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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (July 2, 1911)
ff SITE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: JULY 2, 1911. ' to! A!, CHAPTER XX roatlaaed. "Coualn," I Mid Merrily, "there ha been lying by others besldea Arnold. Tou! Haven't you been lying to me ever since I came hero lylnir by words and actions? Perhaps you're here aa a spy, now." She If01"4 " pitifully, "but I continued. "I've sen you In the cabin In Lost Hol low, talking aa a friend with a woman I know to be a very fiend. Why do you gal op about the country at all hours of the Mfht-aa I know you dot What sort of Klrl la It who'll write proclamations for the Pine Owls?" "Oht" ah ald. Her eyes brimmed with tears. "Ah. but I deserve H." (me strug Bled to control herself, "i ll tell you every hlng-by and by but the Ptne Owls are omlng here tonight This mornlna I went for a ride. I'd ben worried tv-hv Ihlnk. Ing too much." Her eyes fell before mine. "1 rode as far as I could In the afternoon I came to Mary Pedersen's cabin. Mary!" She shuddered. "I warned yoti against hef " "Oh, yes. Hut I didn't believe you. X didn't wish to believe you." "What happened In the cabin?" urged Mr. Stockton. "The old woman lost some of her sweetness. Whatl Dropped the mask, did she?" "Not at first. She talked to me as rently a sever, for a Ions time. After a while she made tea. She Insisted so hard I should drink some that I remembered what you had written ma, cousin? and I refused to take It. I caught her ooowllng at me behind my back I waa frightened. Before I could make up my mind to go, Mr. Arnold came In." 1 "Ah," remarked Hubbard. "Mr. Lew f . renee Arnold of Falrvlew. Very good." J Tea He had been drinking. I started to go then, but they Insisted I should stay. X began to be very much afraid, but I it)..' Mv-A - V WUII k M.IUW TV I IK I U UU. I "Poor child." X said. 1 She smiled wistfully. "Mary and Mr. i, Arnold were determined to have me sit 1 V. .1 v. li Aw... -a i . wiiii nirjin wiuio iiiey unnR. "The woman drank, too. did she?" asked the bailiff. . "Oh, yea. After Mr. Arnold came In she began drinking otdliy, By and by. man they call "Brownie' came in, and then more and more men, until the place was full." "And you alone with them," J said. She hung her head. ' "I wasn't so much afraid of the plners hurting me. I had een the mart 'Brownie' and two or three of the ether before. But I knew all those men mttt have come together for some vio lence. I soon found out from their talk they were coming to attack Morvan and -you." "They'll be made welcome." "When I understood. I said I wouldn't f aJlow It Thy only laughed at me. Then ft X told them that when I'd agreed to help Mr. Araold frighten you away, he had said there "Would never be anyone hurt he'd promised me that If you wouldn't Co, we would give up the plan." She faced me suddenly. "Cousin, that day at Pole Tav ern, I couldn't play my part I couldn't warn you In desperate earnest because X didn't really believe you would be In des perate danger. And I didn't write those notice from Ptne Owl. I suppose Mr. Arn old did. The one you saw In my belt that same day at Pole Tavern he had given me to post where you would be sure to see It. But I didn't post It at all the paper wa too dirty." "What!" exclaimed the lawyer. "That ij prove 'k a coi becau prove It never pay to take a woman Into conspiracy. Wouldn't post the notice ecause the paper was too dirty!" o ahead, ma'am. If you please," said Hubbard. "What happened after you'd told em you were deeper In the mire than you'd bargained for?" "I said they all knew they had beaten that poor Buekaloo without my knowl edge I would never have consented to It. I told them they mustn't attack Morvan." "Well?" urged Mr. Stockton. "What then?" "They laughed at me. The man Brownie' aald the bargain between Mr. -Arnold and me wa nothing to them what they were after wa the plunder. The bargain they had mado was for the money and plat In Morvan, and they would have It If they had to kill you to get It. Then I said I'd come and warn you." "Good heavens I" X oried. "They might have murdered you." "I thought they would, at first. But Mr. Arnold made them be quiet.) He aald . X wa a fool, but they'd simply leave me there with Mary to watoh me, until It wa all over. Then tn others went out to make ready, but Mr. Arnold and Mary mad me alt down by the fire and made that awful snake coll down near me, too. Oh!" She buried her face In her hands. The hell cat!" I said. "But X waa almost as much afraid of Mr. Arnold M I waa of the anake. Ha kept liwiblnv at tn me arrftrtmlv Anil Vi ' tft Vn "my0if too much liquor. Then 'Brownie' called T.U HUI W VWIIIV VUi lllVf WVIW I .au J U, Ha said they wouldn't wait any longer for Bram Morvan. They curaed Bram. too because he wans't on time, I suppose." We three men exchanged glancea "X saw the plners file past the door, with Mr. Arnold leading them they were horri ble. Eaoa on had a black sloth over hi faoe and head." "After they were gone Mary taunted ma She aald she had waited for years to get revenge upon me and until that afternoon I had always thought she loved me." "What can she have agalnat you?" Ferris blushed hotly. "8b'd been my father's houaekeeper so long that that at last ahe waated to be his wtfo. I never heard of II until the taunted me tonight. She asked father to marry her year ago. He was outraged, and had discharged her at once. She had taken it Into her head that If t had not been In the way. father might have consented so she has hated ro ever since." "How did you get away, ma'am?" asked the bailiff. "Mary drank until ah began to ' fall Into a stupor. A sh grew tleepy she talked te the snake as If It were a human being." "By heaven!" I aald. "If a pity w can't burn witches nowadays." "Just so." agreed the lawyer. The - . ........ K . , U S , 0 'Then ahe fell aaleep. She'd stuck th , . candle on the table, and the melting tallow ran Into her white hair she'd fallen asleep with her head on the table," Ferrisa eye widened. "And I knew I must come to warn you. But If I barely breathed, th soaks would hiss frightfully frightfully and It eyes were so cold. Then I put my face In my hand and prayed to b brave. And then." A lung shudder shook her from head te foot "What then?" I muttered huskily. "Then I killed the snake with the poker i ertd cam to you." Strong men aa w were, each drew a Uarp breath. "Dear," I began, and could eay no more. Trie bailiff waa clamping hi jaw to gether. Mr. Stockton blew hi nose fiercely. "A brave girl, Henry- brave girl. Whatl" CHAPTER XXI. The Attack. "It seems to me If the candle waa 'most burned down to th table when the young lady left the oabtn," aald Hubbard, "and the table wa plnewood waa -It a pine table, ma'am V Ferries nodded. 'If the candle, not beln' In m holder, burned down to that fat pine-wood, may be your witch ha got her punishment, by thl time." "Well," he wrnt on, "on snake' had It back broke by a poker, and another' got herself singed very likely, but there's till a whole knot of 'em alive and headed thl way." Propped against Sue Baker's shoulder. Ferriss looked from Mr. Stockton to me, as If awaiting sentence for her sin. My heart was beating In my throat I could find a word to say. Bttckaloo opened the library door, and thrust In his head. "Can I speak to you, gentlemen? Mr. Bram, he's " "I understand," Interrupted the lawyer. "Hold him there, Buekaloo very well done. Mis Ferriss, we'll leave you with Sue. Take care of her, Sue." He caught up kl document from my desk. "Com en, gentlemen I've been expecting this." He went out, the bailiff at hi heel. I lingered a moment "Ferriss, If we're attacked, the safest place for you is here In the library. Sue will stay with you. Don't be frightened if you hear firing no bullet can get through those oak shutters, dear." "D careful," eh wlepeher. "Oh, be careful." I raised her hand to my lips, then hurried Into the hall, closing the door behind me. I found Bram facing -Mr. 8tocktoir and Hubbard. He wag cloaked and spurred for a lids. Behind him, Buekaloo leaned gut lenly on his fowllngplece. "Thl Idiot wouldn't let me pas," aald Bram Impatiently. "He aald he had order not te let anybody In or out Swore he'd hoot me If I stirred, by Oad! I told htm th order weren't meant to apply to me, but h wouldn't badge." 'Th order are meant to apply to you," X aald, "particularly to you. "Eh? What's that! D'ye mean I can't go out when I like?" "tou can't go out tonight." "Why, by Gadl Hal, thl I tyranny." he raged. "Damned If I'll endure itl" By a treat effort he managed to change his ton. "Why do you publish this Ironclad order tonight of all others?" "Bram," I said gravely, "If you hadn't been immured in your own room for th last hour, you'd know that Ferris Dayton 1 here here with news' that th raga muffin from th swamp may attack this Instant." . HI disdainful humor vanished.' Frrls? Her with that new I Tou don't say so? X waa buay getting Into riding tog and didn't hear. But th Pin Owls, you nay? Pshaw, man.. They'll never dare attack Morvan sever ha the world. I'd stand by -you on th ohance, though. If I could, but I'm bound to go tonight d'ye see? bound In honor." "Tou're bound to stay," X answered. He turned on the lawyer. "Mr. Stockton, you know" "I know nothing about it" snapped th lawyer, "nothing about It Mr. Bram." Bram stared at blm, then again ad dreeeed himself to ma "Hang It, Hal, thl won't do.. Look here I muat go.. I can't -disappoint a woman, you know." "Shame, sir," 1 said. "X do know I know too well." "Khl Why, majy " The lawyer mad a aign to Hubbard. The latter intervened briskly, 'it's no us, lr. If you won't stay willln', you must 'unwlllln'." He took a paper from Mr. Stockton and touched Bram lightly upon th shoulder.- "Bramfteid Morvan, X ar rest you aa an accessory befor and after the fact In the assault and battery upon Timothy Buekaloo." Bram paled, but stood hi ground. He glared at the lawyer. "Is this a Joke, Mr. Stockton? If it Is. It's gone far enough. You know very well" Th bailiff went on harshly. "Also, for conspiring to work bodily harm to the person of Henry Morvan, Esquire; also, for robbing divers person by force and violence on the public way." "If a lie!" cried Bram. "If a damned lie!" He lifted his whip thrtatlngly. "For heaven' sake, don't oblige us to use force," I said. "We're prepared to go to extremea with you you've brought thl upon your self." I pointed to a chair. Blt there, sir. and pray that w have no bloodshed here tonight" H glared about everywhere stern face confronted him. All at once he flung down hi whip with a fieroe oath. Dropping hi oloak and hat he sank heavily into th chair. HI head bent forward, and hi legs outstrstched, he scowled straight be fore him. He sat thua through all that followed. During the wtld events of that night I believe he neither spok nor moved. Th affair wa Settled none too aoon Jerry touched m on th arm. "Maatah Henry, Baker he says come quick. '. They a lot o' folks comln' up through the meadow." "Te your posts, gentlemen," I ordered. "Jerry, go , tell Mlaa Ferriss not to be afraid and stay near her." Mr. Stockton hurried to help Dick at the rear. Sam Joined Buekaloo for the de fense of' the side door. Hubbard and I ran up the atalrcaae, and stepped upon the porch roof beside Baker. Shotgun poised, he wa peering Into the darkness. "What do you see. Baker?" "I don't see much, sir," returned the farmer, "but I thought I heard a kind of trampln' over there." He motioned with his weapon. Sheltered by the tall column of th porch, we held our breath and listened. Th night was cold and overcast The moon wa up, but hidden by th cloud. gave only a diffused and uncertain light Although one might descry an object within twenty or thirty yards, beyond aU waa lost In has. Then a weird thing happened. A man, mounted upon a powerful horse, rode out abruptly of th mist lie at erect wlta what seemed a rifle acroe hi addlebow. Above hi broad shoulder, where hi faoe ought to have been, wa only a hideous outline In black. "Pin Owll" I breathed te Hubbard' ear. Behind th horseman a line of masked Qy J)wcl men on foot Issued from the darkness and began to move toward the door. "Now," lr." muttered th bailiff, "better top 'em before they get too close." I threw my Oerman rifle Into the hollow of my arm, and stepped from behind th pillar. "Halt therel" I shouted. "Now, then, gentlemen what do you want?" The effect of my challenge wa magical. Th footmen hesitated one Instant then, turning, were swallowed by the night Only Pin Owl himself remained. He lifted hi head th shapeless black fac stared up at me. Then very slowly the horse began to move backward. Inch by tech th has crept from tall to haunch to saddle. The figure of the rider melted away. For an InVant the horse' head stood out then It too, wa gone. W gaxed at each other. Th whole thing might almost have been a ghostly appari tion. "Just so," said th bailiff. "We did the surpriein' they thought they were goln' to do. Better get under cover, sir that was a title th leader had. He might" A stream of fire shot from th darkness, followed by a sharp report A tiny shower of splinters flew from the pillar not an Inch above my head. I sprang for shelter. "Are you hit Squire?" cried Baker. "No." "A closo call," commented Hubbard coolly. "If It hadn't been so hasy, he'd had you all right I guess the mist sort of made your head look bigger that it wa. They mean business, that's sure. Well, so do I, If that' their game." He drew a pair of huge horss pistols from the flaps of his waistcoat. "Sqlah," said Dick' vole behind us," "Mastah Thomas want to know If any body' hurt and do you want him to come here." "No. Tell him we expect another attack soon. Keep a sharp lookout at th rear, there." Five or alx men came into our range of vision at a run. They bore what must have been axes and billets of wood. In the lead, rifle In hand, ran a broadsbouldered man on foot I knew it must be Lawrence 'Arnold. "Halt!" I cried. "Halt or we'll fir Into you!" "Fir and be damned!" roared the leader. "Come on, boys!" "Fire!" I shouted. At the word, Baker and Dick emptied their pieces Into the crowd. There were several shrill cries. Th whole group turned and ran back aa before. Only the leader stood hi ground. "Come on. you cowards!" he cried, his voice sounding muffled behind the black bag that hid his face. "Come on. There's only a' nigger or two." Beveral of his follower halted. I saw they would regain courage m. another Instant I crouched by th porch ralU, "Go back!" I called. "I know you, air. I warn you, we'll shoot to kill if yu Com pel us." . , . ; . His rifle) leaped to his shoulder by way of answer. Our piece sounded like one report. Even as I fired I remembered Mr. Stockton's favortto maximtAtm, at hi kneecap." . Again I had a narrow escape th bullet a T is it are - nf a n m titsi itnirsr mm Aid the light of their love is the gleam of the sun O er the meadows of Spring where the quick A shadows run As the mom shifts the mists and the clouds 5o 1 stand $3 Aii i weigtit of Uie bee. m And the throat ofthe thrush is a-pulse in theheah -And the senses are drugged with the And delirious breaths of the air's lullabies' 001 swoon JKs a glory ojtneinrone; AndlreeLandTfaltpr anH fall, a Fell the shepherds that fooked on the mystical Star .ruiayeTaazea in xne naings mar Dade e them arise oo IQope through the night of her npanfmii oyioc Copyright, lets. TVs Bobbe - potter waa burled In the balustrade that shielded my throat But the half-ounce ball from my German rifle struck Pin Owl below the knee and smashed the bone. He uttered a harsh scream, and crumpled to the earth. His followers dragged him away. 'That' the style," said the bailiff In grim approval. "A good shot, Mr. I'll bet he don't do any more owllng for one while. Baker and the boy peppered some of the others, too." "Dick," I ordered, "get back to Mr. Stock ton." Tbe boy hurried away, and I turned to Hubbard. "I'm sure that wa Arnold. He' down that ought to discourage the others. He' the moving spirit th rest are only a cow ardly mob." "I ain't so sure about that," responded th bailiff. 'There another fellow In th gang la a good deal of a fighter." " 'Brownie' Davie? Charging a house full of armed men Is different from gouging out eyes or even robbing a traveler." "That's so. Tes, I gues Arnold' got all be wants tonight but" Th sound of a horse hoofs Interrupted him. The animal, hidden by th mist seemed to move from front to rear of th house at full gallop. "Can Arnold have mounted again r' I exclaimed. "With a wounded leg!" A fusmade of Shots broks out from the rear. . With it came the sound of furious blow against the back door. And above the turmoil, th voice of Mr. Stockton rang through th room, calling upon u for help. "Stay here, Baker," I cried. "Come on, Hubbard." "Just ao." grunted the bailiff, a w raced madly down th staircase. "That try at th front wa only a blind." We sped past the side entrance. "We'll need you, Buekaloo," he shouted. A we ran Into the back hall, th door leaped upon it hinges, and the whole place trembled with a mighty blow. Two pistol shot sounded from the room above, an swered by a regular volley from without. We heard th sound of breaking glass. Then Mr. Stockton bounded down th back staircase, hi face sprinkled with blood. "Only cut a little by the glass," he ex claimed. "By th enternal! they'v got a battering ram. They'll ba through that door In a Jiffy. We can't hit anybody from th window abov there It' too far to on lde." .A shower of blows from hammers and axes descended on th door. The panel threatened to yield at any Instant The bailiff advanced. "Now then," he ehouted, "bo quiet there!" His stentorian tones must have penetrated to the besieg-ersr-a silence fell. "I'm an officer of the law,"' roared the bailiff.. "I call upon you to disperse." A pistol ball, discharged through a panel ripped a flap of Hubbard' waistcoat and shattered th fac of the tall clock beside my head. A harsh voice Bounded without. "Kill the new Squire! Tar and feather Bram Morvan, and plunder the housel" "No, no!" cried the voice of 'Brownie' Davla , "Use th hickories on everybody else, Wt UU JBrasa Morvan. by God! He' turned traitor!" ' "Bring up the log," ordered the hoarse. sWhitcoifibley herbeauiifiil Diue as trie dew On the violet's bloom when m the dawn of her beautiful eyes. ggnd her beautijul eyes are as mid-daj? to me vSL When the 1- bell bends with the ( in uie noon oj ner Deautijui eyes. her beautijul i eyes! the have smitten 1 minp. on glanced down from Merrul Company e V V A Mi 5 LIPP VCOTT COMPANY tones again. "On more try, and we'll be through." Hubbard' fac set In grim' lines. "Gen tlemen," he said hurriedly, "for the peace of the state, we'll have to make an ex ample of some of these fellows. I happen to know their leader la a professed high wayman. Poll up that settle and the chairs for a breastwork here. Tes, the clock too. Are all your weapons loaded? Where's Dick? Dick!" Th black boy came running from hi post abov. 'They're comln', Mastah Thomas T' he cried. "A whole lot of 'em with a big log, and the man on horseback behind m." "All right," said th bailiff sternly. "Put out the candles, Buekaloo. Now, gentlemen, as soon as they break through, let 'em hav it We' got to break up thta gang, onoe for ail." There was a tramp of heavy feet without "Stand clearl" shouted the hoarse tones. Th battering ram struck with terrific fore. The door leaped from It hinge and fell In the hall with a clang. Over It poured a stream of ghastly figures. "Fire!" muttered the bailiff. Our weapons thundered together. I dis charged both barrels Of my Manton. Mr, Stockton' pistol cracked, then catching up my rifle, he emptied that a well. Buekaloo, swearing fiercely, did th same with shotgun and flintlock. There was a chorus of shouts and cries. The attacking column was withered. Men staggered and fell, rose to hand and knees and crawled away, moaning. Outside a raging horseman was visible In th moonlight. The bailiff fired twice with hi heavy pistols. Pine Owl reeled. He stiffened himself then galloped away, lurching horribly In his saddle. An awful silence reigned. In the darkness we could hear the thumping pt each oth er's hearts. "Dick, light the candles," said th bailiff solftly. "Buekaloo, help m fix that door the best way we can. Gentlemen, Pine Owl and the boys from the Barrens will never trouble this county again." CHAPTER XXII. The Last Trick. From the chaos of the back hall I hur ried to the front of the house. Bram still crouched, brooding, in the Windsor chair. He did not lift even his eyes a I strode past htm. In the library Ferriss and flue sat side by side, their arms about each other. Jerry stood facing the door. "Who's they ah?" he demanded valiantly. "That you, Mastah Henry?" "Tes, yes. We've driven them off, Ferriss. If all ovr." , "Is is he safe. Squire?" exclaimed Sue. "Lem? safe and sound. None of our side i hurt except Mr. Stockton. He ba a few face scratches." Ferriss looked up at me. I noticed th pitiful droop of her mouth, and the dark circle under her eyes. "Th others?" she said. "Th other side?" 'ome of them are badly hurt, I think. We 'don't know whether or not any are killed. There's nothing In sight at any rate. They've taken their wounded and subtle 6sweet the glare nfnr ft es w j i w l a a. i o ci dead away If there are any dead." "Ok. horrible!" "Tea, but they brought ft on their wn head a They were solemnly warned oft We were forced to fire upon them." '1 know, but ohf M's all upon ray ac count If It hadn't been for me. they'd never have cam here. It' all my fault" "No, ao. Tou'v beea minted all along by a clever scoundrel. Rememberl they told you themselves thy were after plunder they , didn't come for any other reason. Cousin.'' I went on. "you must.b worn out Let Sue put you to bed. Tou can go homo when you're rested tomorrow or to dayIt must be nearly morning." ' She was to weary to protest Indeed, ahe had been through an agony of terror and anguish that might Well have tamed her brain. I slipped my arm about her should ers, and supported her to the very door of Sue's room. Sh gav me a long look. Then Sue closed the door softly behind her. Dick waa extinguishing the candle In the hall. It was almost daylight. Mr. Stockton and Hubbard were awaiting me "Sam has gone for our horses, Henry," said the lawyer. "Now's the time to finish up this business." He brandished a handful of warrants. "Tou and I and Hubbard must be riding. Tes and Bram, too." "Where are we going?" "'Everywhere everywhere. What! I'll send Dick down to the village to my clerk, Flthlan. Fithian will see that th machln. ery of th law run true. Of course, we'll have to report all this fighting to the au thorities. Fortunately I'm about the chlet authority myeelf In thl particular cause I and Hubbard. Are you ready there, BramfloldT" My "coualn" got on hi feet H streched himself stiffly. "Tea, sir," he answered. His tone was grave, but free of resent ment "I'm ready. Let's get through with It" In five minute we were all booted and spurred. Sam brought th horses. W all mounted and swept around the house. Sev eral plashe of blood were distinctly visi ble Upon the withering grass. "lust so," sald th bailiff. "Some sick people In the swamp today, I guess." The sun rose out of the pines aa ws cantered sharply down the slope. In those same pines murder had lately been hatch ingperhaps ruffians were even then drag ging their shattered limbs through the thickets. Mr. Stockton seemed to be lost In thought. The bailiff, too, looked grim. I did not ear to ask them our destination. How ever, I soon perceived that we were mak ing toward Falrvlew township. Doubtless we would trap Lawrence Arnold, lurking ilk a wounded tiger In his den. We might even hope to overtake him on the way. Bram 'glanced side-long at me from time to time. If I looked as I felt my fc wag not encouraging; but when our horses fell to a walk, he reined beside me. "I've been a cad, Hal," he aald. "I muat hav been crasy." I understood hla character too welt to be lieve that be wa endeavoring to fend off punishment by this acknowledgment He waa not the man to cry for quarter. Hla worda told of a genuine repentance, but I was In no position to answer htm. He sur veyed me ruefully, and fell back to hi place. We gained the Falrvlew turnpike and galloped along it It was a glorious autumn morning. Silvery networks glistened in the grass beside the road; The sky above th pines was blue aa steel. A woodpecker called piercingly from a blasted oak. It waa the spot where the avenue to Falrvlew branched from the turnpike, yet we were passing It at a gallop. 'This is the place. Mr. Stockton," I called. "Aren't we going to Falrvlew T" "Not yet not yet, Henry," answered the lawyer over his shoulder. "We're after a craftier fox than Lawrence Arnold. No, no, it'a Uie keystone of the arch we want If we break the keystone, there won't be any arch. What Come on, befor h out wit ua." Amaxed, I spurred my roan after him. "But. Pine Owl!" I aald, aa we pounded along. "He muat be the man w want" "Te, you're right Henry you're right Pine Owl' the man if he'a alive. Yea, yes, if he's alive." T "Hut Isn't Arnold 'Pine Owl?" "No he isn't" returned ' the lawyer. "Tou' 11 see one moment" W turned sharply Into a sandy path. It waa the back road to Cheatnut Farma. I caught the lawyer'a eye, and a dreadful suspicion seised me. "Good Heavens!" Mr. Stockton pursed his lips. "I won't swear to It not yet, but" He nodded significantly. We dismounted a hundred yards below the house. "Hold the horses, Mr. Bram, If you please," directed Mr. Stockton. "Ton won't want to take part in this, I suppose. Now, then, gentlemen!" We hastened forward on foot The house faced ua atark in the morning light Its unpalnted woodwork showed ghaatly it gaunt wlndowa were eloquent of mlaery. We atole forward cautloualy, but no where waa there a algn of life. The bailiff pointed to a dark blotch on the lowest step of the porch. There was another on the very doorsill. Hs turned the knob. The door yielded, and we slipped Into the house. The blotches on the doorstep might have prepared me for anything, yet the poverty of the place appalled me. As we passed into the nearest room Hub bard uttered an exclamation. He crossed the room at a stride and threw back a shutter. The light poured in and I stared about Pine Owl had been overtaken at last , Bowed over a center table sat John Day ton. ' HI gquar thoUIderg war drooped and hla head hung forward, but th dead hand still grasped th pen with which h had been writing hi last effort at decep tion writing in th same quaint characters In which, although disguised, he had in dited Pine Owl warnings to me. Hubbard read tb not In a low ton. 'To my dear Daughter: Forgive me for the shock your finding me here will cause you. I had Intended to die in the chestnut grove I shot myself there, but feared dis covery before death came, ao I have dragged myself to tbe house. Tou may find some bloodstains where I leaned against the rails. I dls by my own hand life has become insupportable to m. Poverty and inflrml " He had died a be wrote. The bailiff looked Up. "He muat have climbed the fence with both bullets through his lungs," he said. "Well, gentlemen, that what I call going out gam to th last." W stood silent. What an Iron nature had been John Dayton's 1 And how dis torted! What dupllcity-and skill must have been his, to have kept his very daugh ter In ignorance that he himself was the maater of the plot in which she had, until lately, fancied herself a leadert A pang went through me as I looked on the dead man. He bad been killed while trying to oust a usurper-little aa hs deemed ma auch in law from hla own property. ."My God!" I. said hoarsely. "I might hav prevented all this. If I'd only dreamed Pine Owl waa Mr.- Dayton, I would have given up Morvan. Mr. Stockton, Hubbard, I want to tell ou something. Oentlemea,' I have no right to" "Tut! tutl Mr. Morvan" interrupted the bailiff sternly. "Contain yourself, air. It very natural on your part I'm sure-your sorrow on account of tb family. Tea, It'a natural-but be a man, air. ar In mind I ahot John Dayton, and ahot him not be cause he made an assault on your property. bnt bec-aus he'a the highwayman I'v been after for two year paat. Tee, air he robbed Mr. William Hancock on th Clay 111 Road very lately, and ha been mixed In a doscn other matters I could nam. I got lold of th proofs not long since, but kla Ufa' been forfeit to th law these two year or mere. Tes, sir. If I hadn't killed hlm he'd have had to swing. I guess It' boUer aa It I." "A hundred times! ' said Mr. Stockton. "Tou'v nothing to blame yourself for, Henry nothing. Now, for Arnold'," h went on. "Hubbard, you take charge her, will you? Make everything right for tbe tmraea. What! Luckily William I tap cock la coroner Just now, and hs's not likely to see beyond the end of his nose. Bat arrange things so he won't have to look too closely. Tou understand?" "Tes, sir. This Is In my line," responded the bailiff. "It'll be all right." Bram waa holding the horsea below the house. He gave u a questioning look. "He s dead," said th lawyer. "He's killed himself." Bram paled. He gased from one to th other. "Dead. John Dayton killed himself!" "Tes dead by his own hsnd, sir," re sponded the lawyer firmly. "Ha has com mitted suicide suicide, Mr. Brara. A moat unfortunate occurence. A party of gentle men hla nearest relatives and neighbors corn to pay Mr. John Dayton a morning can to ascertain If he haa by chance been made the object of a similar attack to that Just directed agalnat th main branch of th family. They find him dead yea, a not in hla own hand atatlag that he wa Ured of life, and had resolved to end It The coroner can't fall to find a verdict of suicide upon that not" "Ha!" "Te, Mr. Bram. A very lamentable af fair. And ending greatly to be deplored for ao old and ahl o well connected a man. Very regrettable asuicld." CHAPTER XXIII. KvU alrtta. In fifteen minutes Mr. Stockton, Bram and I rod up the avenue to Falrvlew. Several servants hastened out. "Is your master at home?" demanded Mr. Stockton. "No, sah," answered one of them, "H ain't been home since ylstlddy fo'noon." Ah, he hasn't? I your mistress In?" "Taa, sah. Miss Kitty' her, but Ah don't guess she' dressed ylt" "Mr. Bram," said th lawyer. "I'll hav to ask you to go In and mako ur our man Isn't here: On your honor, If you please on your honor." Bram nodded. "And be careful he doesn't pistol you from a closet" cautioned the lawyer. "I dare say he doesn't love you Just now." Tbssing his reins to a darkey, Bram ran fnto th house. From th room la th sec- -ond story I so well remebered presently a joyful cry. "Damn his effrontery!" I muttered, Mr. " Stockton gave me a qulxslcal glance. Bram ran out "He isn't here," he de clared. "I'm sure of It" "Wher can he be?" ' "May be at Bat Merry's," suggested Bram. "If hla leg'a smashed, it would be too far for him to try for Mary Peder sen's." "Very likely very likely. We won't need you any more, Mr. Bram. Tell everything everything, mind, to her." He nodded to ward the houae. "Make a clean breast of It, Mr. Bram. Then, If you pleas, get her to ride over to Morvan within an hour and break the news of Mr. Dayton' ul cid to Miss Ferriss. She' her friend she' 11 do It best Let her break tb news." "Very well, air." f "Go, and aln no, more, Bramfleld, If X may aay ao." "I'll have a try for It Mr. Stockton. Hal, I'll have a try." "Now, go along," aald th lawyer. "X dara aay you'll have to explain to your wife why you didn't keep your engagement with her last night" "Hla wife!" I fairly ahouted. "Eh? What! Tea, hla wife." Tbe lawyer chuckled. "That's th bit of gossip I promised to tell you when X sot back from Trenton. Dr. Garrett married them the day Baker and Sue were married. Miss Katharine Mrs. Bram now waa at church with Miss Dayton didn't you see her? They were married Immediately afterward In the rectory. Miss Ferriss was bride-, maid, and I was witness Mrs. Garrett and L Bram swore m to secrecy." "Bram, why didn't you tell me?" I ex claimed. "Well, by Gad! Henry. It wa a secret d'y see? Lawre&o would hav raised th very deuce, if he'd known it H wanted a rich husband for Kitty not a poor rip Ilk ma. We'd cared for each other a long time. I sounded Lawrence n the thing once he waa ready to fight me on the apot. No, no, we atood it aa long as we could, and then w stole away and got married. W had to keep It a secret" "I'v had ghaatly suspicion about you and your wife," X aald. "I wa doing you gross injustice." "Did you know something about It?" H gased at m and perhaps guessed what I had seen. He flushed, but laughed good naturedly. "Well, well, Hal, I didn't know anyone was about No, by Gad!" Hs topped, and sighed heavily, "Poor little ' Kitty! the worst la coming for ua now." A magnanlmoua Idea flashed into my mind I had almost come to believe I waa , really Henry Morvan. 'The worst isn't coming, Bram," I said. "Not if I have anything to do with it" "And you have," said Mr. Stockton, "and you hav." W took th crossway to th poatroad, and moved down It toward th village. My brain wa to a whirl dead man and climb ing lovera, the hideous facea of Pino Owl, and the wistful mouth of Ferrlea Dayton danced before my mlnd'a eye. X waa too far gone In my desperate gam to retreat "Mr. Btockton," I aald between gallops, "why can't I buy up Arnold' mortgages? I'd Ilk to give Falrvlew to Bram and hla wife and let them make a new start in life." "Tou can, Henry, you can.' The idea doe you credit I can lay hold of every on of those mortgages at a. day's notice." 'Then we ll do It" "If Arnold Isn't at Merry's." said the lawyer during the next breathing space, "there only one Other place to try and that' not th old- Swede cabin either." "I know at Letty Miller' cottage be hind ua." "Exactly. It Would be Ilk hla mean soul to go crawling to her when he waa In trouble. What!" At the tavern we tied our horsea to the ralla, and walked quickly Into th publlo room. Th place wa empty of lOungera. Only Merry himself, smaller and paler faced than usual, bustled from behind tb bar. "Good morning, gentlemen. Good morn ing, Squlr Morvan. Good morning. Squire Stockton. A beautiful day for the time of year. Tou're riding early thl morning, 'gentlemen. Will th Gloucestor Hunt be down thl way today? What can I serve you this morning, gentlemen? I've Just got In a keg of oak-stored Kentucky or If you haven't had breakfast yet, some rif oyster or a couple of quail would" Th lawyer had been watching him nar rowly. "Merry," he Interrupted without freremony, "which la Mr. Arnold'a room?" The landlord shrank as If ha had received a blow. "Sir," he stammered, "I don't know what-Mr. Arnold? I haven't seen him for two or thro day, I'm aura. Ua Un't here, air." (T J Continued)