The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-05-10

the powers, I'll dc as l threatened! II
/ hear of you attempting to persecu'e
Nancy az ain with your insults, All have
yourlife
"An ugly threat, that, my man." said
Devine, scowling blackly. 81 see how
the land lies now, and III make thstow
too hot to hold you in less than twenty
four hours.o
With those words he rode off.
'Oh, Joe,' exclaimed the girl. bitterly
"you've ruined yourself now! You can
do nothing against such an enemy as
Richard Devine."
.The world is large, Nancy" he re-
piled. 1--WE can go away and begin life
somewhere else"
"But not without money!
'That is true" he answered, gloomily.
81 need two things first-money and re-
venge."
Fearing to say more lest she might
further excite her lovers anger, the girl
remained silent.
Soon afterward Joe made some excuse
and left her. BY twelve o'clock the
quiet little hamlet was in state OF in
tense excitement.
Richard Deyine had been found badly
wounded on the roadside. In answer to
their inquiries he denounced Joe Craw-
ford as his assailant, and would-be muir
derer.
The village physician was hastily sum-
moned, and pronounced the case a criti-
cal one. There was one chance in
hundred for Devine's recovery, he said,
and he might not live until midnight.
The wounded man was informed of his
danger, and wicked glitter came in his
eyes.
Bring Nancy Sheppard here while l
make my dying statement" ," said he, and
let few of the villagers be called In as
witnesses"
Terror-stricken at the accusation rest
ing upon her lover, and dreading it to be
the truth, she came. Richard DeVine
then said that he had met Joe Crawford
that morning, and that the latter had
uttered threats against him. About an
hour afterward he had been suddenly at
tackled at quiet spot upon the road by
his enemy. He had defended himself to
the best of his power with the but end
of his broken riding-whip, and had sue
ceeded in leaving some bad bruises upon
his assailant's face. The latter, finding
himself molested, had drawn his knife
and stabbed him, leaving him for dead
upon the road. There was sudden
commotion at the doorway, and present.
ly the accused murderer, guarded by two
men, was brought ir the room. His face
was discolored with blood, and severely
cut. He attempted to speak; but such a
storm of execration broke upon his
ears that he folded his arms and was
silent.
Another witness now stepped forward
in Deyine's behalf. 1t was a man who
had long been suspected of being a spy
in Devine's interest. He had overheard
the conversation that had passed between
the parties in the morning. He also
testified that Crawford's last words be-
fore leaving the girls side were, 81 need
two things-money and revenge
Richard Devine glanced toward the
girl with looks of malignant hatred. 81
do die, as | think shall, my murderer
shall not escape" said he, grimIy.
Then he signed his name to the state
? ment which the doctor had drawn up a
his dictation.
"Will you solemnly swear, in th'
presence of this company, that all yoI
, say herein is true ~ asked the doctor
j gravely.
81 do" was the decisive reply.
, "And that you accuse Joe Crawford a
being your murderer"
eyes"
"You are a perjnrer and double
dyed villain" exclaimed wrathfu
voice, and stranger strobe into thei
midst.
His clothing was stained with blood
and his face was as pale as death.
Richard Devine's eyes opened wide i
terror.
''The dead have returned!' h
gasped.
9 "Aye, to avenge the livingp was th
+, stern reply. "You would sacrifice ma
to the gallows, and perjure yourself o
your death-bed for revenge! Listen
men, to what have to say:
Years ago Richard Devine, as h
calls himself, was my lartner in business
.. By lies and trickery he gained my cor
fdence. One bright morning awoke t
find myself a beggar. Every dollar ha
> been stolen from me by that scoandre
9 who suddenly disappeared.
o $50 poor was that / was compelle