Mexico weekly ledger., 1894-02-22

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 him to the heart,
and he could never have known who
had slain him.
Still more shaken vas 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 serawled, with q
burned stick, apparently, the number
2s. To his daughter it was unin-
telligible, and he did not enlighten
her. That night he sat up with his
gun and kept watch and ward. He
saw and heard nothing, and yet in the
morning a great 81 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 g~arden-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 num-
bers dwindled down, and still there
| came no sign of him. Whenever a
horseman elattered 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 four and
| that again to three, he lost heart, and
abandoned all hope of escape. Single
handed, and with his limited Knowledge
/ VI liz nouIbulhS WIN wv
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
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
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 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 invisi
BILE network which was drawn ali
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. It came from the door of the
house. Terrier crept into the hall ant
listened i%ntently. There was a pause
for a 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 .uI
that the last day of grace had arrived:
John Terrier felt that instant death
. would be better than the suspense
WHICH shook his nerves and chilled his
heart. S~pringing 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 IN the
road was any human being to be seen
With a sigh of relief Terrier looked t.
right and to left, until happening t.
glance straight down at his own fee
he saw to his establishment a man lying
fiat upon his face upon the ground
with arms and legs all asprawL.
So unnerved was he at the sigh
that he leaned up against the wall will
his hand to his throat to stifle his in
clination to call out. His first though
was that the PROSTATE figure was tina
of some wounded or dying man, but a
he watched it he saw it writhe alone
the ground and into the hall with thu
rapidity and noiselessness of a serpent
Once within the house the man sprane
to his feet, closed the door and re
vealed to the astonished farmer tn
fierce and resolute expression of Jefer
son Hope.
GOOD God!!' gasped John Terrier
GLOW you scared me! Whatever mad
you come in like that?"
"Give ME food" the other said
hoarsely. Il have had no time for bit
or sup for eight-and-forty hours" Fl
flung himself upon the cold meat an
bread which were still lying upon tn,
table from his hosts supper, and de
voured it v~oraciously. Does Lue.
bear up well?" he asked, when he ha,
satisfied his hunger.
YES. She does not know the dan
ger" her father answered.
THAT is well. The house is watche,
on every side. That is why / crawle,
my way up to it. They may be darne'
sharp, but they're not quite shar
enough to catch a Washoe hunter"
John Ferrier felt a different ma
now that he realized hat he had a de
voted ally. He seized the young man
leathery hand and wrung it cordially
you're a man to be proud of" he said
There are not many who wosld com
to share our danger and our troubles.
you've hit it there, pard, the younj
hunter answered. Il have a respee
for You, but if you were alone in thi
business I'd think twice before | pu
my head into such a hornets nest
It's Lucy that brings me here, and be
fore harm comes on her | guess thert
will be II less o the Hope family il
!. Utah"
"What are we to do?'
Tomorrow Is your last day, and III
/ less you act tonight you are lost.
have a mule and two horses waiting il
the Eagle ravine. How much none,
have you?"
IT, IL " II -