Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-07-21
CHAPTER Y.

ecOrc0lDR sun anu uuSt Dy DAY ana etlnlng
air at night made the most wearisome he
thought he had ever travelled, arrived at
Veaneville, the town where he was to
take the stage coach for Deadman's Flat,
about two hours after ii had started on its
weekly journey to that place. The pros
pect OF spending week at Venneville,
apart from the delay in fulfilling the OBJ
ject of his journey, was too intolerable to
be entertained for moment. Farther
progress, however, seemed difficult until
he fell in with party Of men who were
travelling in search OF ''luck," and then
he found the Journey as pleasant az he had
anticipated. The outdoor life, the frank
cordiality of his companions-whow while
they tacitly owned him their superior in
birth and education, yet treated him with
the honest independence Of their class
made the time pass most epjoyabIy, and
he felt quiet sorry, when he parted from
them some miles east of Deadman's Flat,
to push on alone, they making their way
farther south.
He entered Deadman's Flat about sun
set, when there was apparently considera-
bly, excitement prevailing in the long,
struggling High street. Red shirted
miners were lounging or strolliDg about;
gaudily dressed or slattenly woman were
snrilly discussing some event at their cab
| in doors, while the children were scamp
ering to and fro, getting into everybody's
way. The excitement was so great that
even Jack Newenhsm did not arouse mucn
curiosity as he passed up the street. Al
ter ina uiring of man standing at the door
of his store, ne made his way towards the
''Red Unicorn" as being the only place
where he could get food and accommoda-
ton for the night.
As he reached the square he came upon
q group of men who had just left the * ID
Unicorn" They were the committee men
who bad been elected to try the case OF
Tom Cairnes' murder. Among the papers
that had been searched during the inquiry,
10 find some clew to his enemy, one had
been overlooked. 1t bad been discovered
that afternoon, and it gave another turn
to the affair, By proving that MS enemy
was not townsman OF theirs. inns ois-
covery was ell the more important, because
il led to the acquital OF man who, 10 the
JEALOUS and unwise haste uf one OF the COM
mittee men, had been arrested. Nov as
this man was popular among his fellow
townsmen, his arrest had caused much Ill
feeling towards the unfortunate commit
tea man who had suggested his guilt. The
other members were all eager to make some
stonement for their luckless colleague's
blunder, snd they were Tarmly-not to
saw noisily-discussiDg the case, when
Newenham passed them. OVerhesring
Ia ho ptnnnod hPtQrA
them as they stood there, looking an excit-
ed and rather wild group OF men In the
dusk of the evening.
'sWhat is that you are ssying?' he ask
ed. SIS that scOundral Tom Cairnes
deai?'
1t was perhaps an unfortunate way OF
putting the question; but Jack Newenham,
tired. hungry, disgusted, was not IN the
mood to act cautiously.
There was q murmer ofdisspproval from
the men.
Look hyar, young man." growled the
possessor of a remarkably forbiGding
countensnce-''a man that kin call muir
dered man names among his friends don t
alters find his company pleasin'"
Murdered Is that what you call 1t?
A righteous fate, should say 1t was too
see him that I came here: and l don't
mind telling you that it IS ten to one that
I should have put bullet drought him
myself at the end of the interview"
The tempers of the committee men hav-
ing been imhsmed by zsal for justice and
the copious draughs of whisky necessary
to make up for the dryness of that alter
poon's proceedings and being further irrat-
ed by their late failure, they were not in
the frame of mind to bear patiently this
outburst of anger from total stranger.
Tney felt to a man that the honor of Dead
mans Flat was being outraged In their
persons.
.Justice is not to be trsmpled upon,
sorr!' said one, with as much dignity as
strong Irish brogue and most unsteadily
balanced frame would permit. Our late
6epoirtsd and much esteemed townsman
was kilt by his murderer, whom justice
seeks He shall die the death OF dog
when he is found"
"Pity that sny decent man should swing
for such brute" returned the young En-
olisbman carelessly. He began to see
that his position was slightly insecure,
and in consequence became more
doematic and daring. "Only set OF
duffsrs would convict him, to begin with.
This touched the committeeman on their
sorest spot.
"Sorr.n cried the Irishman, whose posi-
ton as spokesman was upheld by grunts
and prowls on the part of the others, You
snake loike a toirant of the toirannical
race We come from What is England but
q trsmplin', murdherin' country entoirely
And YOU. sorr-with shame let it be spoke
are blayguard"
Toe speaker wound up his speech with
so much energy that his body swayed for
ward, and was brought into sharp contact
with Newenham, who, without waiting to
see whether the bow might not have been
accidental, hit out straight from the shoul-
der. and down went the grandiloquent
Irishman fat upon the ground. His body
was forgotten in the conflict that ensued,
for the sight of their fellow committeeman
dropping down like log before the slen-
der, dandy looking aristocrat was more
than they could bear quietly and with one
accord they fell upon him to avenge the
csuselof outraged law and order.
There was fierce, sharp struggle. New
enham, with one arm hitting out at every
head that came conveniently within reach,
aud parrying a perfect storm of savage
blows with the other, though fighting
with all the pluck and dash of race that
has never yet owned itself beaten, could
not have supported the unequal contest
another minute, when suddenly new ele-
ment mingled with the fray. This was
apparently friendly to the young
Euglishmsn; for in an unex-
pscted moment he found himself sup
ported by two men, one of whom, as he
dealt out blows Unfortunately, hsr-
anpued the committee men, in rough,
broad accent. as set of bullying, coward
ly ruffiaus. The other said nothing; but
NeWenham perceived that his blows were