The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1894-04-19

look OF some hnunted creature. lie
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
horseman clattercd down the road or q
driver shouted at his team, the old
farmer hurried To- the gate, thir ling
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 surroundedthe
settlement, he knew that he was pow
less. The more frequcnted 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 wavercd
in his resolution to part with life itself
before he consented To what he re-
garded as his daughters dishonor.
lie was sitting alone one evening
bordering 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
20 happen then? All manner OF vague
and terrible fancics filed his imagina-
ton. And his daughter-wh 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 sobbcd at the thought of
his own impotence.
What was that? In the silence he
heard gentle scratching Sound-low,
but very distinct. in the quiet of the
night. II came from the door of the
house. Ferrier crept into the hall and
listened intcntly. There was a 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 Ferrier 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 door 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 seen.
With sigh OF relief Ferrier looked to
right and to left, until happening to
glance straight down at his own feet
he saw to his establishment n man lying
Hat upon his face upon the ground,
with arms and legs all asprawl.
So unnerved was he at the sight
that he leaned up against the wall with
his hand To his throat to stifle 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 il he saw it writhe along
the ground and into the hall with the
rapidity and noisclesSness of serpent.
Once within the house the man sprang
To his feet, closed the door and re-
vealcd To the astonished farmer the
fierce and resolute expression of Jeffer-
son Hope.
Good God.' gasped John Ferrier
b . al Al nu =.
you come in like that?"
Give me food" the other said,
hoarSely. II have had no time for bite
or sup for cight-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 voraciously. Does Lucy
bear mp wellT' he asked, when he had
satisfied his munger.
YES. She does not know the dan
ger" her father answered.
THAT is we'll. The house il watched
on every side. That is why | crawled
my way up tn II, They may be darned
sharp, but they're not quite sharp
enough To catch II Washoe hunter"
John Ferrier felt different man
now that he realized that he had n de-
voted ally. lie seized the young mans
lcnthcry hand and wrung il cordially.
You're man To be proud of, he said.
There are not many who would come
To share our danger and our troubles"
You've hit it there, pard, the young
hunter answered. II have respect
for you, but ii you were alone in this
business I'd think twice before put
my head into such hornets nest.
It's Lucy that brings me here, and be-