The Red Cloud chief., 1881-07-07
the others; and they went out

How did you get that wound,
friend?' asked the landlord, curiously.
"a falling bough in the storm last
night" was the answer, carelessly.
II did not think it was SO severe a cut
30 much to do to manage my horse. [
hardly gave it a thought"
Where might you be from, STRIP,
continued the landlord, not exactly sat
isiied.
Knight be from any quarter Of the
world you choose" said the stranger;
and if l told you from England, /
don't know that it would make YOU any
wiser. Don't begin to catechise 4 tired
man. III L pay my way, that's all you
need wish Of me-"
"Hnmphn grunted the landlord, as
he ordered a table ready for lis bluff
visitor. I'm not sure that this fellow
amt a rough customer and a suspicious
character. I'll keep an eye on him.
While the stranger was at breakfast.
those who had been To inspect the horse
reasserted that it was no other than
Amos Dunbar's mare: and, whispering
TO the landlord about it, they agreed to
ask the stranger how she came into his
possession as soon as he had finished
his meal.
HE had a heap of money about him
when he went away, yesterday" said
the ~innkeeper, shaking his head in a
sinister manner.
"Look he.c, stranger said one of
the villagers. rs he rose from the table
and came forth, "ain't that same Dun
bars mare, that you rid here"
81 don't know him. Why do you
ask?" said the stranger frown;ng at
what he considered village imperti-
hence.
"But we know his mare; and that's
her, sure as snakes. He left here,
where he lives, yes'd'y forenoon on her
back, and you must have met him, else
how come you by his korse?"
"l have ridden her about two hun
dred miles, and Sd she couldn't well
have been here yesterday" replied the
stranger, vexed ut the suspicious
chances which were cast upon him, and
attributing them to the insolence which
a soiled exterior sometimes invites
from the low-minded.
Without staying to hear their re-
plies, he turned his back suddenly
upon them, and proceeded to the barn,
where he took from the saddle "A large
leathern pocket book, and, concealing
it about his person., returned to the
house.
81 had forgotten that he reflected.
Without money ! might indeed give
cause for Suspicion"
A boy in the barn had noticed this
act, and, hearing that the nan was a
told the landlord.
Suspicion now increased against the
stranger. Why didn't he tell a straight
story? Why did h. fa!sify about the
mare? Why was he SO close minded?
Amos Dunbar was widely known AS n
wealthy man, and his favorite mare.
julie, was equally well known in the
village. He had ridden away with her
the day before, with a large sum of
money. Now, a stranger had come
back with her, pretending moi to have
seen him. What did all this mean?
The landlord sem at nee for Mrs.
Dunbar, who came in great haste and
anguish, identified the mare, even the
Ndtlllc- d1u ho" lDliCd III Az paiiiAua
belief that the traveller had muraercd
her husband for his money, and fed
upon his beast, not deeming that he
was coming 10 the very place where
he would be must easily detected.
The ire of the people at the tavern
WIS aroused, and they again confront
cd the stranger. having procured a
constable, and TO his dire alarm, the
mare having been brough: from the
| stable. he was told to consider himself
under arrest, unless he could give 4
satisfactory explanation of the mystery.
The presence of Mrs. Dunbar added
solemnity to the inquest. But the
strangers Indignation still oyermastcr-
ed his alarm.
"The mare was hired by me in the
city, which is over two hundred miles
away. | have ridden her night and day
since then, only stopping for a few
hours rest and refreshment, and intend
to do so until i reach b, whittier
important business urges me TO this
haste. More C have no right to
know, and more l will not answer, un-
less compelled in due form by those
who have a right To question me-"
SURELY. | ought to know my own
horse, which was brought up By us
from a foal,'' exclaimed Mrs. Dunbar,
petting the animal a~acctionatcly. while
tears Of apprehension rolled down her
face.
Madam said the stranger, in 4
more soothing tone, "you are certain
ly mistaken in the identity of the AMI
NAL. have ridden her, as L say, for
more than"
Don't lie any more!" roughly inter
rupted the landlord. Murder will
out, and YOU might as well tell the truth
first as last. For"
He was in turn interrupted by q saw
age spring. which the stranger at that
moment made toward him. to avcnge
the insult of being called 4 liar; and
had not others-luckily for the rash
ost-quickly interposed, he would
have paid a severe penalty for his rash
ness.
Hold him! He is getting desperate
nowr' cried the equally enraged host.
Hell have to swing vet, I'll be bound.
Why don't you search him? He has
been seen to take u pocketbook from
the Sauule.
Where my husband always keeps il
! when he rides far" said Mrs. Dunbar.
You need not search met IS
mine,"" insisted the stranger, instinct
lively endeavoring to prevent the indig-
nifty.
"Oh! but there is need!" said the
Constable. III it's yours, you'll get il
again. and here it is" he added, draw
ing it from beneath the shirt bosom of
the suspected man. Mrs. Dunbar, Go
You know that pocket-book?"
She opened it and disclosed a pile OF
bank notes. her husbands name written
on the inside. and papers which could
belong to no n but him.
Proof positiver" said everybody;
and their looks of horror were equaled
BY those of the stranger. who was evil
IDENTIFY confounded. He trembled now;
but. partially recovering himself, he
said:
II know not how it came. l had a
pocket book like that" and lifting up
his hands. he added: And Icall on"
Don't blaspheme, sir; don't commit
any more sin; you can't deceive us.
You must now"
An ,~o~nooJ Inflammation ~1-.-