Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1895-05-31
LAPORTE, Pa, FRIDAY, NAY 81. 1895.
Suddenly. with an oath, Sam cried /:

Suddenly, with an oath, Sam cried: :
II have It'll have itw
"Are you shouting for the police,
even before they have light to find
anything in the river?" whispered Jim.
81 have it, tell you," cried Sam,
in triumph. "What fell in the river
was carried to the sea in the dark,
when there was no light.
"What's your opinion, then?"
sold Billy often slept here. There's
the straw to show he did"
81 heard the straw move as if he was
on it now," said Jim, in whisper of
horror.
ttBlack Billy is in the channel long
ago, you fool!"
Jim moaned. ''Either the straw
moved or I'm mad.
"You're crazy with fear. You
haven't the heart of hare. Listen.
Tonight old Billy slept on the
straw"
Don't! Don't, Sam Let the straw
alone. It hears you! He has come to
it up out of the water. I'm nearer
the straw than you. ! can hear him
breathing"
"Hold your pirate, or I'll put a
charge into you. Tonight he set fire
to the straw and was burned to dust.
What do you think of that, my white
livered Jim ?" cried Sam, exultantly.
Oil think it might do if he
was in the river or the sea. But he's
here. He's lying on the straw, listen
ing to US, and whatever you do or say
he'll hang us. / can feel the straw
stirring against me now. For Gods
sake strike light! My hands are
shaking SO / can't.
SAY, I'll strike light fast enough. "
The action followed the words, and
Sam thrust the flaming match into the
straw.
A cone of fire shot up.
Langley, pale and resolute, determ-
ined to make one desperate plunge for
the door, leaped from the blazing
straw and, dashing the smoke from
his eyes, staggered. paused motionless,
and stood staring with distended and
open mouth at the door.
'.It's Black Billy himself!" shrieked
jim, covering against the wall and
pointing to the CHASTITY face of Lang
ley.
Quick as lightning Sam covered
Langley. elf you move you are a
dead man. Who are your"
'It's Black Billy himself" whimp-
cred Jim. "Black Billy himself, come
out of the river to hang US!
"He's the mskings of another MUIR
der. It's spy. His hair is light, not
dark, you fool!"
Langley did not move. He glanced
from the muzzle of the gun to the
doorway, He spoke;
II am not Black Billy. There would
be no good in my saying I did not
hear your conversation.
"Then it was bad hour for you
when you did hear it," said Sam, with
the gun still pointing at Langley.
"I'm not so sure of that, and I think
it very good thing for you did over
hear it,
II don't want to take you too su d.
den, for you may not have been here
as spy but you know too much for
ever going out of the door Of this
place alive"
81 know more than you think. and
therefore will 60 out of that door
alive"
"Come; the house is filling with
smoke. You can have ten minutes.
Cant I have till day?'
"No. In three minutes this place
will be too hot and too full of smoke
to stay in it. -
"Not till day. not to see the sun
once more, and it is already dawn.
Look |"
The poachers already turned their
eyes towards the door.
With groan Jim fell forward III
sensible.
With an oath Sam dropped his gun
to the ground.
Tue figure of Black Billy, the
gamekeeper, stood on the threshold.
Jim was dragged ont of the burn.
ing building and Sans hands were
bound.
"When I was just exhausted in the
water, after that ruffian had knocked
me in, said the gamekeeper later, u
gripped the gunwale of half-swamped
punt, and with the other half OF hel
kept ahoat until I scrambled ashore. =
"That must have been my boat,
said Langly, $50 that my punt saved
your life, and then you saved mine.
Well, 'one good turn deserves an
other I dare say" st Pauls.