The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-07-07

record, and one which actually took
place within time OF mind. cannot
give you the names for fear OF violat-
ing professional reticence, but / will
tell you all / know about an occur
renee which can never be forgotten by
any Of those concerned In IL. IL made,
perhaps, deeper Impression on me
than IL might on some men. for i am
conscious of belonging to that dull
and comfortable class OF the commun-
ity 10 whom nothing ever happens.
There are people for whom the book OF
life is written In bald and unadorned
prose; page after page is turned for
them by fate, and always with un-
varying monotony they travel with
Adventureless security, or stay at
home in uneventful ease, for the
dramatic element has no affinity for
chem, and refuses 20 appear in their
company.
when. in the summer of 49,. l went to
stay in Ireland with friend OF mine
who was n very active magistrate
there. He had detected more crime
and brought more offenders to justice
than any man I'm Ireland, aud had
taken considerable part in resisting
on his own account, the tyranny OF
the Land league, and in encourag-
ing and supporting any OF those
landowners who were courageous
enough TO combine against IL.
There had been an outrage in the
neighborhood shortly before my ar
Al taI ,lar ha1
been committed. Maj. Browne had In
vain requisitioned the publicans in the
neighborhood for cars TO convey the
police 10 the scene OF the tragedy.
Not a car was in order, not a horse
was sound in the whole countryside,
and had IL not been for one young
tenant-farmer. Michael Finlay by
name, no soul would have come TO hts
assistance. Finlay owed debt Of
gratitude TO the magistrate, who had
cleared his character from a serious
accusation that had been brought
against him, and ever since that event
a tie OF gratitude on the one side, and
of affection on the other, had united
the two men. Owing TO his action in
the matter OF the cars, Finlay shared
the disfavor with which Maj Browne
was regarded by all the patriots in the
neighborhood; but he was cool and
determined young fellow, with a
healthy indifference 10 the opinions Of
his neighbors.
On the evening on which my story
opens Maj. Browne and | were sitting
together ia that grateful, contented
a Erv ~ ~
coffee and tobacco. The tables were
strewn with boxes, letters, paper
weights, fybooks, pamphlets and all
the boarded rubbish Of single life. The
twilight was rapidly deepening out Of
doors, but the air which stole in
through the open window was SO warm
and still that | almost fancied there
was In IL the hush Of an approaching
thunderstorm. Suddenly we heard a
confused sound OF voices In the hall,
and the sitting-room door was flung
hurriedly open. A young Irish wom-
an. white to her very lips. stood before
us, struggling 20 speak. but hor utter
ance seemed cholsed by terror. "Oh,
majorr she stammered at last, 'for
Gods sake comet They are killing
Michael Finlay down the road" The
major needed no second telling; he
had dashed past the girl, and, scizing
a heavy shillelagh from the hall, was
out at the garden gate and running
down the road before | had time To
realize the meaning OF her words. |
followed him hastily, and as / ran ]
thought that caught sight OF mans
figure in the distance. stealing along
the hedge in an opposite direction TO
our own. A black shadow lay across
the whiteness OF the moonlit road, and
when came up with the major he was
kneeling down beside IL and had raised
his friend in his arms. "Oh, Mike,
dear fellow. have they killed you?" he
said; but no answer came from the
form he was supporting. IL was n
lifelcss one. Michael Finlay was lying
before as, stabbed 10 the heart, with
only the stars overhead To witness how
he had come by SO foul an end
Mai Browne had the dead man car
ried home. and registered an oath that
he would neither rest by day nor by
night till he had tracked the murderer
down and requited him according 90
MS crime Ah soon hh ~ Whh uuyAlkhb
he made careful examination OF the
scene OF the tragedy, and drew certain
conclusions from the traces OF conflict
which were 90 be found on the ground.
A wound on the back Of the murdered
mans head indicated that he had nj
first been struck from behind. lie had
then probably fallen, dragging his as
sailant down with him, and the scuffie
had taken place, in which the murderer
had finally succeeded in ovcrpowering
and stabbing his victim; such, at least,
were the conclusions drawn by Maj.
browne. from evidence SO slight a. to
be almost invisible % unprofessional
eyes We were puzzled by the fact
that Finlay bad not called for help,
although the whole affair took place
within few hundred yards of where
we were sitting. and 10 was hardly
possible that an outcry could have cs'
capped our ears; also, we knew Of mo
AZ 10