Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-01-31
Tried for His Life;
WITHIN THE SHADOW Or THB
SCAFFOLD.
By MAJOR JAMES FRANKLIN FITS.

CHAELEh "
A HIDDEN PLOT.
Mr.. Ryder was at first perfectly dis
mayed by the calamity that appeared to
be impending. He lost all presence of
mind, and gazed bIankly at the shut par
Tor door.
The rustics sat and stood about, not ex-
actly compromising the situation, but
knowing, from what they had heard and
seen, that sOmethin serious was afoOt.
The sailor rose and buttoned up his
coat.
Goodnight to you all, shipmates, he
said. IT'S high time was back to the
boat"
The landlord rushed up to him and
seized him by the arm.
4 beg of you not to goat least not
just yet-Mr. - Mr.. -"
Call me Ben Burton, if you want
name"
Don't go at present, Mr. Burton
There's hot blood, and cause for fight in
20, gammOnl" laughed the sailor;
they'll Jaw awhile and never hurt each
other. If they should, I'm not a peace
officer. What business have to med
dle?"
Il want your help, Mr.. Burton. You
are a seaman IN his Majesty's service,
and have courage. don't lack it myself,
at a pinch, when it's needful; but there's
nobody here I can depend on but you.
These fellows are the poorest kind of
sticks"
why, Lord love you, man, what's all
this TODD about? NObOdy's hurt yet, nor
likely to be-"
You don't know, Ryder energetically
answered. You don't understand that
the two men in there are mortal enemies;
one OF them on his way to marry the
barOnet's daughter tomorrow night
the other, her desperate and reckless re-
jected sutton. You didn't know that?"
yes, L knew it; I learned that much
from the talk I've heard; but it don't
worry me much. I've seen young fellows
quaueling over q girl before, and nothing
worse ever happened than a black eye.
Don't you get excited without cause, old
man.
Il beg you to stay only fifteen minutes,
Mr.. Burtonl Something tells me that
you'll be needed here. My wife and chill
dren are in the other part of the house.
I don't want them disturbed-and can't
suffer the injury to my business and to
the good name of the Red Lion that
would be sure to come from bloodshed,
or worse"
"Bother!" replied the seaman, grufiy,
with his hand on the door latch. Some
thing tells me that I'd better get back,
hOt-fOOt, to the place where I left the
boat; and there's a kind of a whisper in
the ear of Ben Burton that, if he makes
Captain AtWel1 wait half a minute for
him, therell be one able seaman on the
Hero on half-allowance for the next ten
days. So, gOOd-by and good luck to
you, landlOrd-and you, lubbers all.
He went out and closed the door be-
hind him.
Mr.. Ryder looked the picture of woe
and apprehension. He walked up and
down the tap, wringing his hands.
What shall dor" he exclaimed.
What shall 1 do?"
The country fellows had no sugges-
10 Eaf 17711 41vr
cOmprehended yet what was threatened.
A sound came from the parlor. At first
it was barely audible; it was like voices
in conversation.
The sound rose higher. No words could
be distinguished; but the voices were
clearly pitched in a higher key. One fol
lowed the other; then both were raised
together In angry speech.
The landlord walked up to the door.
He knocked upon it. No notice was taken
of him.
The uproar of noisy dispute broke out
afresh. Again Mr.. Ryder pounded upon
the door.
Gentlemen, forbeari" he cried. do
no violence! In the Kings name keep
the peace!"
words. A clap of thunder at that moment
would hardly have disturbed the two in
side.
Reluctant to intrude, but fearful OF
what might happen, the landlord lifted
the latch Of the parlor door.
The door refused to yield to his pres
sure. It was bOlted on the inside.
The voices now rose so high that Ry-
der and even the idlers back in the tap
could distinguish the words.
Il never did! 1t is falsei I say never
did"
@Do you say SO? Then you are a liar,
as we'll as a black-hearted viIlain!"
Poor foOll pass by your insults; you
are beneath my contempt"
scufie was plainly heard-the crash
of overturned furnitUre-Oaths and ex-
clamations-ending with heavy fall
Then there was silence
The old soldierly spirit of Richard Ry-
der was aroused. The emergency called
him instantly to action. He snatched uE
the heavy iron poker from the chimney.
side and called to the lOungers to follow
him.
Come On!" he cried. There's murder
being done in there. We can get to then
by the back door up from the beach.
He sprang to the door leading out from
the tap room to the front Of the house