Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-05-31
CONTINUED.

Hn0 ndd IldTkCo up III SOIItC CODSElCu-
Gus position how many days were still
left to him out of the month of grace.
Sometimes the fatal numbers appeared
upon the walls, sometimes upon the
floors; occasionally they were on small
placards stuck upon the garden-gate
or the ratings. With all his vigilance
John Terrier could not discover whence
these daily warnings proceeded. A
horror, which was almost supersti-
tious, came upon him at the sight of
them. He became haggard and rest
less, and his eyes had the troubled
look of some haunted creature. He
had but one hope in life now, and that
was for the arrival of the young hunter
from Nevada.
Twenty had changed to fifteen, and
fifteen to ten; but there was no news
of the absentee. One by one the mum
bers dwindled down, and still there
came no sign of him. Whenever a
horseman clattered down the road or a
driver shouted at his team, the old
farmer hurried to the gate, thinking
that help had arrived at last. At last,
when he saw five give way to our and
hat again to three, he lost heart, and
abandoned all hope of escape. Single
handed, and with his limited Knowledge
of the mountains which surrounded the
settlement, he knew that he was pow
less. The more frequented roads were
strictly watched and guarded, and
none could pass along them without
an order from the council. Turn which
way he would, there appeared to be no
avoiding the blow which hung over
him. Yet the old man never wavered
W Iyc ,-OCO11fi01 70 ~ RI with life ftCa1f
before he consented to what he re-
garded as his daughters dishonor.
He was sitting alone one evening
bordering deeply e his troubles,
and searching vainly for some way out
of them. That morning had shown
the figure 3 upon the wall of his
house, and the next day would be the
last of the allotted time. What was
to happen then? All n of vague
and terrible fancies filed his magma
ton. And his daughter-what was to
become of her after he was gone?
Was there no escape from the inyisi-
BILE network which was drawn all
round them? He sank his head Upon
the table and sobbed at the thought of
his own impotence.
What was that? In the silence he
heard a gentle scratching sound-low,
but very distinct, il the quiet of the
night. 1t came from the door of the
house. Ferrier crept into the hall and
listened i~ntently. There was a pause
Tor a Few moments, and then the low,
insitious sound was repeated. Some
y evidently tapping very gently
upon one of the panels of the door.
Was it some midnight assassin who
had come to carry out the murderous
order Of the secret tribunal? Or was
it some agent who was nlarl1in~ Up
that the last day Of grace had ar ed?
John Terrier felt that instant death
would be better than the suspense
which shook his nerves and chilled his
heart. Springing forward, he drew the
bolt and threw the loo open.
Outside all was calm and quiet. The
night was fine, and the stars were
twinkling brightly overhead. The
little front garden lay before the
farmers eyes, bounded by the fence
and gate: but neither there nor on the.
road was any human being to be cen
With a sigh of relief Terrier looked to
right and to left, until happening to
glance straight down at his own feet
he saw to his establishment a man lying
fiat upon his face upon the ground,
with arms and legs all aspra-7l.
So unnerved was he 81 the sight
that he leanedup against the wall with
his hand to his throat to stife his in
clination to call out. His first thought
was that the PROSTATE figure was that
of some wounded or dying man, but as
he watched it he saw it writhe along
the ground and into the hall with the
rapidity and noiselessness of a serpent.
Once within the house the man sprang
to his feet, closed the door and re-
vealed to the astonished farmer the
fierce and resolute expression of Jeffer-
son Hope.
sGood God!r gasped John Ferrier.
"How you scared me! Whatever made
you come in like that?'
"Give me food,'' the other said,
hoarsely. 81 have had no time for bite
or sup for eight-and-forty hours" He
flung himself upon the cold meat and
bread which were still lying upon the
table from his hosts supper, and de-
voured it voraeiously. Does Lucy
bear up well?' he asked, when he had
satisfied his hunger.
eyes. She does not know the dan
ger" her father answered.
'That is we'll. The house is watched
| on every side. That is why 1 crawled
my way up to it. They may be darned
sharp, but they're not quite sharp
enough to catch a Washoe hunter"
John Terrier felt a different maj
now that he realized that he had a de-
voted ally. He seized the young mans
leathery hand and wrung it cordially.
you're a man to be proud of" he said
''There are not many who would come
to share our danger and u troubles
you've hit itthere, pard," the young
hunter answered. Il have a respect
! for you, but if you were alone in this
business I'd think twice before I put
my head into such a hornets nest
It's Lucy that brings me here, and be
fore harm comes on her I guess there
will be one less O. the Hope family il
Utah"
"What are we to do?"
Tomorrow is your last day, and un
less you act tonight you are lost. ]
have a mule and two horses waiting il
the Eagle ravine. How much money
have you?"
1.-TWO thousand dollars in gold, ant
FIVE in notes."
sThat Wilde. Ihave as much more t,
add to it. We mustpush for Carson Cit,
through the mountains. You had bes
wake Lucy. It is as well that the serv
ants do not sleep in the house."
While Terrier was absent preparing
his daughter for the approaching jour
ney, Jefferson Hope packed all the eat
ables that he could find into a small
parcel and flied 2 stca=w-s :ae wiz,
water, for he knew by experience uIla
the mountain wells were few and IA
Ebetween. He had hardly completed
his arrangements before the farmer re
turned with hiS~daurhter all dresse(