, 1882-09-29
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81 oll' 'OulNl Ncll nave DCcu mere
yesterday" replied the stranger, vexed
at the suspicious gances which we're cast
upon him, and attributng them to the
insolence which solid exterior some.
times invites from the lOw-minded.
Without staying to hear their replies,
he turned his back suddenly upon them
and proceeded to the barn, where he
took from the stddle large leathern
pockct.book, and, concealing it about
his person, returned to- the house.
II had forgotten that" he reflected.
Without money | might indeed give
cause for suspicion"
A boy i'll the barn had noticed this
act, and, hearing that the man was
suspected horse thief, he ran in and told
the landlord.
Suspicion now increased against the
stranger. Why didn't he tell straight
story? Where did he get the wound on
his head? Why did he fals,ty about the
mare? Why was he 30 close minded? &?
Amos Dunbar was widely known as a
wealthy man, and his favorite mare,
julie, was equally well known to the vii
Iage. He had ridden away with her the
day before, with large sum of money.
Now, u stranger had come back with
her, pretending not to have seen him.
What did nll this mean?
The landlord sent ut once for Mrs.
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 fled up
on his beast, not deeming that he was
coming to the very place where he
would he most essily 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 arrest un-
less he could give salts actory ex-
PLANTATION OF the mystery. The presence
of Mrs. Dunbar added solemnity TO the
inquest. But the strangers indignation
still overmastered his alarm.
"The mare was hired ny me in the
city, which is over 20O miles away. I
have ridden her night and day since
then, only stopping for few hours rest
and refreshmen', and intend to do SO
until l reach b, whittier important
business urges me to thi, haste. More
you have no right to know, and more |
will not answer, nnless 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
a toal y exclaimed Mr.. Dunbar, pet
ting the animal affectionately, while
tears OF apprehension rolled down her
face. ..
"Madam," said the stranger, in a
more soothing tone, lyon are certainly
mistaken in the identity of the animal.
l have ridden her, as l say, for moro
than"
Don't lie any more y roughly inter.
rupted the landlord. "Murtler will out,
and you might Us well tell the truth first
RS last. For" ....
He was in turn interrupted by saw
age spring, which the stranger at that
moment made toward him, to ayenge
the insult of being called q liar; and,
had not cthers--luckily for the rash
lrcst-9uickly interp' would have
pei severe penalty /. his rashness.
"Hold him He is getting desperate
n.w," cried the enraged host. "He'h
have to swing yet, I'll be bound. Why
acat You search himp He has been
toen TO take pocket-bcok from the sad
die !" ".
"Where nv husband always keeps it
when he rides far" said Mrs. Dunbar.
"You need not search met is mine, I"
insisted the stranger, instinctively en-
deavoring to prevent the indignity.
"Oh, but there is need 4" said the
constable. "If 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 pocket-book ?"
She openel it and disclosed pile OF
bank notes. heI husbands name written
on the inside, aad papers which could
belong to no one but him.
"Proof positive !" said everybody /;
and their )oois of horror we're equ"ied
by those OF the stranger, who was oVi-
IDENTIFY confonnded. He trembled now (;
Dut, partlaily recovering hlnSei, ho
said:
"I know not now it came. l had q
pocket-book like that" and, lifting up
his hands, lie added, "and I 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.
For the accused man, desperate ~ his
situation and stung TO ferocity by the
behavior of his interrogators, with the
quickness Of light knocked down two
who stood i'll his way, aud N another in
slant bounded upon the mare. 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
81, Lao ho,l