Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-08-16
Hunting a Murderer.
A THRILLING STORY.

Southwest coast of Ireland. About a
month previous to the time of which
| write, a gentleman had been shot
down at his own gate in Tipperary.
Everybody knew that the murderer
was lurking somewhere in my neigh
borhood, in the hope of obtaining
passage to America. An unusually
large reward had been offered for his
apprehension, and the police were
securing the country, night and day,
in every direction. ..
One fine summer evening [ had re-
turned from long days fishing in the
bay, and was smoking farewell pipe
for the night, when | heard the tramp
of horses feet On the gravel outside,
followed by sharp ring at the bell.
1t was with no small delight that |
recognized the well know voice of
Frank Butler, a constabulary officer,
and one Of my Oldest friends.
When we had seen the horse put
up "a splendid hunter, which had car
ried his master nearly sixty miles
that day. and sat down to supper, |
noticed Frank looked more tired and
careworn than [ had seen him before.
1t was not long until the cause came
out.
"You have heard of this murder,
Of course, Harry he said; "that is
what brought me over tonight; it oc-
Cured in my district, and the gentle
man was an intimate friend. | would
have dined with him that day, but
was called suddenly Oh duty, and sent
an apology at the last moment. I
was told since that he walked down
to the avenue gate to meet me; his
hand was on the latch when the vii
lain fired from behind a tree, and he
did not bring his life to the ground.
You know this country well ?" he add
ed, abruptly.
$50 well that if the fellow is lying
out anywhere within five miles, l think
| could undertake to put you on his
track"
Frank sprang from his chair and
walked hurriedly through the room.
II would give my right arm to be
face to face with him Harry. If you
had seen poor IS wife her weary,
hopeless face has been haunting me
ever since; | can never rest till the
murderer is taken, and have certain
information that he is lying out some.
where. Every house has been search.
ed over and over again, but / cannot
think of bringing you into the business
One victim is enough. If it were
known, you would be a marked man.
"Make your mind easy on that score
Frank; not one of the fellows here
will touch hair of my head especially
in strangers quarrel. Ny life is
the most of their leases, and the heir
at-law is not such favorite that they
would shoot me to bring him in. Now
for business. [ will get the ordinance
map, and we can trace the plan of om
campaign"
Our task was not such a difficult
one, after all the ground to be search
ed was limited and tolerably open
consisting chiefly of bog, mountain anC
shore, with every foot of which was
acquainted. Ipointed out to Franz
each days work on the map; and
without assistance, and hunting il
couples, three days would be amply
sufficient to beat it all.
| had brace of young settlers il
training at the time, and to preven
suspicion it was agreed we should g
out as if dog breaking was our onl,
object; accordingly, early the morning
following, well provided with all th'
ct ceteras for such work, we started
on our first days hunt. 1t proved {
blank; but the second day showed u
that our game was on foot, and no
far off. In little wood we came up
on some artfully concealed chairs
which were evidently lately occupied
,, and in one of them picked up an ole
pistol flint that had been thrown ava,
andreplaced, as there was some pape
; lying beside it, from which a small
piece had been torn, as if to cover ;
new one. We tracked footsteps fo
a considerable distance from it unit
, they were lost in heathery bog, ant
darkness coming on, we were forcet
) to give up the search.
! Idon't think either of us slept mucl
that night. When l went to Frank
! room in the morning he was alread
I dressed. "One word, Harry" he said
: "before we go. This man is arme,
\ to the teeth and swears he will no
y be taken alive. These fellows seldom
die game when run to the earth, bu
q he cannot be worse off, and may kee1
his word. Promise me if there is an
fighting, you will act as reserve an
leave me to deal with him alone"
| did promise, with some menta
reservation, and we started. Their
/ was a long days work before US; al
v the likely places we had come acros
l. in our previous search had to be visit
J. ed, some of them miles apart. Frank
senses seemed preternaturally SHARP
ened. No trace, however slight, el
capped his notice. A red Indian coul
: hardly have displayed more sagacit
; in following up his enemy's trail.
was then, for the first time, that
7 learned how exciting man hunt b.
9 came under certain circumstances.
e Towards evening we reached
!" mountain-our last hope. There wa
Y only one face Of it, over the sea, wher
u man would be likely to conceal hin
p self. That side was composed OF
10 a,,,bo, - ,oo,,,,o,, 1,ou1or cliffs cppa