Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-03-31

through Wnlcu 10 tuiOnuou lis way auto
footed and swift as one of the Park deer
The three gentlemen followed, and for i
few minutes the silence was unbroken.
Suddenly Morrison stopped breathing
rather than whispering into Sir Roy's ear
AZ he pointed in the dim. uncertain star
light, at a small open space, quite sur
rounded with dwarted trees and under
brush.
"There, Sir Roy, there's the trap on .ht
edge O. them hazels, and it amt empt,
neither. H. can't be long comm arter hi
game, you may take your oath !"
The old mans band trembled with eng
erness his face turned upward in the star
light, was flushed with the excitement o
the moment
"Hush On your life, don't speak {
word man, murmured Sir Roy, motlonine
to the other two to advance no farther
We have only to wait now"
The seconds grew into minutes minutes
seemed to lepgthen themselves ont, as the
four men stood there so motionless that yor
could not have discovered their Swallowed
figures from the trunks OF the beeches anc
chestnut trees. Their very breathing wa
hushed-one might have heard the muflled
beaiings of their hearts
"Now, gasped NJ rison, the gamekeeper
''now he's comm, Sir Roy"
A second or two-it could scarcely have
been more--and dark figure, slouchinf
heavily al, ng in the obscnrity, emerged
from the underground beyond, and crossing
the open space, knet down to examine The
snare which had been skiiltully concealed
with fallen branches. He dropped the prey
into coare bag or pouch which huns
over his shoulder, and WAS just rising t.
his feet ONCE more, when he found himsel
face to face with the cold, sneering gaze o
Sir Roy Fairfax
Involuntariy the man raised his rifle, thu
1arrel gittered strangely in the mystic
light, Sir Roy snatcbed 1t from him, ant
flung il into the copplce beyond; and in thu
struggle the gun went off with the sharp
piercing sound that had so startled Lad,
Fairfax in her white aud gold bondoir
The poacher sprang at Sir Roy's throat
with sharp, low strangled cry, like tina
of wild animal; the momentary struggle
was sharp and fierce
Colonel Mountioy sprang forward to ait
his friend. but Morrison, the gamekeeper
held him back.
"You don't know my master, sir, ;" HI
whispered hcarsely. "Sir Roy Fairfax
never accepts help from any man There
I knew it--he's got the fellow down y
Morrison wac right-the peacher, stront
fellow though he was, was powerless in ST
Roy's Herculean graspl While Morrison ye
spoke, h. lay struggling on tho grass, viii
the haronet's foot on his chest.
Now, then, Oven OwensonW said 81
Roy. calmly, what have you to say for your
self p
Nothing" the man made answer, sullenly
st Il, however, struggling. "Pve a. good 1
ripht to the hares and Jirds as Yourself, i
Things we're divided as they ought to be
Pm aman, Sir Roy, and you amt no bette
yourselfl"
"We won't go into thu law OF aggrarian
ISM" said Sir Roy, with a sneer. 'Morisoi
call the boys and let this man be taken to hi
proper place. II he has any more theories t
PROFOUND, let him do it in court of jus
| tee !"
The game-keeper lifted a small horn instru
ment to his lips, and sounded a shrll whistl
| but the report of the rife had proved
more efficient summons. In five minutes tn
secluded covert wss scene of life and motion
and the career Of Owen Owensor. as far a
| life in the free, fresh world OF woods and field
was concerned was over.