The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-07-26

Hang il" said Jim, " didn't he say that he vas not afraid of anythingT
 q said that was not afraid of mar" ]" exclaimed the editor, blushing deeply. Confound it, anybodyis afraid of dog. Show me a man that can make my hair rise, if you please p
 "I simply misunderstood you, Felix. l thought that dogs were included in your declaration that you were not afraid of anything. Suppose we drop the sub ject. I'm tired"
 CHAPTER II.
 Late at night MT. Felix Blankenship sat in his editorial room writing an article on the decline of English fiction. Sew eral weeks had passed since his affair with the dog, and his nerves were in good condition. He had jast called Wilkie Collins Severish plotter, when a light tap on the door startled him.
 @Come inn
 A rather tall man, with gray hair and grizzly whiskers entered, closed the door, locked it. took out the key, and then, with a courteous bow, seated himself on stool near the editors table. He turned his eyes, wild in expression, oa the literary man and said ]:
 4So have found you?'
 Felix saw long knife gleaming in the folds of the visitors waistcoat, and was so alarmed that for time he could make no reply. Finally he gasped:
 "Who ar. you?"
 @This will explain" said the man throwing a newspaper cutting on the table. The editor took it up nervously and read the following "The Leeds, (Ehg.) Meyesyy says that Dan Snortmore, the famous lunatic has escaped, and that when last heard of he had sailed for Amer ica. An attempt was made to recapture him, but when the vessel was searched by detectives at Queenstown, no trace of the runaway could be found"
 !" don't understand" said the editor.
 Probably net" the visitor replied. "ln England am called lunatic, but the truth is, l am leveler of grades. am the man who killed the Czar of Rus sia-of all the Russias, by the internal crater of vesuvius," and drawing his long knife he hacked the table. "The news- papers said that he was killed by bomb. The spelling was incorrect They should have said that he was killed by bum. That's me. Several months ago, by some means secured a copy of your paper. It was an impotent looking sheet, but to me it conveyed a power of expression. It told me the name of the next victim, and vowing that 1 would escape and seek you, lived in an atmosphere of contem- plation until suddenly burst into free dom and ran away. You may wonder why have come such distance to kill you, a man whose footfalls have never resounded throughout the country, and you may look upon the performance as an insane freak instead of careful piece of executive work. However, any man has a right to banquet or otherwise enter tain his own opinion. knew you pretty well, sir. You are secret supporter of the prince ofWales. Your greatest desire is to sec him crowned, when, in accor- dance with a nefarious agreement, you will proceed to accept an under-secretary- ship. Then you will have fully entered upon your work of oppression. That should have so pc rfectly solved this prob lem no doubt seems strange to you, but when this knife has executed its laudable commission, the mystery will no longer perplex you"
 Mir. Blankenship sa:, with open mouth and wildly staring eyes. Alone, with a madnan, without a weapon of defense. Outcry would be useless escape was inn possible; strategy doubtful
 "I am disposed to be lenient." said the murderous visitor, drawing the knife across his coat sleeve. will first cut of your ears and hang your scalp on your nose, or will kill you at once without these preliminaries. Which do you pre- fer? ?"
 The editor groaned.
 "Ah, see that you have no choice We'll, l will first cut of your ears."
 4 ~ Mir. Blankenship, sinking on his knees.
 "I am not bloodthirsty," continued the madman, "and by agreeing to one condition, your life may be spared.r
 MT. Blankenship begged him to name the condition.
 .Write what dictate. Ready? All right hereby swear that l will never again associate with the prince of Wales, sA Il