The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-06-15

1 goods given over 10 the clurcn. lie
was brave man, but he trembled at
the vague, shadowy terrors which
hung over him Any known danger he
could face with a firm lip. but this sus-
| pense was unnerving. He concealed
| his fears from his daughter, however,
| and affected to make light of the whole
matter, though she, with the keen eye
of love, saw plainly that he was ill at
ease.
He expected that he would receive
some message or remonstrance from
Young as to his conduct, and he was
not mistaken, though it came in
an unlooked-for manner. Upon rising
| next morning he found, to his sur
prise, a small square of paper pinned
on to the coverlet of his bed, Just over
his chest. On it was printed in bold,
struggling letters:
''TwESTY-SISE DAYS ARE GIVEN YoJ
FOR AMENDMENT, AND THEN"
The dash was more fear-inspiring
than any threat could have been.
How this warning came into hin room
puzzled John Ferrier sorely, for his
servants slept in an clubhouse. and the
doors and windows had all been Sc
cured. He crunpled the paper up and
said nothing to his daughter, but the
incident struck a chill into his heart.
The twenty-nine days were evidently
the balance of the month which Young
had promised What strength or cour-
age could avail against an enemy
armed with such mysterious powers?
The hand which fastened that pin
might have struck hin, to the heart,
and he could never have known who
had slain him.
Still more shaken was he next morn
ing. They had sat down to their.
breakfast when Lucy. with a cry of
surprise. pointed upward. In the CEN
ter of the ceiling was scraw led with a
burned stick, apparently, tie number
IS. To his daughter it was unin-
telligible, and he did not erlighten
her. That night he sat up with his
gun and kept watch and ward. lie
saw and heard nothing, and yet in the
morning a great - had been painted
upon the outside of his door.
Thus day followed day; and as sure
as morning came he found that his I'M
seen enemies had kept their register,
and had marked up in some conspicu-
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 Ferrier 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 num-
bers dwindled down. and still there
came no sign of him Whenever a
horseman clattered down the road or
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 four and
that 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
way he would, there appeared to be no
avoiding the blow which hung over
him Yet the old man never wavered
in his resolution to part with life itself
before he consented to what he re-
garded as his daughters dishonor.
He was sitting alone one evening
ponjering deeply over his troubles.
and searching vainly for some way out
of them That morning had shown
the figure . upon the wall of his
house. and the next day would be the !
last of the allotted time. What was !
TO happen then? All manner of vague |
and terrible fancies filed his imagina- |
ton. And his daughter-what was to |
become of her after he was gone? |
Was there no escape from the invisi- |
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, in the quiet of the
night. Il came from the door of the
house. Terrier crept into the hall and
listened intently- There was pause
for few moments, and then the low,
insidious sound was repeated Some
one was 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 marking up
that the last day of grace had arrived?
John Terrier felt that instant death
would be better than the suspense
which shook mis- nerves and chilled his
heart Springing forward. he drew the
bolt and threw the door open
Outside all was calm a.-d quiet The
night was fine, and the stars were
.winkling brightly overhead The
little front garden lay before the
farmers eyes. bounded by the fence
and gate; but neither there nor on the
-oad was any human being to be seem
With 4 sigh of relief Ferrier looked TO
light and TO left, until happening to
glance straight down at his own feet
ne saw to his establishment man lying
lat upon his face upon the ground,
With arms and legs all asprawl
So unnerved was he at the sight
hat he leaned ND against the wall with