Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-03-16
who her friend was in case of escape.
"GOinU TO take LID the land 80 ns 70

/ q
| BLUM, he answered. though he could
scarcely suppress smile at the GOODNESS
OF man, who lived by theft, talking of be.
ing robbed out of his rights by the law
iul owner!
Inc answer appeared to satisfy the man.
ana, as two others came stamping in at the
moment, he became silent and had an on
portunlty TO examine them more CLOSELY
The one with whom he had the brief con
versatlon was still young, of intense mus
cuiar power. low-browed and with the
marks of unrestrained passions and crime
stamped on his face, and was evidently
the husband of the wretched woman The
others were much older. AID he who claim
ed to be the father forbidding in every par
ticuiar, man whom every honest person
would shun.
Nv no is that man, Jane?' he asked, in
half whisper, of his daughter.
II don't know-kaven't spoken to him.
Mike has-ask him. Go along and don't
bother me-"
She evidently had no scruples about
''stretching the truth when it suited her
Why haven't you got supper ready?"
''Why didn't you leave me some wood p"
Didn't think of it,"
"l on never do"
~ ou've got plenty now" and he glanc-
ed at 1t sharply, perhaps thought the end,
were cut remarkably clean Tor woman,
but said nothing about it, and drawing A
stool near the hearth, addressed Sharp with
Had bad day TO ride, stranger"
Yes, and was glad to find shelter. By
the way, is there not some place where
can put my horse?'
''Ill attend to that Come, bows. and
help me bring up the things from the boat
The girl will have supper ready by that
time. No,you needn't go. stranger.
There's no use in your being out 10 the rain
agaln. Make yourself easy. | know how
to take care OF good horse" and he
winked knowingly to his hopeful son-in
law.
But though the trio left the cabin. Sharp
was aware that he was not unmatched. and
reiralned from taking any notice of or
speaking to the woman. who showed n IA
BILE into the middle of the floor and BEGAN
placing the dishes upon it. She. too. vas
evidently aware of the surveillance and
yet, as she stopped over the fire cooking
meat or attending to the coffee, she man
aged to whisper from time to time:
Make believe drink when YOU are asked
play cards with them and lose A little. but.
Tor the sake ofycur life, don't show much
money"
There was no need of an answer. He by
this time understood the character oi M.
men, and ieIt that safety lay IN unceasing
watchiulness. Yet he communicated his
comprehension and thanks by signs. even
motioued her TO the card her husband had
tossed contemptuouSly away. and was
pleased 10 see her stoop and read il without
picking IL up, anu was certain his name
and address would not be forgotten.
The rude supper was soon despatched,
the table cleared, and Il jug aud cups, and
4 well-worn pack OF cards placed upon il.
Come. stranger. said the old man. Its
carry YET. Suppose We have some thing to
drink and game"
Nothing would suit me better" answer
ed sharp, with aacrty I'm fond OF both
hat shall the game be?'
Choose Tor yourself
twenty decks suits me What do yuu
say"
"All right. Shuttle and deal"
IL was the game OF poker then most in
vogue In that locality, the one most used
tor gambling, and suited the cut throats
exactly. Or course with all parties agree
lng-three to win and one to lose-the re-
suit was certain, and af.er on hour Sharp
was the poorer by several dollars, and,
having apparently drank as deeply as the
rest, was far gone In intoxication, COM
planned of bein. tired, and requested to be
shown to place where he could sleep.
Inc woman, who had been sitting upon
a low stool by the fire with her head rest
Ing upon her hands and ihtently watching
the game, sprang up, and procuring can
die, said:
This way, sir
mo you don't" answered her husband,
and snatching the light sent her whirling
across the floor. mo you don't. | doubt
not but you had time enough before we
came 10 make love TO the stranger"
Inc lace OF the woman became livid with
rage and her eyes flashed fire. For the mo-
ment she evidently thought of bitter re-
taliation al the insult.for her hand clutched
the nearest weapon-a heavy hammer
and She looked as if she could have Drained
him. 1t was very difficult. TOO, Tor Sharp
TO control himself and keep up his acting.
but both knew the value of caution, aud
the other staggered up rlckety ladder
afteE his conductor.
There. stranger" he said. "You'n Sleep
a sound as top. TherelI be nothin. to
disturb you. Goodnight
Without undressing Sharp threw him self
upon an apology for bad. blew out the
light, and looked well to his pistols. That
he was To be robbed. il not murdered. he
had not the slightest doubt, and he must
either escape or defend himself. Ii the
former, he would leave the woman totally
TO their mercy. but Il few moments satisfied
nan that she was able TO take care of her
self. tie listened and at first heard hard
and angry conversation; then he knew
that the woman had retired, that the men
were gettin. drunken, and that he was the
subject OF conversation. But he could not
learn anything definitely of their intentions
though he could now and then catch a few
words about "money, horse must be rich,
will sleep very soundly,no one to fear ,easi-
ly done"
To lie there and watch-to be every mo-
ment expecting to be murdered-was terri
Bile. and yet it was all he could do. There
was no way of getting out of the room ex-
cept by the same way he had entered, and
that was not to be thought Of Had there
been window hs would not have hesita-
ted for single moment or thought it cow
ardice. Now he must face danger, come
in what shape it would. and he longed for
the time TO come when he should measure
strength with his enemies, and either be
victor or put out of torture.
But 1t appeared AS il that hour would
never come. His strained ear caught in every
thing the pattering of the rain upon the roof
the moaning of the wind through the forest
the dull swash of the river. the rattling of
the cups, and the hum of voices grown
thick by repeated draughts. He hoped that
they might at last affect them So much as
to Danish caution-to loosen their tongues
and permit him TO catch their words-but
it was not SO. They were far too well used
to liquor in inordinate quantities, and too
well trained in crime, to be betrayed in
overstepping the bounds Of discretion. Yet
at last he did get an inkling of what was to
be his fate. and prepared to meet it.
Silently slipping off his boots and remov-
ing his neck-l andkerchief, so that it could
not be used to choke him, he arose from
the bed. huddled up the clothes so as to
represent human figure, and crawled to-
wards the opening in the floor. But scarce
ly had he arrived there before the two old
men crept stealthily up and drew near the
bed, each armed with q long knife That
he was to be butchered without the slight
est chance of resistance was evident. and
he blessed God that he was even SO far pre-
served. Yet he was still very far from be-
ing out of danger. The husband of the
wre;ched woman-the most formidable