Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-11-03

dusk. As / was walking back to Cor.
mack'sI noticed footsteps behind me
and, looking round, saw that | was fol.
lowed BY a small body Of men al
armed with sticks. Not wishing then
to come up with me | quickened my
pace a little. They did the same, anc
closed on me somewhat.
had to pass a sharp turn on the
road. just as | neared the hedge
and for the moment lost sight of ny
followers, | saw a woman on the othel
side close to me. Leaning forward
she said eagerly: Run for your life
sir it's you there after Before
could reply she had sunk down be.
hind the hedge again as my pursuerI
came in sight.
hope, if ever there be any chance
of holding my own, that | shall moi
be found ready to run away; but wher
followed by a dozen men with sticks il
is about the only thing that can be
done, so | trust | may be pardoneC
for taking to my heels
The men instantly followed at full,
4 speed, and for a time the race was hot
But, having still my tennis shoes on
and being naturally swift of foot.
soon distanced them, and they were &
good half mile behind when | reached
COrmack's door.
"Cormack himself was standing on
the threshold, At one glance he took
in the situation, having probably had
some previous information as to what
was going to happen. With a NUT.
tered qakh he seized me by the arm
and hur me through the house and
into the yard at the back. There was
a rick of turf there which had that
day been opened, leaving a small
aperture in the smooth continuity Of
its rows.
"'Get in there, sir said Cormack,
and you, Pat addressing his son who
was working in the yard when en-
tered), build up the clamp again
while | go and lock the door. An il
ye tell the boys where the gentleman
Is ye're no son Of mine
The case was not one which admit
ted of parleying. | got into the rick.
and Pat built up the outside turf with
marvellous celebrity. There was room
enough for air and sound to enter
through the interstices between the
sods. But the dust nearly choked
me. However, | was glad enough OF
even that refuge when | heard the
storm Of curses that broke from my
pursuers, as, having at length burst
open the door, they poured into the
yard.
$50 help me Godr l could hear
Cormack saying, i let him out at the
back door, boys. Was | to let the
gentleman be murdered in me own
house an he STAYING there2'
CAUTIOUSLY enough, as Thought, the
angry men admitted the plea, but all
now turned upon Pat to know which
way [ had gone. He, being no better
than most of his countrymen in the
matter Of tr~uthfulness, gave them
most minute directions as to the route
had taken, and, after a hurried
search Of the house and yard, they
started off in pursuit.
When they were out of sight Pat
unpacked me. BY this time | was
almost fainting from s~uffocating dust
and smell Of the turf, and | was glad
to sit down in the kitchen and have a
draught of buttermilk. Meanwhile
Cormack had saddled one of his horses
and brought it round to the door.
~ Get up on that horse, sir said
he, and ride as hard as We can to the
police station at Bally -; it's the
only place yell be safe in after this.
III send on yer luggage there for We.
I've saved We this day because We were
stopping III my own house, but only
Tor that ! wouldn't have put a finger
10 help We for an English inlormer as
ye are. So there's no thanks due to
me-
u attempted a few words of ex-
PLANTATION and gratitude, but | confess
to feeling decidedly small as | rode
away, and inwsrdly took a VOW never
to Interfere with other peoples busl-
ness again.
u sent my late host a check after.
ward for what | considered a fair sum
for my fortnight's board and lodgings.
with a letter expressing my sense OF
obligation to him and my wish to have
made him a present to remember me
by did l not fear to offend him. The
check was returned without a word.
" was obliged to attend at the trial
OF Pat Higgins, who, rather to my
satisfaction was triumphantly acquit-
ted by a jury Of his compatriots, so
that all my trouble and danger had
been incurred for nothing. After that
you won't wonder that | am not very
proud of the STORY, and don't want i
to go beyond you
Who was the woman who warned
you I asked [; "did you ever find
she Yves Comack's daughter, and
WAS engaged to Pat Higgins as | found
out aiterward,' answered Ellerslie.
After that | think you will agree
with me that the Irish are a peculiar
race"
shall | tell you what l think was
the most peculiar thing in the whole
story?' said l.
"WeI7T
Naeading back your check %
DNr pi,.gou.. r,.