Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-05-15

"NO rock could do that !" observ
another.
"No,' interposcd a third, "'tis
more like tho blunt end of an axe
head see here is the regular mark
of the edge, all round. would
not be Dark Harry for all he has
got by his days work."
"Why not p vocifrrated the
wrecker, coming forward and CON
fronting the speaker.
Every eye was turned toward
the wrecker, in whose countenance
desperation and gathering fury
were teariully depicted. No an.
swcr was returned to his question.
"Why not ~ echoed the young
man, recovering from temporary
surprise. "Why, who was it stove
your fathers forehead in, Dark
Harry 7" added he after a pause.
He had scarcely time to duck his
head. The vessel which the wreck
er carried flew over it, and the next
moment the young mans throat
was in the ruf1ian's.
"Loose your hold of him !" cried
several at once. Dark Harry paid
no heed to them. Three or four OF
the strongest and boldest rushed
together upon him at once, over
powered him. and rescued his al
most sutfocated victim. The wreck
er drew his knife, and brandished
it. They rushed upon him again
before he had time to make stroke
with it, and wrenched it from him.
His wife, who, it appeared, had re-
tired into the inner apartment dur
ing the interval of her husbands alb
sencc, now burst from it, sank on
her knees before him, and clasping
him round the legs with one arm,
while with the other she supported
her infant, imploring him to be-
calm. A blow leveled child and
mother to the earth. With horror
of the savage act, the spectators
stood while, us if 5erett of the
power of speech or motion. For a
second two the wreeker 9lared
around him like a tiend, then sud
denly vanished into the inner room.
lie searched here and there, BIAS
all the time, cursing this
thing and that thing as anything
came to his hand except what he
At length, however, he
succeeded in finding his pistols.
Then a pouch filed with slugs, and
last of all, a powder-lorn presented
Hastily he loaded anu
PINNED the weapons, and proceed
ing to the door, with one in each
hand, advanced pace into the
outer apartment.
"Now " roared the wrecker,
'nOw who is the man to come on J"
No one stirred. 81 give you just as
much time," continued he. "as it
will take you to clear the house.
" hen that is expired, l fire at the
nan that remains.'
A wild, shrill, piercing laugh was
he answer to his menace. 1t came
rom the head of the corpse. The
maniac was standing there. The
vrecker's axe was in her hand ; the
he blunt end resting in the mark in
he dead mans forehead.
"Ha! hat she cried, exultingly,
there is your father, Dark Harry.
/ corpse upon the plank Of wood, to
get possession of which you muir
lered my father; and here is your
Ike upon the mark which you made
II your fathers forehead when l told
'ou, as you were ritling him on the
,each, that his eyes were moving
nd you coaxed me to leave you
lone with him See how nicely it
It's ! But | knew you, and stole
ack. l did, Dark Harry. And !
aw the blow, and heard the crash,
nd snatcheu up your hatchet when
on threw it behind you, and ran
way with it. Give you joy for
our diamonds and your gold, Dark
larry. A fair day Is it not ? A
,ir, lovely day, fair, lovely, bon ,
y day !"
The wrecker had been gradually
,ising his right arm. 1t was now
early brought to a level. lie fred |
ut the charge perforated the roof.
lis arm was struck by some one,
nd at the same moment he felt ,
imselt powerfully pinioned. He
oked around he found himself in s
le hands of four of the Preventive ,
uard, accompanied by James low. {
:, with the staff OF boarling-pike ,
his uraSD, 4,