American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-01-31


locality of Higgins's cottage from Cor
mack, | went to make a call there. The
sole occupant of the tenement when |
arrived there was wrinkled old woman
sitting on 4 three-legged stool and smok-
ing black clay pipe. She looked at
me suspiciously, but her native hospi-
tally forbade her to refuse me n 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 | was seeking
IA 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 con-
viction that it was the object of my
search.
1.-The devices to which | resorted to
! get possession of that mute piece of
evidence were worthy of detective
policeman. | 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 n
dog Just outside of the door, which made
the crone hobble out briskly to separate
the combatants. She was not gone long,
but had plenty of time during her alb
sencc to secrete the paper. As soon as
l decently could afterward l took my
leave.
The moment | was out of sight of
the door opened my prize, and found
it to be what 1 hoped-a fairly good in
verted 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.. M,
who praised my sagacity and thanked
me warmly for my eXertions in his be-
half. That same evening made a de-
position before Magistrate who lived
near by, and, much to his surprise,
Higgins was arrested.
"Now come to the unlucky portion
of my story. Howmy share in the fore
going proceedings got about l don't
know, but a 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
oa,,lI har
1 could not stop longer with a man who
was tired of me, and 1 signified to him
accordingly my attention of leaving
him. He appeared to me somewhat re-
lieved by the news.
81 dined at Mr.. Ms the night before
my departure. after a farewell game of
tennis with the ladies', and did not leave
the house till nearly dusk. AS 1 was
walking back to Cormack's l noticed
footsteps behind me, and looking
round, saw that was followed by a
small body of men all armed with
sticks. Not wishing them to come up
with me l quickened my pace little.
They did the same, and closed on me
somewhat.
81 had to pass a sharp town on the
road. Just as l neared the hedge, and
for the moment lost sight of my follow
ers, saw a woman on the other side
close to me. Leaning forward, she said,
eagerly, Run for yer life, sir; its you
they're AFTER Before 1 could reply she
had sunk down behind the hedge again
as my pursuers came in sight.
/ hope, if ever there be any chance of
holding my own, that l shall not be
found ready to run away; but when fol-
lowed by dozen men with sticks it is
about the only thing that can be done,
so trust l may be pardoned for taking
to my heels.
1.-The men instantly followed at full
speed, and for time the pace was hot;
but having still my tennis shoes on, and
being naturally swift of foot, 1 soon dis
tanced 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 60
ing to happen. With mutttered oath
he seized me by the arm and hurried me |
through the house and into the yard at
the back. There was a rick of turf there |
which had that day been opened, leav-
ing a small aperture in the smooth con-
tinuity of its rows.
Get in there, SIR said Cormack,
'and you, Pat addressing his son who
was working in the yard when we en-
tered), build up the clamp again, while
| go and lock the door. An if ye tell
the boys where the gentleman is, ye're
no son of mine
"The case was not one which admit
ted of parleying. 1 got into the rick, and
Pat built up the outside turf with mar
velous celebrity. There was room enough
for air and sound to enter through the
nterstices between the sods, but the
dust nearly choked me. However, l
was glad enough of even that refuge
when heard the storm of curses that
broke from my pursners, as, having at
ength burst open the door, they poured
nto the yard.
go So help me God!' 1 could hear
Cormack saying, Il let him out at the
back door, boys. Was to let the gen
.Ieman he r,urdared in mo oxun bouSa