The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-01-01

parently entertained no very high essl-
mate of Emerick's promises and
thought it would be better to have
something on account So he demanded
q payment in advance. and upon his de-
sires being satisfied he left the house
and made his way into the town as fast
as possible. to find suitable men to
carry on. his plans. As daylight dawned
Percy and his second arrived on the
spot which had been agreed upon They
were first on the scene, but had not long
to wait, as Mr. limerick and his second
arrived soon after them.
1t took but a short time to prepare
for the fight, and when ready the Sec
onds were standing short distance
| from the men who. devoid Of coat and
vest, stood facing each other. The word
was given, and they measured swords.
| Then as they crossed, Percy heard
rush behind him, and in another in-
slant cloak was thrown over him and
he was forced violently to the ground
| His struggles were in vain. and mo-
ment later he felt his feet being tied by
rough hands SO tightly that he suffered
intense pain. The next thing he knew
he was being carried somewhere,
though in which direction he had not
the faintest idea.
Once he heard his seconds voice ex-
postulating. but only for second. lie
writhed and struggled, paying no atten-
ton to the injunction of his captors,
given in Spanish. telling him to keep
quiet Finally. tired of handling such
troublesome load, one Of them struck
him a heavy blow on the head which
stunned and effectually quoted him.
He remembered no more until some
hours after, when he came to his senses
with terrible pain in his head. and
realized that he was being conveyed in
some vehicle without springs over a
very rough road What his thoughts
and feelings were can better be mag
inei than described, but his chagrin At
not being permitted to pass his sword
through his encmy's body surmounted
all other feelings. Whittier he was be-
ing carried he could form no sort oil
calculation. One thing he was thank
full for, and that was life; for so long as
that was left he cherished the hope tina,
he might find deliverancc. He was too
much exhausted to remain consciou:
long and soon sank again into coma
tose state.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Limerick returned t.
his house, settled with tho Spanish ras
cal who had engineered the outrage OF
Lowell and appeared at the usual time a
his Office as il nothing out Of the ordi
nary course had happened within tn
: past few hours. lie was little afrai
that any disclosure would be made, 70
he knew full we'll that the Spaniar
who had acted as percy's second woul
never dare to say word Of what ha
happened. lest the other members &
the gang should injure him. OF til
others, he had no cause to be afraid.
In the afternoon of the same day MI
limerick received cable message froi
New York stating that his partner la
, died that morning. Here was dilemm
, for the merchant Hew should he ac1
If he returned to New York he ran
risk of again meeting that woman sci
ing newspapers; or he might me'
other equally, to him, disagreeab
people.
Still his business was worth saving
selling tor, whatever the secret hi
tory of this man limerick, and wha
ever the reasons he had for playiI
b. hide-and seek with his fellowmen,
t. was undoubtedly clever man of bus
O. ness) and he had run greater risks tina
at he imagined he incurred by re-visitir
New York. So after weighing all Il
"a pros and cons, he decided to sail for Il
q. Empire City by the next steamer.
\, FRO RE CoSTINEFD.l