The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-12-22
NUMBER 43.

AOSh thSiS1 anu iudlly lSTTIDI6 SXper~
fences the people thereabouts have
had with the creatures. Why, it was
only two years ago that Donald Stu
arts daughter was attacked on VuI-
ture's Nest by two of the vile crea-
lures, and before help could reach
her she was so terribly torn about
the face as to be disfigured for life.
It's never safe to venture up there
unarmed, for even yet"
A piercing shrek, followed by an
other and another, here rent the air,
and the three men simultaneously
started to their feet. Once more that
terrible cry for help rang out.
my God !" shouted Mcleod.
"Laura's voice The Vulture's
Nest ~
With blanched faces the men hur-
riedly grasped their rifles and dashed
off toward the spot whence the cries
seemed to come. Suddenly, as they
issued from the thick undergrowth,
a terrible sight burst upon them. Far
above, on an overhanging rock, her
figure clearly outlined against back.
ground of azure, anguish depicted in
every line of her face stood Laura
Mcleod, while above her circled an
immense vulture, the uncanny neck
outstretched and the small eyes
sparkling with greedy expectation.
The men stood speIlbound, and
then, with shout, Chester led the
way up the incline, his eyes fixed on
the girl he had learned to love so
well. At that very moment the mon
ster ceased circling about its victim
and prepared for attack. just as it
poised itself for the last fatal swoop,
the sharp report of rifle rang out
on the still air, and the creature fell
dead at the feet of its intended VIC
tim.
The next moment man emerged
from the shrubbery near by, with a
rifle, still smoking, trailing after him.
He ran TO the now PROSTATE girl and
kneeling beside her, chafed her hands
and held to her lips a small flask.
Chester and his two companions, d,
breathess and speechless, reached the
spot where Laura lay.
"How can thank you. sir? You
have saveu my darling's life," cried
Mr.. Mcleod" sobbing with joy.
Laura soon returned to conscious
ness, and Chester explained to her
excitement that followed her strange
savior was entirely forgotten. When,
however they had regained calmness,
they found that he had disappeared
as silently as he had come. They
searched the surrounding ground for
some trace of him, but without avail.
1t is needless to state that no more
sketching was INDUCED in that day.
One evening, week after the ad-
venture on Vulture's Nest, our
frten Is were al! congregated in the
drawing room at Bonnie Park when
a servant made his appearance with
the announcement that a man had
called and desired to see Mr.. Mcleod.
The old gentleman Immediately rose
and followed Benjamin out of the
room. Soon his voice was heard in
the hall extending a heaty welcome
to his visitor, and the next moment
he re-entered the room arm in arm
with none other than their elusive
friend of the Vulture's Nest accident.
He was remarkable looking man,
tall and erect in carriage. with a sad,
handsome face. golden brown beard
and deep blue, penetrating eyes.
Laura thanked him with her own
sweet simplicity, and Chester and
Mcleod were loud in praise Of his
coolness and bravery. Hal stood a
little aloff from the group and con-
centrated his gaze on its central fig
ure. For him the stranger had an
ineXpicable fascination.
After they had thanked him to
their hearts content the stranger
made known the object of his visit.
He had found locket on the scene
of the encounter and thinking one of
the party must have lost it took the
first opportunity to return the trinket
"a small odly-shaped affair, on see-
ing which Hal exclaimed
my locket You have made me
your debtor, sir, for prize this trim
ket very highly. 1t was gift from
my father to my mother before l was
born"
The stranger started slightly and a
death-like pallor overspread his face.
"Would you have any objection to
my seeing the interior of that
locket?"
Hal looked surprised. but silently
opened the trinket and presented it
to the stranger. The latter gave q