The Lincoln County herald., 1872-11-13

Gus laugh.
Fairfax strods forward, marvelling
much at the siugularity Of the conci.
dence, aud having cirsled the beach that
frinssd the lake, proceeded to scale the
steep incline of the narrow path that led
up the cliffs toward the town.
If the adventure on one eide Of the
lake had surprised hin, he was doomed
to DO more than surprised by an adven
ture on the ether side of the lake.
He was pausng for moment to take
breath, for the ascent was very steep and
laborious, when the sharp report Of q gun
rang out, and his hat fell to the ground.
Fearfully startled, he looked hurrlsdly
around him. About sixty or seventy
PAGES off he saw q small white cloud Of
smoke rising above q rock that stood
like q giant boulder stone against the
bill. Ee picked up his hat, which he
saw pierced through with a hole into
which he might have stuck his little
finger, and, clapping it on his head,
pushed up the pathway with the utmost
rapidity. fearful every second Of herring
q second report aud feeling himself shot
He gained his hotel, out Of breath and
violently agitated. lie rang the bell and
summoned the landlord.
III find," he said. what a train leaves
this place for Dublin to morrow morning.
| regret to tell you 1t is my intention to
take it. l am sorry, for | like the place,
and would probably have continued here
another fornight-pcrhsps longer.
81 have done my best to place you,
sir," answered the landlord. 81 hope
you're not laving for the want of being
comfortableil'
81 am leaving" said Fairfax, taking
up his hat, "becauss l have no wish to
die. Do you see that hole? was shot
at half an hour ago by some dastardly
ruffian, who, had he taken aim two inches
lower, would have killed me. had
heard of this sort Of thing being prae-
ticed in this country; but have been
always unwilling to believe that you have
among you such cowardly scoundrsls as
you are represented to have. | have no
no doubt now came hero to enjoy
myself, not to be buried. My enjoyment
now is at an end 1t is absurd to sup
pose | should ever trust myself again
among your mountains. So, Mr. Land
lord, let me have your bill"
Fairfax did not leave the hotel again,
but amused himself with reading the
papers in the coffee room. Once during
the evening, iu casting his eyes toward
the window, he saw the man who had
inspected him so narrowly that morning
in earnest conversation with the boots OF
the hotel.
lie rather wondered who this fellow
could be, but forebore to make any in
quiries.
The train for Dublin left D. at
twenty minutes past ten. While eating
his breakfast he again saw the man ol
the preceding day on the pavement op
posite watching him. He asked the
waiter who he was, and was told that his
name was Daniel Terry, generally sup.
posed to have been concerned in the
murder Of Lord Ormadown; but that he
had been acquitted.
The man had walked away on meeting
Fairfax's eye, and the time having now
arrived to go to the station, the young
fellow busted himself with packing his
portmantsau, thinking to himself that il
this Terry had any desire to do him 9
mischief, the opportunity would very
soon be gone.
Having paid his bill, Fairfax followed
by the boots. who carried his portman
teau, walked leisursly to the station, anG
procuring q first class ticket, was showr
into a carriage.
The platform was singulsrly vacant o.
passengers. He was not sure, indeed
that he was the only traveller. He men.
toned this to the guard, who told him
that the train stopped at W, where
they would probably pick up a full
cargo. To W. the train was ex-
press.
lie pulled paper from his pocket and
began to read. Presently he heard the
guard calling to know if they we're al
ready forward. There was shrill wbis
tie, the engine gave snort, but suddenly
rose cry:
"Hould a minute Hould q minute T.
A mans face peered into Fairfax's
carriage, the handle Of the door wa'
turned, and q passenger bounded in.
Right now !" cried the guard.
The engine whistled and away they
went.
Fairfax had uttered an exclamation or
seeing who bis fellow passenger was
Though his face was crimson with run
ming, aud the thin lips parted with the
violence Of breathing, the malignant
glittering eyes, the animallik mouth
aud the desperate, menacing expression
of the face, were not to be mistaken AT
belonging to the peasant who had beer
watching him with SO strange and sinister
an inspection.
He had made no change in his attire
his clothes we're of the coarsest, his hail
was rough aud wild. He screwed himself
into the csrner Of the compartment oppo
site the corner occupied BY Fairfax, ana
with Go~uiug brow looked sullen'y Ou