The true northerner., 1881-07-01

Dunbar, who came in great haste and
anguish, identified the mare, even the
saddle, and now joined in the painful
belief that the traveller had murdered
her husband for his money and fed up
on his beast, not deeming that he was
coming to the very place where he
would be most easily detected.
The ire of the people at the tavern was
aroused, and they again confronted the
stranger, having procured constable,
and, to his dire alarm, the mare having
been brought from the stable, he was
told TO consider himself under crrest un-
less he could give salts actory ex-
planaton of the mystery. The presence
of Mrs. Dunbar added solemnity to the
inquest. But the strangers Indignation
still 9vermastered his alarm.
"The mare was hired 10y me in the
city, which is over 200 miles away L
have ridden her night and day since
then, only stopping for few hours rest
aud refreshment, and intend to do so
until reach B.. whittier important
business urges me to this haste. More
you have no right to know, and more L
will not answer, unless compelled IN due
form by those who have right to ques-
tion me"
"Surely I ought to know my own
horse, which was brought up by US from
q toal - exclaimed Mrs. Dunbar, pet
ting the animal affectionately. while
tears Of apprehension rolled down her
face.
MADAM" said the stranger, in q
more soothing tone, "you are certainly
mistaken in the identity OF the animal.
l 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 we'll tell the truth first
as last. For"
He was in turn interrupted by saw
age spring, which the stranger at that
moment made toward him, to avenge
the insult of being called liar; and,
had not others-luckily for the rash
host-quickly interposed, he would have
paid a severe penalty for his rashness.
"Hold him! He is getting desperate
now cried the enraged host. He'll
have to swing yet, I'll be bound. Why
don't you search him? He has been
die !"
"Where my husband always keeps it
when he rides far" said Mrs. Dunbar.
"You need not search met is mine,"
insisted the stranger, instinctively en-
deavoring to prevent the indignity.
ooh, but there is need p" said the
constable. eff it's yours, you'll get it
again; and-here it is, )" he added, draw
ing it from beneath the shirt-bosom of
the suspected man. "Mrs Dunbar, do
you know that pocketbook ?"
She opened it and disclosed pile of
bank notes, her husbands name written
on the inside, and papers which could
belong to no one but him.
Proof positive said everybody
and their looks of horror were equaled
by those of the stranger, who was evi-
IDENTIFY confounded. He trembled now
but. partially recovering himself, he
said:
- know not how it came. I had
pocket-book like that" and, lifting up
his hands, lie added, "and call on"
"Don't blaspheme, sir don't commit
any more sin; you can't deceive us.
You must now"
An unexpected interruption forever
cut short what might have been very
majestic sentence from the constable
Il
situation and stung to ferocity by the
behavior of his interrogators, with the
quickness of light knocked down two
who stood in his way, and i'll another in
slant bounded upon the marc. who was
standing handily at his side, and, put
ting her to the top of her speed, before
any could interpose, he shook defiant
fist back at them as he rode, and was
soon out of sight, disappearing over the
hill i'll thes direction from which he had
come in the early morning.
"Confound the luck he muttered,
as the fleet mare Sped 81 had no
mind to be imprisoned, and had rather
clear myself to save time. 1 fancy how
it is. My horse is lost. will try to
get back to Messy Brook and find her.
Or, perhaps, this may be her, and the
wrono saddle was pnt upon her by the
bungling hostler. Yet how two mares
could look so much alike, or two pock-
et-books, Or. Deuce take it if 1 get
back, the mystery may be cleared up by
the owner of the other horse-if there is
another horse. By Jupiter they are
coming |"
Two or three horsemen were in hot
pursuit, though still a mile behind, yet
mounted on fresh horses. and were fast
lessening the distance between them and
the fugitive.
As he descended hill, the sight of a
wood had almost induced him to dis
mount and seek its shelter afoot. when,
coming fast in the opposite direction, he
saw another mounted traveller.
Soon they were abreast of each other,
and, at the instant, both reined in and
dismounted. Their mutual glance ex-
planned the uncomfortable problem.
The horses were almost precisely
alike is shape, color, size, ETC., save that
one had but two white feet, the other
four.
my name is Amos Dunbar !" ex-
claimed that individual. smiling and ex-
tending his hand. No explanation IS
needed sir the hostler was half drunk
and acknowledged that he made the
bungle. Here Is your pocket-book, he
added, delivering it. "Tbat, too, is
like mine, and was placed where l
D..S n