Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-03-21

than usual In spite OF the questions of his wife,
he managed TO keep the secret, though had he
made q clean breast of it to Fanny, could lave
been saved Of all the trouble ofteing you this
story
The Saturday at length arrived, and Luke
met his companions as they agreed, II the LAWS
Arms.
my boys" said he, you have oniy got sticks, |
es = You have left your guns at home ?"
YES, replied u fellow with hang-dog ex-
preston OF countenanoe. one William Smith, |
Known by the uncomplimentary nick k-name OF |
Sneaking Billy y" Yes, We have left them at |
| home; why did you bring yours, LuSeI'
because can trust myself, Billy but can't |
trust YOU"
Mr. William Smith growIed out an oath, and
slouched up to Luke with very threatening jrs- |
ture.
"Why can't you trust me ="
| "because you are an ugly customer in your
| cups, my man. We don't want any murder to-
uiRbt..
| You mind what you say"
| 81 shan't mind you, retorted Luke. "You are
| not man enougnt to tighta fellow in a straight
| forward way"
| mo quarreling," cried another man. "Come
Luke, he didn't mean any harm-now, did you
| Biliyi"
"NotI. osly Luke will have his ,oke, and
he hits. rather loo hard sometimes. But here
| Luke, give us your fist, and let say no more
| about It."
"With all my heart" said Dalton ,tretchng
forth his hand
Billy took It, and shook il but as he
| turned away he nurmured, "Ail right, my
line feliows-I shall owe you one for this
and yours is debt shall pay some day."
| The men took up their sticks, and headed
by Luke, carrying his gun, made for the
wood. The band marched along in silence.
IWheu they had arrived at their destination
they halted. and Luke, having loaded his
gun with shot. laid it down beside him on
the grass. Then there WAS moment OF
silence. and then were heard the following
words, spoken In the well known tones OF
old Squire Lavis-"Yo ou had better surren.
der. lThere's ten of us, and you're only FIVE.
Come quietly, and you shan't be hurt"
81 AIN afraid we must run for it, lads"
sang out Luke. Let US bolt
II At the san o moment there was a scutlle
| between two men, and then the gun was
. seized and hred, and the man who had fired
! 1t followed his companions So quickly that
! IL was impossible 10 distinguish him from
the rest.
"This is very serious" said the Squire,
bending over the bleeding body Of the
tgame keeper. "Who did it'"
. "Here's the mans gun, sir" said SER
want, picking up the still smoking toWhng
piece:
ii "Do you know whose 1t iso" asked the
al Squire.
IL "Yes sir; l recognized il at once 1t be.
longs to Luke Dalton"
Luke naltonl" echoed the Squire. "Why
| thought he was such steady man. Dear,
A dear, this IL very sad. But How you had
better take Burrow to the nearest cottage,
aud send at once for DR.. Harvey"
al "Burrows doesn't want a surgeon, whis.
pered one of the gsmekeepers. the poor
1 fellows deadi
Luke Dalton was ariested on / charge o
It murder. 1t was his gun that was found on
the night OF the poaehing atfray, aud it was
h ta Rk,nf h
IS Squires summons. You may imagine the
despair OF his wife, poor creature; no words
Of mine can picture her misery.
n A few days after Dalton had been com
7; mitted by the magistrate, and sent to Tao
Itown jail, he received a visitor in the per
/ "This ID a bad business, Dalton, but
e. must make the best OF 1t for you"
e. II am innocent, sir" said Luke.
u- "Never mind whether you are innocen
or not, man. The question Is whethsr
$. can save you from being hanged. Wha
/? evidenca have you to offer? -
I'd Then Luke told his story.
"Who was with you on tho night OF th
Sc difficulty?' The lawyer avoided the wor,
II, "murder" In deference to his clients feel
is ings. "Cau you tell mo their names."
Luke Dalton thought a moment, aud thel
lie repeated the naines OF tho companions on
Is by one. RstoTe doing this. however, he In
insisted that his list should be considered
ht confidential.
to Everything you will tell me- Is connden
vtial, of course, my good fellow, said tn
u lawyer. "rhe names you have given IN
are, L am afraid, of little value. l know al
ID the men, and they have been at work ever
day since this unlucky affair. Was there NJ
one elsey"
'u was 'Sneaking Blliy'--William Jones, yo'
90 know SIR"
OF "Couns, that's better. Are you quite sur,
that he was there?
"Quite sure. How l remember it Is this
a. a. he aud had bit OF aquarrel before we se
." OUT
;, "He quarrsled with you. did he? Bette
-, and better. Come, We viii find what Mr.
'e Sneakiug Billy has been dong since til
- mur-- I mean the little irresniariiy."
,v "lt's very kind OF Nnn I" takeall thi
~ trouble about me s,r.
is "Not u bit OF 1t my good man. am wei
nd paid for it."
ls .Psid for it. Then my wife sent you; an
s's !yet how did she get the money"
"No: Mrs. Dalton called upon me- but theI
an was no necessity. Your case was entrusted
u me by some one else,
In mot my wifel" said Luke slowly. "SoH
NO one else Who was it, sir
aYou mustn't ask me. Where 10 tell yo
ill | | should lose rich client. who has bound N
e over to secrecy"
'but 1 VIII hhoW, Viicu buion' "hstn
ng ~ have q right to know, and will know.
.Come no violence"
"Was It young Mr. LAWS? tell me that.
srs tell YOU will know"
Of at can't do any harm, t mused The lawye
and then he replied-"Well il you must kno
Lit was young MIR. LAWS"
81 Thought sol" murmured Luke, and, viii
- as q ghost, he sunk down upon the bench al
:, buried his face In his hands.
,ch Nothing particular occurred between this
Ia IteryIew and the day OF the trial; but it W
Ihe considered strange that the prisoner refus