The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-10

headed miners now perhaps collected
within the house before him, now per-
haps even discussing the strange incident
Of the fallen tree and the crushed corpse;
of Seth Jones, in the very midst of mat
ters, entering dramatically upon
the scene, and gladly serving as
accuser and chief witness; he thought OF
all the wild extraordinary tales he had
had ever heard of lynch law as admins
tered in rough mining countries, and
wondered which Of the trees around him
might perchance become his gibbet.
ooh, that there were an end to all this
trouble! Would ! were safe again in
Englandw groaned the wretched vagrant,
as, weary in body and soul, and faint
with hunger, he leaned against pine
stem that hid from observation, and reck-
oned up the chances that stood between
him and breakfast.
Hunger decided the point; he entered
the shanty, and found it indeed full of
miners, but at the first glance beheld no
face that seemed familiar. He made a
hearty breakfast, and even managed to
stow away good deal Of food in his
pocket besides, as he deemed it the better
couse to keep out of wayside houses as
often as circumstances would allow.
And conjecture became conviction when,
while engaged in outward calm but in
ward trepdation on consuming the meal.
he heard some Of the men discussing the
very subject he so dreaded.
"Whar was the 'cockney,' then?' asked
one; and Hugh grew more uncomfortable
than before. H
He stole look from under the rim of
his sombrero at the speaker, and inward
ly blessed the Far Western custom of
wearing the head covered with we'll
slouched hat upon all possible occa-
sions.
The man who had spoken was Abner
B. Choate, "lucky miner" of Nugget
vile; but his was the only face Hugh
recognized. ......
"Ah," thought the anxious -barman,
''you were still on the creek when I left,
and you must have passed that tree while
/, like fool, lay losing time in sleep"
"Old Mac and the 'cockney' made
tracks together" went on Abner Choate.
oyer see, boys, Nuggetville pretty nigh
caved in for this fall when it burnt up
though they deu say as Mac he'd made
his pile long afore that time"
'1njuns might hev stripped the body"
suggested greenhorn newly come te
that part of the world.
"Oh, my, yes, likelyw exclaimed Alb
ner Choate, derisively. "Say, stranger
whar was you raised? Not in a wooden
nutmeg State, noheow, 1 guess"
Hugh had heard as much as he cared
to hear. He paid for his breakfast with
some Gf poor Macpherson's money, slip.
ped out of the house, and, full Of ner
vous apprehension, hurriedly pushed OF
once more. How many days, he asket
himself, would bring him now to Yale
All, but suppose the news about old San
die had travelled there already? Suppose
he should be kept waiting there day OF
two for the next steamer? A day Or two
and with Jones, Choate, and Nemesis
meanwhile stalking at his heels! Tor
turing thought!
But no, he would avoid that pitfall
Once arrived at the river banks, ht
would, from some one of the Indian vii
lagos, charter canoe, and, propelled b,
sturdy, practiced, aboriginal arms, foa
safely down the terribly swift and dan
gerpus Fraser, pass Yale without stop
ping at it, and paddle on, on to th'
capital itself. Courage! All yet wa:
safe.
When the footsore traveller had reached
a part where the road turned corner, HI
looked back at the house, lying now a
the distance or some few hundred yards
A figure stood at the door, and plainl,
to be seen behind it were other figure
gathering on the threshold. Was i
Choate, and was he organizing chas
after the supposed fugitive from justice
and WIS the "honest miner" boiling owe
with virtuous Indignation, mingled witt
the natural disappointment at the pros
pect of felon escaping the gentle anne
mites of Lynch law, or were he and thos'
with him simply bidding their host fare
well? Who could tell? Not Hugh. II
turned the corner, and at once hi
shambling gait changed into a swif
run.
l Now running, now walking, now limI
ing painfully, he never stopped till b
had put several miles between himse|
and that wayside house, and till one {
his dilapidated boots had left his foot Ell
tirely. He stopped to gather up th
poor remains, and, still haunted by th
idea that he was followed, retired, spit
of snakes OR grizzlies, well within tn
bush again to bind up the feathers as be-
; he could. The old handkerchief ha
quite given out, but a few long striI
; torn from his blanket by the al
of his knife proved far more e
ficient protection against the to
lures of stony road or thorny brake, an
he was soon ready to start again.
fro BE CONTINUED
What Mr.. Gladstone is reported
have said to Figaro reporter eoncerl
=