Mr. Knapp's feelings in the matter had made me
unwilling to keep the boy in my house, but at first I thought it the
best way of protecting him, and had him with me. Then one night the
house was broken into, and two men were discovered in the room where
the boy usually slept. I had taken him to my own bed that night, for he
was ailing, and so he escaped. The alarm was raised before they found
him, and the men fled. Mr. Knapp was confident that they were ordinary
housebreakers, but I knew better. I dared keep the boy there no longer,
and called Henry Wilton to assist me in making him safe. He found a
suitable house for the boy, and hired men to guard it. But after one
experience in which the place was attacked and almost carried by storm,
Henry thought it better to hide the boy and watch the enemy. The rest
you know."
Heaving a sigh as of relief, she went on:
"Mr. Lane was insane, I am certain. I tried to have Mr. Knapp take
steps to lock him up. But Mr. Knapp could not believe that his brother
was so wicked as to wish to take the life of his own child, and shut
his ears to the talk of his madness. I think he was fearful of a
scandal in which the relationship should become known, and the stories
of his brother's early days should come to the public. But there was a
time, a few weeks ago, when I was near spurring Mr. Knapp to action. It
was at the time of his trip to Virginia City. Mr. Lane came to the
house while I was away and scared the servants into fits with his
threats and curses.
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