Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-01-07

lall. | told You was alone. pledS
YOU my word of honor no one is with me
or near ne, nor knows that | am here.
came to speak to You and to see you en-
1 tirely alone You afraid of on
< man?'
He did not hesitate now; but, gong t.
the door, unbarred and unbolted it, an,
| throwing it wide open with an air OF OF
Tended dignity, he said, -
! walk in, sir, walk in, if that's the wa!
You talk,-walk in and welcome yor
shall never say / hindered you ); aud h'
strode on before me into the kitchen ol
living room, pushing that door also M
wide as it could be opened.
gave nv horse to boy to hold, wht
came out at the same moment, and fol
lowed nv conductor in. felt very much
as if L was walking into lions den bu,
there was no help for it now, so | deter
mined to make the best of it.
The room into which he led Inc pre-
sented rather singular scene. The fur
niture was of the meanest class but sit
ting at the fire were two men,-each'b be-
tween thirty and forty years of age
able, athletic fellows, and they did not
seem to welcomeme They also were i'll
their shirts and trousers, and their eyes
looked somewhat bleared and inlamed ;
but they were all perfectly sober They
stood up, however, as 1 entered, made a
slight obeisance, and stood quietly IN
their places Near them was young
woman. neat in her dress, and very good
looking, though perhaps somewhat care
worn. and apparently about twenty-three
years of age. She seemed frightened and
uneasy, not at me,-whom she scarcely
noticed, but at Mickey, off whom she
never for a moment took her eyes. Her
gaze was SO intense upon him, that
turned round from the others whom | was
going to address, and sitting down to
show that intended no personal violence,
faced Mickey himself A bright fire
was burning, and the rays of the morning
sun, which made their way through
narrow window, threw light over his en-
tire frame 1t was not common one.
His hair and whiskers were black, and n
dark stubble was on his chin and upper
lip, as of beard unshaven for day or
two. His neck was bare, and his shirt
sleeves were tucked up above his elbows,
revealing an arm like knotted rope.
His trousers were fastened by red hand
kerchief round his waist. He stood per-
fectly motionless, following me with his
eyes his arms were folded, and he lean
ed somewhat back, with n half-savage,
half-sneering smile upon his face. His
frame was very muscular he stood above
five feet eleven inches i'll height. He was
apparently in perfect health. but without
one bit on him save hard sinew and mus
Gle strung as tight as whip-cord Though
l was by no means n weak man at the
time, yet felt L could be no match for
such an antagonist in personal strug
gle and ms | looked at the man before
me, model of activity and strength,
with daring and almost insolent look in
the manner in which he threw back his
head, 1 thought had never seen finer
or bolder figure.
"You wish to speak to Inc, sir p
"Yes," said I,-"but who are these
men, and what are they doing here?"
I'VE were distilling poteen," returned
one of the men, would your honor like
to taste some?'
"No, thank YOU" | replied and dIaw-
ing my chair near the fire, | began to
chat.
They were civil enough, but seemed
think of their illegal proceedings. Nc
Key stood apart all the time, his arms
still folded, and the young woman watch
ing him intently. | suddenly addressed
him.
"And SO, Mickey, You are the terror of
the country, and no one dares take you?'
He made quick and uneasy move
ment as l said this, and cast a rapid
glance at the window.
"No one has taken me, he replied -
"but you said You wanted to speak to
me ?"
"Yes I wanted to ask you how you
expect all this to end. You owe five years
rent ; ynu VII f-~y --aethina--ara hear
YOU have sworn to shoot any one who at
0npts to arrest you"
He went over quietly to a great-coat
klich was hanging against the wall, and
turning the coat upon the peg on which
ng, exposed the large brass mounted
he of a orse-pistol projecting out of
pocket.
"Just So, said I,-''no wonder they
are afraid of you"
"You have pretty set of bailiffs to be
afraid of that" returned he,-and he
drew the pistol out, and l saw that 1t had
neither lock nor Darrel
"That's what l frightcn them with,
said he, Us he replaced the pistol in the
coat-pocket nd.laughed heartily, his re-
collection seeming to recur to some ride
ulous scene, which probably had passed.
The men laughed too, and so did 1 ; and
for the first time also the young woman
smiled, and seemed little more at ease.
"Oh, that's all very WE'LL" remarked,
rather put out of sorts, however. rs the
laugh was decidedly against me,-''but
you know well that you keep the whole
country at bay. and no one dares take
You,
The laughter left his face now. "And
,chy should they take me? or,-what |
think worse of,-why should they want
to take my little place? built the most
of this house myself, look at the gar
den there, y he continued, as he flung
open back door. Il have planted every
stick, and have raised every stone and
they hunt me now to give up my little
place. and l will never give it up but
with my life"
He was much excited, and breathed
very quickly,-not from speaking. but
from anger.
Never mind, Joe dear" urged the
young woman; "this gentleman doesn't
want to take it no one does"
Mickey was quiet again. .Will you
walk this way, sir? ? we had better speak
on this matter alone :" and without wait
ing for an answer he left the kitchen.
went past the hall door, and entered
room at the other end Of the house.
He held the door open for me to follow.
did SO and as l entered, he gave the
door peculiar slam after him, which
made me look at it attentively, and l saw
that the handle which turned the lock
was gone, and that when the door was
shut, no one could open the lock without
some square instrument to turn it. An
other glance thrown around the room
showed me that there was nothing IN 1t
but two chairs and small table, bed,
and beside the bed, a bill-hook, a most
formidable looking weapon, - leaning
against tho wall | took cafe to place
myself between him and the bill hook,
and we both sat down at the table.
THAT is your defender" | remarked,
pointing to the bill-hook.
at is, he briefly replied
He then opened drawer and took from
it petition or statement which he had
drawn up himself, intending to send it to
Lady Bath This he read with great en-
| phasis and unction 1t was not badly