Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-28

rsyoivs!! umph-ean the devil mean-no-
uneasy ms 9'0T he mutsa esa s ar IN
shadow Of dark thought fell upon his heart
but if the other ways fail then '-A
The cunning eyes looked wild, the blood lef
the fabby cheeks. and the man trembled SO tina
} he had to grasp the table to steady himself
MIR. Dalston was net man of any imaginati o,
and dreams never troubled him. He had entered
into contract with nature for eli hi hour,
sleep. and he grudged a minute given to idI,
fancies, but that night he could not escape from
the horror of nightmare. He haunted b,
the spectral image oil \ terrible tragedy Throu I'll
the portals and chambers of his brain tbert
went a man hunt, the pursuer threatening thu
pursued with pistol until at last with a wilC
scream the hunted creature fell, shot in the
back. Dalston woke up with a cry OF terror thai
seemed to him to be the echo of the death wall
and he crept in state OF abject alarm 10 the
cupboard for b: andy-the resort of the coward.
The vision had come 10 him as warning q
mysterious fash from the inscrutable into the
veil OF The future, and at the moment he solemn
" resolved to let the will take its course, But
wlihthe daylight his raPacity assumed full sway.
At his office he spent the morning in schemine
out al possible plans for depriving sidney
Blaine Of mis- rights.
At noon ST anger sauntered into the clerk $
room, thin, wiry man, with a sail wv COM
plexion, high cheek bon S. thin firm Inns and q
particu larry hard look in his steel grew ewes.
utter greeted his appearance, which was
headgear was a broad brimmed wide awake.
and h was finished off in top boots while his
Behold the last OF the Mohicans, - remarked
| one youth in an audible WHISPER
les the boss in?'' demanded the stranger
| who are you?" asked Henry, the messenger
/ in establishment.
why the wild man of the woods, INFER
ruPte,di the facetious CLERK; ''don't you see his
is the boss in, cuss yer," repeated the new
conner IN sharp voice.
The chief slave driver. The boss of this hog
~ you mean Mr.. j. MiIdmay Dalston, he is
Wal, reckon some of him IL do Lead on;
and see here, " he continued, turning to the
| clerks, W tn u sudden fierce sparkle in his eyes
! hurt
Henry in a state of mingled delight and terror
! at the manner OF this remarkable visitor, flung
open the door of tn inner Office with this auda-
! cIous announcement:
"A gentleman curio from the circus, sir A
| eh-regu!ar circus ian.
Here. git. - cried the stranger, and Henry
was hred out with what he considered to be un-
What Is the meaning of this intrusion"
roared Mr.. Dalston. ''If that bow is injured
hereby make claim upon you for damages"
GO slow. old boss. Your name is Dalston-
mine is Rowe, Cob Eowe. hear yer hev some
money ter hand over, lie spoke cooliy, with
Mr.. Dalston eyed his visitor suspiclously,
then he waved him to a seat
Mr.. Smooth directed you here. Did he give
you leIter?''
Here it is. -
Dalston slowly read the letter through. at
see by this that my lawyer has informed you
iu!ly upon the service you are required to full
fill"
i reckon not"
vice?''
wal, it's mighty easy way of making
thousand dollars. As understand, you want
me 10 deliver a sealed letter to a certain party
within twelve months from now.''
Mr. Daiston looked at his man attentively.
as that all?''
"Wal-isn't it?''
mo, SIR glowled the merchant. 'eYou
know very well 1t is not all. Any fool could de-
liver yer, letter IN twelve, months-and you are not
81 guessed the sleek coon was PLAYING pos
som; h "a JACK; so to speak, up his sleeve
There is something more, and will come to
II at once. want you TO prevent this Sydney
Miss Kate Dalston.''
81 knew il. The trail of the skirt is over US
all; Parceed, Colonel to particklers.''
Mr.. Daston fairly chuckled to think how easy
1t was TO shape out plan.
You must understand, my man, that by Mr.. |
nlece-and as have good reason to understand |
that this Blaine is rascal it is my duty to put
a stop t, his designs. You understands
Certnly. You pay $1,000 to prevent a man |
hitching TO your niece. It's generous. but it |
Amt reasonable. see here, how could old Texas |
Nicholson appoint you guardian of your own |
You are too - curious - clustered Dali |
ston, falling from exultation to annoyance |
| must see the SRI fairly treated Are YOU will |
ing to undertake the wnrkf''
Where is the gal?'
Never mind where she is. All YOU have to do |
is 10 find aine and to stick to him fol two |
years, unless he marries before that time. or is |
killed. You'll be paid he is settled. |
The sooner he is settled, the better" he added
darby.
Rowe looked at the merchant keenly for some
$50, - he said, II understand
And you agree?''
IL agree
Mr Daston hreathed a nigh of relief, and
smiled with satisfaction at his cunning.
There is one other point" he continued,
shaking his finger impressively. II must warn
you that my son is in Zululind, and l will in
struct him to keep watch on you and Blaire.
You may conide in him if you find him trust
worthy, but he is too conf lent and rash to be
entrusted with any res onsible part. He knows
enough. however, he repeaEei with look of
great cunning, Ito see that you act fairly to
u.s.
''wal, ool..'' said Rowe, calmly, ''if you
act fair ter me, will be straight with you, and
won't go back my ids. -
There is one other matter must mention
put of consideration for your safety. Blaine is
! headstrong and quarrelsome man; he may use
vic ence towards you.'
THAT es encoul agin'; 1 ike that better ZEN
al you We said
. You can shoot, suppose"
''wen that is good. Better be armed, you
Know"
They discussed money matters, then went
'ound to the shipping company and booked a
perth by the mail steamer leaving for south
Africa the following week.
When Rowe alone a curious expression
,ame into his face.
The old man was p'ayin' me fer a sucker,
zee. l reckon there's sumethin' deeper he told
ne. remember about Dllston and Nicholson
,eiug mighty thick time. when this yer
mao made mischief be ween 'em.' He walked :
long up the Strand. bordering over the matter
Vhen he CHANGED to look up at Somerset House.
He turned in, a if on sudden impulse. aud '
,aii a fee to g'ance at the last will and tesla
nent of John Nicholson.
As he left tina: stately pile he chuckled to him
elf, saying: II ken see the galoot's
land! Cob Rowe, yer must quit ahead of this !
anne"
CHAPTER u.-RowE HAS SOME EXCITEMENT. |
Six weeks after the events recorded in the first !
hapter, Cob Rowe mounted on q white horse | G
ode out of the famous little fort at Rorke,s | I
Drift, where few weeks before q handful of | i
british soldiers had held back thousand :
illus. =
at will be dangerous ride,'' said an officer +
{ his side, but if you must take that linz 6
eep sharp lookout. and beware of deserted
RAILS -
''Ive fit Injuns,'' replied Rowe, with his =
twang assumed at times, land / i,
ness they're more dangerous than these yer n
ulu - 4
~ have not fought Indians" re arked the
her dryly, but will guarantee that q Zulu
nil give You all your WORK to beat him. whether @
lighting or in bush cunning. Keep to the left h
( that range of mountains-and look ont for a
hen you reach that, you may consider yourself r.