Grave after grave he went to, and left, making some remark at each one.

  "This one looks to be about the age you say, boy pard, and it were madeas though in a hurry, and with a don't care feelin', and not as thembuilds a dirt house over them they loves.

  "Sergeant, bring yer utensils and dig earth here," said the guide, andhe stood over a small grave that indeed did look as though it had beenhastily dug and filled in, for others, even those smaller, and evidentlywith the remains of children in them, were made as though the heart ofthe diggers had been in the work.

  Two soldiers now stepped forward with spades and the work was begun ofturning the earth from the grave.

  It was not a very long task, and soon the end was reached, the molderingbones of a body were found. Tenderly they were taken out having beenwrapped in a blanket, and from a felt hat that had been upon the head, amass of dark-brown curls were taken.

  Mr. Rossmore took the hat and its precious burden tenderly, and asked:"Doctor, this looks like Willie's hair."

  "Yes, exactly the shade," was the reply, and the doctor bent over thebones, while all present removed their hats with reverent awe, WillRaymond having unconsciously set the example.

  In deathlike silence all stood while the doctor placed the bonestogether, and said: "This was the body of a child about Willie's age, atthe time that our young friend here says they killed him, and it was aboy--yes, here is the left arm, and--_it has been broken_!"

  "Heaven have mercy! it is the body of my poor boy," groaned Mr.Rossmore.

  "Yes, Rossmore, it is, and I can swear to it, for here is the brokenarm, the fracture being just below the elbow, as was Willie's, while youremember the tooth I took out for him one day?"

  "Yes, he would not go to a dentist, but wished you to take it out, so Isent for you."

  "He had no other tooth missing, and none here are, you see; but greatHeaven!" and the doctor arose to his feet, holding the skull in hishands.

  All pressed about him, while he continued, pointing to the skull: "Doyou see that fracture?

  "_It tells the story that he was murdered!_"

  It was too true, the fractured skull showed where a death-blow had beengiven the poor boy, but whether by accident or design, who could tell?

  As all crowded about the doctor, gazing at the skull, Will Raymondsprang down into the grave and picked up something that had caught hiseye in the loose dirt.

  "See here!" he called out, and he held up a gold watch and upon theinside case was engraved the name:

  "ED ELLIS."

  "Mr. Rossmore, that is the name of the man who was with Night HawkJerry, whom I shot, and he was one of the kidnappers, and here with yourson, for this watch proves it, and it fell out of his pocket when he wasburying him," said Will.

  "Boy pard, you've got a long head, for the man who laid this boy'sremains in thet grave, dropped thet watch," remarked the guide.

  "Then it will be a fatal evidence against him, and I will leave nothingundone to hang him," sternly said Mr. Rossmore.

  Then the bones were gathered together, and being placed upon one of thepack-animals, the party started on the return to the fort.

  Arriving there, the bones were placed in a coffin, and Mr. Rossmore, thedoctor and Will Raymond started upon their return East, thegrief-stricken father having given the guide and the soldiers a mostgenerous gift as an appreciation of their services.