Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-02-05

held, have given MIN nOtlce 10 quit,
and went into, Moate yesterday to con-
suit my attorney as to what compensa-
ton was obliged to pay under the
Irish Land Act. got this the day be-
fore. am not personally much afraid
of the fellows; but it is very annoying ;
and am always on thorns lest one of
those letters should reach my wife; it
would almost brighten her. to death,
fancy
"s You met with no interruption 60
ing into Moate, SUPPOSED said l.
"'No; but took my precautions. 1
got policeman on my car and drove in
by roundabout route. 1t isn't pleas
ant way of doing things, is it?'
81 quite agreed with Mr.. M. that it was
not, and expressed my surprise that the
author of the letter could not be brought
to justice. SEES - -
"'You don't know the Irish, Mr.. Ell
lerslie. There is not a soul about here
who would not swear black was white
rather than be the means of convicting
a neighbor. You know yourself how
completely the police system failed over
SO daring an offense as the murder of
the late Lord Leitrim. With such peo-
pie as witnesses and jury, what is to be
done? For my own part, I have no
doubt that Mr.. Pat Higgins himself
wrote the letter but hunting up evidence
would be hopeless
ga sudden thought struck me. had
seen that the last few words of the
document were lighter in color, as if
. they had been blotted. If so, would
there not remain an impression on the
blotting paper?
81 don't know what evil spirit took
possession of me at this juncture, unless
I own it with contrition-it were that
of inordinate sef-conceit. Should I be
able to get enough evidence myself, 1
should certainly derive much credit for
sagacity, and have an excellent story
for my friends in England on my return.
With this end in view said nothing Of
my happy thought, determined to work
it out myself.
"Next morning, having found out the
locality of Higgins's cottage from Cor
mack, I went to make call there. The
arrived there was wrinkled old woman
sitting on a three-legged stool and smok-
ing a black clay pipe. She looked at
me suspiciously, but her native hospi-
tally forbade her to refuse me seat.
For the first time felt some qualms OF
conscience at the character of my errand,
but these were speedily dissipated by
the sight, in the corner of the large open
hearth, of the very thing L was seeking
"a piece of dirty blotting-paper
crumpled up into ball. To be sure
there was no telling how long the paper
might have laid there, still felt a con-
viction that it was the object of my
search.
"The devices to which 1 resorted to
get possession of that mute piece OF
evidence were worthy of detective
policeman. I unanswered my chair
closer to it under pretense of feeling a
draught, though with the unpleasant
consciousness that the old woman did
not believe me. Fortune, however,
favored me at last in the shape of a
fierce contest between an old SOW and a
dog just outside of the door, which made
the crone hobble out briskly to separate
the combatants. She was not gone long,
but L had plenty of time during her alb
sence to secrete the paper. AS soon as
I decently could afterward I took my
leave.
"The moment was out of sight of
the door I opened my prize, and found
it to be what I hoped-a fairly good in
verified copy of the threatening letter.
OF course the last words were the most
distinct, but on the whole it was a very
pretty piece of prima facia evidence
against Mr.. Pat Higgins.
81 presented the paper to Mr.. NJ,
who praised my sagacity and thanked
me warmly for my exertions in his be-
half. That same evening made de-
position before Magistrate who lived
near by, and, much to his surprise,
Higgins was arrested.
"Now l come to the unlucky portion
of my story. How my share in the fore
going proceedings got about 1 don't
know, but day or two after this found
a great change in Cormack's manner
toward me. Hitherto he had been hos
pitality itself; now he seemed anxious
to get me to leave his house, though he
was as studiously polite in hiding his
wishes as the most finished gentleman
could have been. Of course, however,
could not stop longer with man who
was tired of me, and I signifed to him
accordingly my attention of leaving
him. He appeared to me somewhat re-
lieved by the news.
az dined at Mr.. Ms the night before
my departure, after farewell game of