Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-09-03
No.. 70
crushed with his teeth and then sucked
the marrow.

the marrow.
Now for punch 7 he cried.
There is hot water, Richard ven-,
tured to say.
'Water-who asked for water ? bring
the lemon, some sugar and kettle
The kettle was placed on the fire.
The stranger filled it with brandy, add.
ing lemon and sugar to suit his taste.
AS Che Liquor boaled over 1t ca'ugh fire,
setting the whole in blaze. Richard
jumped up to take it off the stranger
caught his arm and aupg him back as
If he had been child instead of sub.
stantial citizen Of fourteen stone.
What are you about?' lie exclaimed.
The punch is doing we'll enough
Il was only atr;tiu the house might he
burned
Bother the house. replied the littfe
man there no danger
Your health, Dick ? at length he
said, and raising the kettle all blazing
to his lips he drank fke 81 c}ron1edary.
And now, Dick, it's your tnrn.' he
said, after long breath. You mnst
drink my health now.'
Richard drew back.
Drink r sho,1'ted the stranger, hold
ing out the vessel.
Poor Dick took a single gulp. He
left the skin of his mouth on the brim
of the kettle his throat was scorched as
with liquid fire and his hair was sihged
by the blaze.
And now to business said the
stranger, rcsuming his seat and leaving
Dick to sit or stand as Ire chose. You
knew John Walter, ! believe
'Ye-yes, standmered Richard, l
once knew person of that name.
You and be went to- California to-
gether.
Richard acknowledged the fact.
You made money and he didn't
Il believe | was the more tortun,.te
of the two
You and he started to return togeth.
er, and he died ut San Francisco
Richard bowed.
His wife and child are now Destitute
the stranger persisted.
1 can't help that
OF course not. It was his boy yott
gave the good advice to to. day. I
hope the young scamp will profit by
IT,
The scene with the little beggar
Richard was sure had been witnessed
by no one. How the stranger had
found it out was past his comprchen.
sion.
You're quite sure John Walter died
poor p the stranger went on.
oh, quite said Richard / paid his
iuncTil eApcIlScS LII lSSll.
That's Il lie, retorted the little man;
they were paid by the public. It's an
other lie that ne died poor. He had
$4,000 with him which you stole
Il deny it! Richard fairly screamed.
and defy you to prove it,
Prove tt What effrontery! Why,
| saw you do it I
It's false. There was nobody pres.
ent.
BE careful. Dick, or you'll commit
yourself. l saw you do another thing
Richard shrank shiyering in a chair,
but said nothiug.
John Walter would have survived
his illness, but you put poison in his
medicine |!
A sudden fury took possession of
Richard Whnstone when he saw the
secret Of his life in anothcr's keeping.
Carrying knife lay within his reach. He
seized it, and springing on the stranger
with desperate plunge, sought to bury
the blade in his heart, but it glanced as
from plate armor, and in an instant the
little man was on his feet.
oh, no that's your game, is it?
And with a trip that sent his heels
spinning in the air Richard was thrown
headlong with force that shook the
house to its foundation. The clubfoot
was planted on his stomach and what
horribly ugly foot it was It was cleft
like the hoof Of ;tn OK and seemed to
weigh q ton.
'Thcn you are the
Pray, keep ciyil tongue In your
head, and come along said the little
man.
Richard tainted.
When lie came to himself day was
breaking. Tho old housekeeper, who
had found him groaning and srrawling
on the floor, had, with much difficulty,
shaken him into conciousness. She as
sisted him to bed =; but Richard never
was himself again. The surfelt of pig
had brought on d fever, Of which he